7 Surefire Ways to Drive a New Mom Insane

Having attempted this thing they call sleep training myself not so very long ago (successfully, then unsuccessfully, then successfully again), I know it's not as easy as it sounds. It completely depends on your baby, your tolerance for tears, and your own threshold for functioning on minimal sleep. So listen, nod, offer a suggestion or two if she asks . . . but don't tell her what she's doing wrong and how easy it was for you and your baby. That's not what she wants to hear.

Some babies sleep better when they're with their parents. Some don't. Some moms are committed to an attachment parenting approach. Some think that cosleeping is dangerous. Whether her baby sleeps in a crib, in a bed, or anywhere else, that's her family's decision, and it really doesn't impact anyone else.

Want to get a new mom — or any mom, really — seriously fired up? Challenge her views on vaccinations. Right up there with politics and religion, this one can bring a dinner party conversation (or, in new-mom world, a coffee date) to an abrupt halt.

For many women, breastfeeding is the single biggest challenge of early motherhood. If a new mom in your life has made the decision to nurse exclusively, support her. If she's dealing with a fussy, unsatisfied baby, suggest that she talk to her pediatrician to get an expert opinion rather than offering your own.

The American Association of Pediatrics now recommends introducing solids at 6 months. For moms of older kids (and certainly for our own moms), this may seem like a while to wait. If your friend is going by the book and listening to her own pediatrician's recommendations, don't question her decision — she's probably done her research.

You've probably heard the saying "There are a million ways to be a great mom." Likewise, there are a million ways to be a great dad. Just because her significant other isn't taking the same approach that yours did (or that you wish yours did) doesn't mean he isn't trying his hardest in his own way. It's great to have a friend who's a sounding board for vents and frustrations — it's not so great to have one who stirs up discontent unnecessarily.