Parenting

Google Parenting

Throughout pregnancy and until my little one was about 6 months old, I would literally be asking Google a question every single day, no joke, sometimes even twice or three times a day. Every thought that came into my head, I would Google. Every question I had, I would Google for the answer. Every worry I had, I would Google – often this made me worry more.Here’s some of my searches from memory, this list could be quite long:

  • Can you fly with Placenta Previa?
  • What to do if you’re pregnant in Dubai?
  • What happens if the placenta is still covering the cervix at later scan?
  • What happens at the 28 week midwife appointment?
  • Why is my baby’s poo still green?
  • Why has my baby’s poo turned a greenish colour?
  • Is it normal for babies to loose more than 10% in birth weight?
  • How long should it take for babies to regain their birth weight?
  • How often should a 6-week old be feeding?
  • My 3-week old is feeding all the time?
  • Best bottles for babies who won’t take a bottle?
  • How to get a breastfed baby to take a bottle?
  • My baby wakes every hour?
  • What’s the 4-month sleep regression?
  • How to get a baby to sleep during the 4-month sleep regression?
  • Best sleep training methods?
  • Should I use Cry-It-Out solution?
  • Can I start to introduce purees at 5-months old?
  • Best food to start weaning?
  • How many breastfeeds should a baby have whilst weaning?

You get my point, the list goes on and on………..

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This week I had two questions that I needed to Google “How to night wean a 10-month old baby?” and “Is it ok to give a 10-month old baby cows milk?”. You’re probably now thinking is this blog post about breastfeeding, no. It’s about how infrequently I turn to Google these days, I realised that I had barely searched for answers online in the last 4 months, and it got me thinking why? I have a couple of answers for this:

  • I’ve grown in confidence in my ability to be a Mum, and also I know my daughter a lot better now than I did when she was 6 weeks old. I don’t need to ask Google, or read through reams and reams of people’s comments on Mumsnet and NetMums. So I guess I learnt that over time I’m trusting my own instincts a lot more.
  • I’m blogging. The blogging community is such a knowledgeable resource base for any questions you have, and answers you wish to find. It has grown my confidence in my ability at being a Mum. I’ve found that writing and sharing my experiences has helped to boost confidence, as well as receiving lots of lovely advice and comments on my blog posts.
  • My little one is growing up, she’s starting to make her own decisions on what food she wants, whether she wants a breastfeed or not. As I’m taking her lead, it’s much easier this way. Anyway this post is not about breastfeeding.

I think a lot of parents would agree with this, having spent a lot of time on Google throughout pregnancy and in the early days of having a newborn, questioning every thought that comes into our heads. What on earth did we do without the Internet and Google? Babies were born, and we survived without it, maybe we trusted our own instincts more or read baby books.

I would love to hear your view on Google Parenting.

Claire x

 

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79 Comments

  • Lucy

    Hahaha! I am such a google parent! (It’s a world of knowledge at your fingertips, so why not?) My most recent Google was “What does it mean if my baby tries to lick everything?” and “Should I ring 111 if baby licks 3 day old vanish off the carpet?”…

    Lu X #TribalLove

  • beautybabyandme

    Oh Google! A godsend and a disaster all at once! I google so much then I think “argh why am I doing this”. It is so helpful sometimes but in other ways I prefer to as you fellow Mummies for advice and as you say, mothers instinct really is amazing at times. A great post #triballove

  • A mum track mind

    This is me all over – I actually Google everything. Imagine if there was a file kept on everyone and all the things they have googled – mine would make me look like a crazy, neurotic, hyperchondriac I’m sure!! Sometimes it can be useful having a little Google but for the most part, I think it makes things ten times worse….either you get a whole load of conflicting advice or you diagnose yourself with something terminal! Doesn’t stop me from doing it though! Great post Claire x #fortheloveofBLOG

  • Kaye

    What did parents do before Google!? I was constantly doing it when A was a newborn, hopefully not so much with the next one though! #fortheloveofblog

  • Baby Anon

    This is sooooo true. Mother used to consult Dr Google all the time when she was pregnant with me (which frequently alarmed her more than calmed her). She also bought a book for after I was born, and she constantly checked if I was progressing at the right rate – and then would panic that I hadn’t achieved a milestone. Now….she doesn’t read her book or consult Dr Google but trusts her instincts and me, because I am telling her what I need in so many ways. And all these fabulous posts, which I leave open for her, help her enormously 😉 x #fortheloveofBLOG

  • manstayshome

    It’s true that you trust yourself more as a parent a time goes by. Initially you worry that you’re doing things the way everyone else does it, there’s some common ground but soon you realise everyone is doing things slightly different because babies have different needs and personalities.

    Google is still the knowledgable one for me though!

    Thanks for sharing #fortheloveofBLOG

  • fairyqueen

    Oh the famous google, both the giver of reassuring news and the worst friend in the world with tales of all the worst case scenarios thrown at us at once, normally with scary pictures thrown in! I have a love hate relationship with google but still use on a regular basis!!:)

    Mainy

    myrealfairy.com

    #fortheloveofblog

  • JerseyGirl

    I think whether a parent or not Google is the “go to” answer for everything in my life! I think it can be scary and a comfort but more often than not its reassuring.
    #fortheloveofBLOG

  • moderatemum

    I have regular appointments with Dr Google. My sons father laughs at me because I type exactly what I’m thinking into the search bar. Whilst it has often bought me comfort there is such a thing as too much information. I did once become convinced that my son had a terrible skin condition when he had perfectly common dribble rash 🙂 #fortheloveofBLOG

  • Marmee March

    I so do this, actually I ask google all sort s of questions including ‘how to get things done when I don’t feel like doing anything?’ – which wasn’t helpful as I recall!!! In fact I think for me google is a bit of a distraction to avoid actually dealing with whatever I’m googling. Still I don’t know how I ever got through the first 25 years of my life with out it!! great reflective post #ForthoveofBLOG

  • laughing mum

    omg! i turn to google for EVERYTHING! and I always leave with one conclusion… that I’m dying lol.. the husband has banned me from google.. probably for the best haha! #fortheloveofBLOG

  • Kate Orson

    Google parenting, I love it! My daughter is 4.5 now, and I rarely google these days. I have my favourite places I go to for good advice but like you I did look up everything when she was younger. I think the internet is a great resource, and we are lucky we can pick and choose whatresonates with us. Although sometimes that can get confusing that there is so much information out there! #fortheloveofBLOG

  • justsayingmum

    Brilliant – Google is like my best friend and it never tires of me or rolls its eyes at me or strops at me or lectures me – perfect friend – it accompanies me over a cup of coffee, lunchtime, a glass of wine – never moans and always knows the answer – never too busy – oh I can feel a blog coming on – google versus real life friends! I always google too – think we are all guilty of it – found myself googling why do teenagers have so much damn attitude recently – yes it got that bad! Great post, again, lovely #fortheloveofBLOG

  • Lauren

    I’m terrible for googling everything! And I agree with the lack of confidence in the early days being a driving force behind all the google questions! I was the same! It’s also tailed off the older she gets. Although I am finding that if I do need an opinion I’m asking mums of Twitter baby related questions.The other day I was umming and aahing over giving nut milks to the baby and Google wasn’t giving me straight answers! So I turned to a Twitter mum and had a conversation about it which was 10 times better than a search engine! I think the mum community on Twitter (mostly bloggers but not all!) is a great resource and support for each other! #fortheloveofBLOG

  • Nursery Whines

    I also Googled some of these exact questions. I agree that the blogging cmmuntiy really help, as well as getting into your stride. It’s a double edged sword though as before the internet it would have been harder to get quick advice, but you also get so many mixed messages and it can drive paranoia. Please keep us posted on how the night weaning goes. #fortheloveofBLOG

  • Ali Duke

    I think using Google can make things worse, before you know it you have jungle fever and are being told to put bat poop on your feet lol.
    Personally I think blogs are a much more useful source of information, as it is from people who have actually experienced it.
    #fortheloveofBLOG

  • Mother of Teenagers

    Google parenting never stops. I am constantly turning to google on a daily basis for guidance on aspects of my teenagers’ lives as well as to get answers to things on their behalf. It makes you wonder how we coped before. Long live google! #fortheloveofblog

  • Bonjour Mini

    Google is brilliant but often dangerous. Throughout our pregnancy we have often found conflicting and often completely contradictory information online. My ‘go to’ is always the relability of the source. If it comes from a random chat room I am less likely to believe it 100% but if it is from the NHS (for example) I am more confident.

    We have already joked I will be ‘asking siri’ for advice mid-nappy change!

  • Emma - meandbmaketea

    I spoke to my nana and she is 92 this year. she told me she used to hand wash the nappies and dry them each day – with two young boys. no internet, no disposable nappies and she just got on with it. and babies cried, and they didn’t always sleep. and that’s OK! she taught me a lot 🙂
    if I did pregnancy again, I would NOT bother with things like babycentre and googling too much as it just ended up worrying me. #fortheloveofBLOG

  • mindfulmummy

    Google can be so handy but it can also cause more worry than it’s worth…with my first I looked up quite a few things about illnesses and I wish I’d never bothered as it just caused me to stay awake at night! Good question though – I wonder what parenting was like before the internet? harder… or maybe easier (less social media comparison and ‘advice’ of good parenting!).

  • Sammie

    I still google all the bloody time. ‘what happens if my toddler eats a crayon?’ & ‘Do I need to take my toddler to the Doctors if she licks the dogs mouth?’ … Google pretty much raises my kid. x #FortheloveofBLOG

  • Sonia

    I must admit, I really only use google for illness stuff, mainly rashes, that are generally all viral rashes, but rashes did scare me early on! Anything parenting based was ‘MUM HELP!’ in the early days and then involving my mummy friends who had slightly older children. I’ve only just started blogging and can see how the community would be a huge support for new mums. xx

  • occupation:(m)other

    I love this post…I really do. I’ve had one similar simmering in my back head for a little while because I am exactly the same – I googled everything intensely and then yes gradually noticed a shift, as my confidence grew and my anxieties lessened. Although I did notice with the start of my second pregnancy that I turned to dr Google a little more again but have stopped again now. A really lovely post. #fortheloveofBLOG

  • carolcliffe

    I guess before Google there were always parenting books. I’m still a books kind of person actually. Perhaps I need to Google more?? #FortheloveofBLOG

  • Rebecca

    Oh definitely! I can completely relate to this as I am sure many can!! Bless you. I am so pleased that you consult Google less now. I think we grow in our confidence as parents. Although, I am curious as to what happens with a second child (not that we are planning to have one). Do you start off much more confidently? My friend had her second at the same time I had my first and she seemed to be asking even more questions than me but she said it was because there were 5 years between her two children…Or is it because we worry more with newborns in general but as they become more robust we relax more? It’s interesting! Great post. Thank you for hosting X #fortheloveofBLOG

  • twotinyhands

    Oh, I know what you mean, its great that we’ve grown in confidence. I did also indeed visit google. Quite a lot of the time though I would say, what did people do 100 years ago. Not just on questions but actual physical stuff too. How did babies sleep without a growbag 200 years ago! Lol. #fortheloveofblog

  • @livingwithlayla

    I have googled soooo many things mostly about sleeping/not sleeping and reflux and why won’t my baby stop crying? I to though have googled less although we are about to give baby led weaning a go and I feel as though my googling addiction will begin again…. #fortheloveofblog

  • My Little Yarn Baby

    Ha ha sometimes Google is great and sometimes it’s terrifying. The other day I convinced myself that Freddie had diabetes I’m pretty sure he doesn’t…… I do the same on baby centre and search EVERYTHING!!!
    #fortheloveofBLOG

  • Jane Taylor

    I Google and Wikipedia!!! The two pronged attack! Lol! I recognised some of the questions I asked amongst yours. Mind you, Google can be scary. Our daughter was diagnosed with a genetic disease at birth (Goldenhars Syndrome)…Richard Googles it and it was worse case scenarios about back, spine, kidney problems and deformities and learning difficulties…She only had a little ear tag and a white lump on her eyeball the size of a split pea that was later removed…She is fine and yet my hubby scared himself to death! Thanks for sharing, Claire. #fortheloveofBlog

  • Kat

    I think I am a google parent, not very frequently but sometimes and like you I’ve found the blogging community so helpful when it comes to talking about phases and behaviours that I don’t understand but I agree, when you’re a new parent things are so new and then as you and your baby adjust you seem to trust yourself a bit more! #fortheloveofblog

  • Double the Monkey Business

    I have googled most of these as well!! Definitely the green poo question 🙂 I only discovered blogging this year and wish I had been doing it from the beginning of my parenting journey, there are so many great people out there, who can help and understand xxx #fortheloveofBLOG

  • anywaytostayathome

    I’m completely a Google parent! The searches may be less fraught m frequent now but it’s still my go to source of advice, not just on parenting, just life in general really. Xx #fortheloveofBLOG

  • flyingsolo7

    My boys are almost 20 & 16 so I didn’t have access to the Internet back then (Im not even sure if it was a thing) I had to go off instincts and learn my way through as I went, to be honest I think I prefer it that way as nowadays there are so many things you can and can’t do and so many differing opinions about it all and it must drive new mums mad! As long as a baby is fed, watered and dry and can sleep (mine didn’t) then thats all they need! like you say we all survived somehow. Its the teen years I could have done with blogs or SIRI to help me out… But alas I muddled through that too! God I feel so old writing this like I came from the Dinosaur ages or something…

  • Jakijellz

    I remember when I was little my Mum used to tell me to stay away from the Medical Book because it will scare the living daylights out of me. I think Google can be the same – but on the otherhand it can be a lifesaver. We’ve all done. I still do. I don’ think we’ll ever change now that it is such a big thing in every day life. #fortheloveofBLOG

  • thehippychristianmum

    I think a lot of new mum’s can really relate to this ‘Google Parenting’. This time around I have avoided googling at all costs as I had a traumatic birth (you may’ve read my post about it 😉 and didn’t want to find the scary answers that sometimes pop up. Always second guessing ourselves as mums though aren’t we! Thanks for hosting the linky #fortheloveofBLOG 🙂

  • Mrs Lighty

    I completely agree with this, as I was exactly the same!! And now I’ve just, well, stopped googling…there must just be a point in time when we get to grips with things?! Thanks for hosting #fortheloveofBLOG 🙂

  • KG

    Truth be told, I’d have been lost without Google in those early days! Throughout my pregnancy and for the first year I googled anything and everything – my list was very similar to yours! I still find it really handy though, for getting advice about my daughter’s eczema in particular, though I definitely don’t use Dr Google anywhere near as much as I used to! #fortheloveofBLOG

  • Becky (And Then There Were Two)

    Yesterday I spent the day googling ‘how to stop toddler waking for the day at 4.30am’. Lots of forums saying ‘my child does this too’ – not many practical solutions! I too was a Google fiend but I’ve definitely scaled it back recently – probably for the reasons you’ve said here 🙂 #fortheloveofBLOG

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  • scamperandtwirl

    Lol I tried not to Google parent but definitely did some! Nothing wrong with it if you know to take it with a pinch of salt.

    I think it’s a consequence of families being so far apart these days geographically speaking. Once upon a time you’d have been surrounded by parents, aunts grandparents – sharing a yard, being neighbours, still sharing a house. This kind if support is no longer available as we learn patenting. I just politely say hi to my next door neighbours…

    Nice read, thank you.

    #fortheloveofBLOG

  • Kiri

    What did people do before Google – I google everything! it’s so handy having advice at your finger tips, especially if you are awake at 3am with a baby and there’s no one else to ask at that time of morning! #fortheloveofblog

  • whitecamellias

    OMG that is me all over when I had my first son. We turned to google for everything and most of the time felt like crap afterwards because our baby somehow didn’t quite fit with other people’s comments. It used to make me feel very anxious but you are right when you say that as time goes by our confidence as parents grows and we are better at trusting our instincts. I feel quite free now that I don’t consult goggle every 5 seconds!

    #FortheloveofBlog

  • everythingsrosieandgeorge

    Thank god for google! I think I’d have had at least 1000 more trips to the doctor/health visitor if I hadn’t been able to ask Google everything I needed to know. Blogging has definitely been such a great help for me too, instead of random Google answers I can now turn to actual people in the same situation as me! It’s so great to feel more confident in yourself isn’t it, but at least we know Google will be there when we have to help with random homework questions we won’t have done for 20 years haha xx #fortheloveofblog

  • Petite Pudding

    Sometimes you just have to google because you don’t want anyone to think the questions you are asking are ridiculous and luckily your computer can’t judge you – I cant imagine having to turn to my husband and asking him what him what he thought about some of the many embarassing pregnancy complaints. Good old google saving the day, one crazy neurotic question at a time! Thanks for hosting #fortheloveofBLOG

  • thebusymumnet

    I’m 100% sure that I wouldn’t have kept my son alive without Google. I’m a YouTube parent too…so when my LO gets a new toy, I have to YouTube it, to see how to put it together and how it works!!

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