Does this mean I will be an over protective mother??

Question

I am the youngest of the family and have never realy been around babies or kids at all. In fact there was a time when I was completely a wreck about caring for a child because I had no idea what I was doing. Now that I am 26 weeks pregnant, I am around my friends baby a lot more. She comes over with him and he crawls around my house and such so I try to be really attentive about what he is doing and getting into. Like I didn't think he should be crawling on a concrete patio and I closed off the room to the kitty's litter box. Things like that. She said I am going to be too over protective of my baby and that I need to relax. I think that you should watch carefully over a child but I don't want to be too over bearing of my baby. When does it cross the line from good parenting to overbearing?

Answer 1

Sounds like you are doing a good job to me. A baby can be hurt on concrete easily so while you may want to take the risk with your own baby so it can learn and explore, it takes a sharp eye to make sure he/she doesn't get into trouble.

Don't worry too much. Enjoy the pregancy, the baby, life in general. You can worry about being a bad mother later, when he/she is out on their first date. ;-)

Answer 2

Nah maybe she isn't protective enough. You have to do whatever you have to do protect your young baby. As your baby gets older (I don't know how old you are) try to think back on how you were and what you would have wanted. The you can figure out a common line to raise your child.

But yes a child shouldn't crawl on a concrete patio OR get in kitty litter so it sounds like you will be just fine. Anything you don't know you will learn as you raise your child. When in doubt always ask someone knowledgeable.

Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 3

Nothing wrong with baby-proofing the house - like closing the door to the litter box. Sit down on the floor and look around - you'll get a good idea of what the baby sees that might catch his/her attention. Is it life-threatening for a child the age yours is? If so, do something about it. If all they'll get is perhaps a small bruise, ignore it since they do need to learn about gravity and such.

Too attentive would be not letting the baby crawl around and explore because he might get dirty. Or not out in the yard because she might eat a blade of grass. Some things you have to let slide. Common sense goes a long way.

Answer 4

I am the baby of my family and i was never really around kids much younger than me very often. Then suddenly at 19 I was having twins! I find myself as they near being two being able to handle things in a rational manner. I had no idea how to raise a child and my mother was VERY overprotective of me but I seem to be doing fine. Yes you do have to be somewhat overprotective because they are babies and they dont know any better and thats what we are here for, to keep them safe but just because you are new to the baby game doesnt mean you will be an overbearing mother. It will come with time and you will get a feel for your children and be able to tell if a particular situation needs some assistance or avoidance.

Answer 5

If the baby is old enough to be crawling without trouble, I would let it crawl on the cement patio, as for the litterbox, those things are disgusting and babies love sticking stuff in their mouth, so I would definately close that off! Its good to watch over a baby carefully... By the time they understand what they are allowed and not allowed to do, where they are allowed to go and not allowed to you should let your baby have a little more freedom... You don't always have to be right next to your baby, but until he/she is able to walk around the house knowing the basic rules (usually around 2yrs old) you should try to keep the baby in the same room as you or in a safe playpen... When you do let your child wander around in rooms you aren't in, still keep an eye on him/her, glance up and check what your baby is doing every 5 or 10minutes just so you have an idea of what is going on... You just have to remember, kids will be kids, and just because your 18month old baby falls on the patio while he/she is learning to walk and scrapes his/her knee doesn't mean the patio is dangerous, kids constantly get cuts and scrapes and bruises, its normal...
Ex: 2 kids I babysit, one of them (who is 2 1/2yrs old) fell while he was running up a driveway and completely scraped his nose and forehead, he cried for 20minutes and then had completely forgotten about it, couple weeks later and the scrape was completely gone
The other ran and hit his dead on the corner of a table, he has a big lump and bruise on his head, he is totally fine...

Accidents happen, it wont make you a bad parent, kids will be kids and they will grow up... Give them some freedom and try to encourage them to play with others and not get too upset when mommy or daddy isn't with them all the time...

Answer 6

I dont see anything wron with what you just described doing for your friends baby. Imagine the mess and disease the baby could have encountered getting into the kitty box? I believe you are gonna do just fine. Maybe picking up your baby every time it cries out or following the new baby you will have all over the place when it starts to crawl is a bit much? But I dont think. I did that with my son for years. I was very protective as a dad and my kid is now an adult and doing just fine thank you. You are gonna be a good Mommy. Listen to your heart.

Answer 7

Things like getting into the litter box etc you are right about. Babies could get really sick getting into the litter box.
The thing is once you have your baby it will probably come much more natural to you. And usually when you are pregnant you are more paranoid too because those hormones are going crazy.

Babies do need to be watched!!! That is not over protective. And is there such a thing as over protective??? Can you ever keep your children too safe???
I am very protective of my kids...right now they are outside playing without me but they know they have to stay where I can see them. They know what they are allowed and what they are not. They have been allowed to explore in the house and outside the house. But they have limits and there are consequences if they pass them. Its about boundaries.
Love the baby and it will be ok!

Answer 8

You have to watch them very closely when they are babies but just make sure that you relax more when the child gets older. Once you are around kids more you will learn what to be protective over and what to relax about. I have always been around kids because I had my first niece when I was 13 so I have learned a little more than most people over the last 12 years. just be very observant around other mothers and soon you will learn.

Answer 9

When you are a first time mother you are going to be over protective. The trick is learning how to balance it out.

I heard it put this way once........

"Being a child is like a marble rolling around and around a square. For the first while to corners and very sharp and the marble must slow down to turn the corner but after awhle the corners get worn down and the marble can turn the corner without slowing at all."

I was the oldest and my parents were the srticktest with me. I couldn't do things that my younger sister could do. Parenting is like that. Learn to strike a balance.

good luck honey

Answer 10

You are overprotective, if try to protect you child from every situation where he might get a cut, scratch, or minor bruise. Kids need to learn that if they do certain things there will be certain consequences. Let me cite an example, when your baby starts to walk, are you going to coddle him every time he trys to walk and fall down? If you do, he will NEVER learn to walk. If everytime the child seeks attention by crying, and you come running everytime, then the child has trained you, instead of the other way around.

Answer 11

You are doing everything that you think you should be doing. This is great!

You will find your own rhythym when your baby is born. Maybe you will be overprotective - most mothers, especially at the beginning, are. As baby gets older you will learn what is safer, what is worth the risk, what's too risky, what you can control and what you can't.

I'd shut the door to the litter box too! Mainly because of the mess but I dont want my kid getting her hands into cat dung!