New Parent Mistakes to Avoid

Being a parent is the hardest job you'll ever love. To make your first few months as goofproof and enjoyable as possible, follow our troubleshooting guide and avoid these 10 classic mistakes.

By Karen Benfield

Alexandra Grablewski

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Believing Everything You Hear

During the first weeks with your newborn, you'll seek advice from everyone who's been there, done that. Even if you don't, they'll offer suggestions anyway. One acquaintance advocates sleeping with the baby. Your best friend warns against it. Your sister-in-law says it's okay to let the baby suck her thumb. Your pediatrician prefers a pacifier.

"The only opinion that matters is yours," says Alvin Rosenfeld, M.D., a child psychiatrist and author of Hyper-Parenting. "If you follow everyone else's advice, you give up the most creative role in your life." Friends and relatives can offer useful parent-tested information. But remember: Intuition is the best guide. As Dr. Spock once wrote, "You know more than you think you do."

Learn more about baby heath myths.

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