New parents are hilarious. I can say that because I was a new parent once — and I'm guessing that if you are reading this site, that means you have been as well (or will be at some point soon). One of the best things about our new parent selves is just how clueless we were when it came to the whole baby-raising thing. Technically speaking, we all read the books, but there is a certain bit of know-how that you can't get until after actually being in the game for some time. My husband and I have spent many a moment saying, "Wow, do you remember when we did XYZ when so-and-so was a baby?" And like everyone, we were just trying our best, but how many of these moments (which come from my very own new parenting playbook, by the way) do you look back on now and have a chuckle?
Remember how gently you put on and off those tiny little newborn clothes? And holding her for those first few weeks? All new parents have those moments of being afraid of breaking a finger or arm. Source: Flickr user Scott Granneman
Strollers, breast pumps, nursing pillows, bottles, pacifiers . . . if you were buying it for your baby, then you were researching it! Source: Flickr user Ray Smith
Admit it: you've googled various rashes and spots worried that a deadly disease was forming itself on your babe's skin in the form of a small blemish. Source: Flickr user Eric Lanning
Things like: What does normal newborn poop look like? Why is my baby drooling? Do babies dream? How come babies don't have bad breath? Source: Flickr user jacinta lluch valero
Or better yet, like me, paid extra for the infant tub with the built-in warning system that would tell you if your baby's bath water was too hot or cold. Source: Flickr user JoséMa Orsini
Raise your hand if you had a notebook. And you tracked your kiddo's sleep right down to the minute. And stared at it for hours to figure out the magical formula for getting your baby to sleep more. Source: Flickr user Seth Baur
Let's be honest, you had a good time, but did your baby really need it? Source: Flickr user Kelly Roselle
. . . And now you can't get her to stop moving for two seconds. Source: Flickr user Ian Grove-Stephensen
Won't make that mistake again, now will we? Source: Flickr user Travis Swan
It was a lot. It's OK, we all did it. Source: Flickr user marty hadding
The fact that junior had not pooped for 12 hours was literally keeping you up at night. Source: Flickr user Sellers Patton
No, seriously — I really told myself that I would never feed my baby jarred food. Which turned into, OK only organic jarred food. Which turned into, oh well, these were on sale. Which led to, what the heck, let me just smush up these french fries at a restaurant. Source: Flickr user Frédérique Voisin-Demery
I have hours of video footage (I'm not joking) of my firstborn child possibly, maybe, almost reaching for a toy for the first time. I went back to watch some old videos other day and just laughed. Source: Flickr user Madeleine Ball
Why on earth would you do that? Grandma was right; never wake a sleeping baby. Source: Flickr user Nate Davis
I'll never forget the first time my kiddo got a fever (or what I considered to be a fever as a new mom) and had no other symptoms. Obviously I rang the after-hours line at the doctor's office. Her temp didn't even break 100, and the pediatrician explained to me to call back if it went higher; otherwise, stop worrying. Source: Flickr user Bradley Gordon
You know you marched into the pediatrican's office with a list of ridiculous questions. "Is it OK if my baby sleeps with this incredibly small and lightweight lovey over his face?" Or, "Can you look at this picture and tell me if his crib looks SIDS safe?" Source: Flickr user Nico
Especially germs from other peoples' kids. Source: Flickr user Valerie Everett
You would always put your baby to bed well before the sitter arrived — and you basically paid her to study for her exams on your couch instead of hers. Source: Flickr user Alessandro Valli
Extra diapers, bottles, formula, snacks, change of clothes, infant Tylenol, Band-Aids, wipes, portable wipe warmer, etc. Source: Flickr user Janet
If the baby was in the room, the TV went off. If by chance you did allow screen time, it would've been timed. Source: Flickr user Carolien Dekeersmaeker
It's an exciting time. It is. But looking back you now realize your baby had absolutely no idea what the heck was happening — and that all your childless friends thought you were crazy. Source: Flickr user Elese Moran
Guilty as charged here. I agonized over the decision over which preschool would be the perfect fit for my firstborn. You know, for the four hours a week she started out at. Source: Flickr user Katie Baxter-Kauf
That first drop-off playdate or birthday party is a tough one. I definitely called the party girl's mom to talk to her about what the girls would be doing (and then I ended up staying for half of it anyway). Source: Flickr user MissMessie