I'm Lindsay Ferrier, a Nashville writer with a passion for family travel, exploring Tennessee, and raising kids without losing my mind in the process. This is where I share my discoveries, along with occasional deep thoughts, pop culture tangents and a sprinkling of snark. Want to get in touch? Use the CONTACT form at the top of the page.
May 11, 2006
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I laugh now to think of what a crazy overprotective mom I was during Baby’s first year.
I carried antibacterial wipes with me everywhere I went and thought nothing of wiping down shopping carts, toys and even other children who looked a little germy. I made my older girls wash their hands about every five minutes, to the point where they complained that their skin was getting cracked and dry. I cried when I found a tick on Baby when she was just two weeks old, sobbing, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” over and over again to her because I felt like I hadn’t been able to protect her from harm.
I was obsessed with books and websites about infants. What to Expect the First Year was my Bible. I got daily e-mail updates from Babycenter . I called my pediatrician’s office with questions at least once a week. I read everything I could get my hands on about getting babies to sleep through the night, eat properly and develop at a normal pace.
So I could’ve totally used Why Babies Do That, by Jennifer Margulis.
I read the copy she sent me nostalgically, remembering when I had many of the questions that are answered in the book, like ‘Why do babies cough and splutter so much when they are eating?‘ (my answer as a new mother would’ve been: Because they might be choking to death and you’d better hover over them, ready to perform CPR, JUST IN CASE!) and ‘Why do babies resist going to sleep?’ (my new mom answer: Because there’s something seriously wrong and you’d better take them to the pediatrician first thing tomorrow morning, JUST IN CASE!’)
Jennifer’s answers are carefully researched and a lot more comforting than my answers would’ve been. Each question and answer is accompanied by an adorable photo of an infant, generally displaying the habit up for discussion (Yes, even ‘Why do babies like to play with their own poop?‘, although it was very tastefully done!). The book is hardcover and would make a great gift for a new or expecting mother.
I am hoping that Jennifer is now working on Why Do Toddlers Do That?! If so, I have some suggested questions for her to address:
-Why do toddlers talk and sing around the house all day long, but the moment you go out in public and ask them to sing or talk for a friend of yours, they clam up and only make weird and embarrassing ‘baby’ noises?
-Why do toddlers refuse to eat the meal you lovingly prepared for them and instead insist on ‘Big Goldfish’ and ‘Meat Sticks?’
-Why do toddlers flat-out refuse to go potty, opting instead to repeat, “Poo poo all gone,” (and what the hell is that supposed to mean?) even after you’ve offered candy, toys and even demonstrated yourself how it’s done?
Feel free to add your questions about toddlers in the comments. I’m interested to know if I’m the only one whose precious infant has turned into a possible alien life form masquerading as a two-year-old.
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>I sure Jennifer IS working on that book too. We’re done having rugrats, but it does sound like a good book for new parents! Great read, Lucinda – you’re so warped and funny.
>My alien life forms have turned into the world’s hippest grade schoolers. How’d that happen so fast?
>Ahhhh the twos. I wrote a funny post this week on some realistic Babycenter e-mail newsletter topics that will never see the light of day! My question…”Why does a toddler, who has been angelic for hours, decide to pick their nose and scream bloody murder over getting out of the shopping cart just as you run into a former co-worker you haven’t seen in years?”
>p.s. that picture of Baby is utterly pinchable!
>Oh, what a face! Make sure you continue to take these adorable pics with your next two or three babies. By the time you finish up with the third baby, the camera ain’t clickin quite so much.
>OH GOD, I remember finding a tick on Arianna’s head one morning. I nearly hurled. me.no.likey.ticks.Thankfully, there are no ticks in Oregon. Baby Jack is safe.
>I am a psycho germ-a-phobe when it comes to my bub. I have the wipes, I obcessively wipe down the carts, I boil anything that is boilable. I need this book, actually maybe I need a little therapy…
>I think toddlers are a lot more baffling than babies. I imagine there’s no book about why they do what they do because nobody knows!
>First of all…love those cheeks! Second, I’m well past that adorable but sometimes painful toddler stage, so I have no questions eating away at me anymore. Except maybe…(and this hasn’t anything to do with toddlers) How does one get a “tasteful” picture of a baby playing with poop? 🙂
>Cute baby! Cute!There are question galore for #1. Beleive me – I spent many fine hours in the pediatricians office doing what you’re doing (or did).Question – why do toddler’s wake up at 6 in Saturday when it’s impossible to awaken them at 7 on Wednesday????
>My 3rd kiddo I was a big fan of all The Girlfriend’s Guide books. That book looks even better!!What a cute kid you have there! Those cheeks! That hair!
>how about – “Why do toddlers answer every question with “yeah” so you’re not sure if they mean yes or no or didn’t understand the question?
>Such cute pinchable cheeks!!!My question:Why do toddlers who normally stay perfectly clean at breakfast, spill every last bit of the breakfast down the front of their nice shirt on picture day?
>Oooh, there’s nothing better than chunky little baby cheeks!Here’s a question:Why can’t you get a toddler to even taste a piece of broccoli, but she’ll willingly and happily put dirt and dead bugs in her mouth?
>OH, I loved those Girfriend’s Guide books too. That Vicky Iovine is seriously funny. Hmmm, I wonder if SHE has a blog?!?!?! I am well past the toddler years too so i don’t have any burning questions pulsing at my fingertips. I think you all got it covered though.
>Age 3: Why is the sky blue?(I bet you don’t know, do you? Me neither.)
>Hi –Just dropping by to invite you to add your tradecard to the Supermom Gallery http://hlb.blogspot.com
>Gorgeous baby! sigh. I miss the baby stage. Q: How can a toddler survive on eating three sultanas and two pieces of bread every day, for a week? Q: Why is it so much fun to tip out the toybox five times a day, and then walk off to play with something else? Like your muffin pans? Or a stick?Q: How do toddlers know exactly. what.to.do to tip you over the edge!!!
>What a heartbreakingly gorgeous baby!!! You know, I don’t know anything about babies or toddlers, but toddlers seem highly entertaining. I’m sure I’ll have a different take on the subject in a few years when/if I become a parent. 🙂
>ON potty training, I’m just wondering if you’ve done the long t-shirt, naked butt, let them run around in the back yard and grab her and stick her on the potty you also brought outside as soon as you see her squat or start to go. Giving lots of juice helps this go faster, and you have to watch carefully, but it does work for some kids, (My first) especially with a big deal made about getting it in the potty and rewards and clapping, etc.Oh, and watching another child close to her age use the potty can also be a huge motivator. My second trained herself by watching what her older brother did.Your blog is always fun to read, thanks.
>My goodness…. I haven’t been around a baby for quite a long while now. I remember crying so hard when i found a tiny bump on my son’s baby neck and thought he had a cyst or something. Turns out his lymph node was just protruding because he had a cold that week. Sigh. In four months, I will be faced with another of these alien life forms, and I may have to refer back to this post of yours and add in my own question….. Yaiks!
>My GOD that baby is STUNNING…as for the 2’s…don’t let their preciousness FOOL you…I found 3 is much ‘worse’ because now they talk in full sentences ! YIKES!( as for the Meme-it was sooo much fun! I have another one to do that I promised will be up by 9AM, CST…so p0p back in if you want a piec of that action ).ENJOY! Go with your gut with Baby. No book can take the place of motherly instinct.
>I’m just now reading Jennifer’s compilation of essays about toddlers. It’s not a Q and A thing but I dig the stories. Makes me feel less crazy. While I have definitely toned down my hyper-vigilance with Eli, I am CONSTANTLY worried about what could kill. DANGER EVERYWHERE!
>THAT is a CUTE BABY!Yes, I’d wrap her in Kevlar, too.My question: Why is it that my toddlers had the fine motor skills to unbuckle a 10-point harness in 2 seconds flat, but couldn’t seem to get the mashed potatoes from spoon to mouth without first rerouting it to their hair/eye/underarm?
>Mine aren’t toddlers anymore, but still quite alien. Now I ask: Why did you do that? I didn’t! Then how did this end up here? Well I was just… So you did do this? Well uh…Yeah! They can’t even lie right!
>*why do they scream”bye” at every stranger in the store, but refuse to say it to daddy when he’s going to work?*why do they say “No” to everything, even if they DO want it???your daughter=beautiful!
>Here’s my question…Why does my 10 month old feel like an opposing force of nature? With him, everything is a wrestling match; dressing, diaper changes, feeding, bathing. Everything. What’s the dealio?PS: Are you still having trouble with your blogroll? I was having a similar problem. I might be able to help you.
>Do I need to tell you again how cute that baby is? She is!
>I miss toddler-hood. Ask if there’s a way to get it back…