Summer Health: What to do if you have parenting questions as a new mom

Are you a new mom feeling like you’re navigating an uncharted territory? You’re not alone in this wild ride called parenthood. With each passing day, your little bundle of joy brings new challenges and questions that leave you scratching your head. But fear not, dear mama! This article is here to serve as your ultimate guide on what to do when those parenting questions start swirling in your mind. Get ready to conquer the uncertainties and embrace the joys of motherhood with confidence!

This post is sponsored by Summer Health. All Opinions are my own.

Picture this: it’s 3 a.m., and you find yourself sleep-deprived, holding a crying baby in one hand while frantically typing Why won’t my newborn sleep? into Google with the other. As a new mom, there’s no denying that the journey can be overwhelming at times. From breastfeeding dilemmas to establishing routines and soothing techniques – it’s easy to get lost in a sea of uncertainty. But fret not! This article is here to provide answers, reassurance, and practical advice for all those puzzling parenting questions that keep you up at night (literally!).

Table of Contents

Seek support from experienced mothers

One of the best resources for answering your parenting questions is other mothers who have been through similar experiences. Don’t hesitate to reach out to friends, family members, or even online communities dedicated to new moms. They can provide valuable insights and advice based on their own personal experiences. Remember that every child is different, but hearing different perspectives can help you find what works best for your own unique situation.

Option: Asking Google your parenting questions – can be messy

Asking Google your parenting questions can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, the wealth of information at our fingertips is incredible. With just a few clicks, we can access countless articles, forums, and expert advice on any topic imaginable. This allows us to gather different perspectives and make more informed decisions.

However, this abundance of information can also be overwhelming. When you ask Google a question like how do I get my toddler to sleep through the night? you’re likely to receive hundreds of conflicting answers. One website might promote gentle sleep training methods while another swears by strict schedules. This can leave parents feeling confused and uncertain about which approach is best for their child.

While asking Google your parenting questions can provide valuable insights and support, it’s crucial to approach it with caution. Use the internet as a tool rather than the ultimate authority on parenting decisions. Trust your intuition as a parent, and seek guidance from trusted sources like pediatricians or experienced parents in your community. I have a better pro mom tip than asking Google coming up shortly, keep reading!

Woman laughing and carrying her child on a beach

Nowadays, women are under more pressure than ever, mostly due to myths that are making motherhood miserable.

Option: Facebook Groups for moms – proceed with caution

Asking parenting questions in Facebook groups can be a great way to seek advice and support from a wide range of parents. One major advantage is the sheer diversity of opinions and experiences you can tap into. With thousands of members in these groups, you are likely to receive a variety of responses, providing you with different perspectives on the issue at hand. This can be particularly helpful when dealing with unique or uncommon situations that may not have readily available answers elsewhere.

While the vast amount of advice may seem overwhelming, it’s crucial to remember that not all the answers provided from Facebook groups will be accurate or reliable. Anyone with an internet connection can join these communities and voice their opinion, which means there is also an increased risk of misinformation. It’s essential to fact-check and verify any advice received before applying it to your own parenting journey. Verifying the information received from Facebook on your own is a separate full-time job, which is why I have a better recommendation coming at you in a bit!

Another potential downside from the anonymous world of Facebook groups are the mom shamers. Everyone has an opinion and many use Facebook groups to feel superior by belittling new moms struggling to find answers. When you go on Facebook to ask parenting questions, keep in mind that people’s opinions might be biased or just based on their own experiences. Sometimes they’ll give you unwanted judgments that can stress you out or make you feel like a bad parent.

Option: Call a friend (for mom advice) – with a grain of salt

While it can be tempting to turn to mom friends or family for parenting advice, there are both pros and cons to consider before doing so. One major advantage is the emotional support and reassurance that comes from discussing your concerns with someone who knows you well. Friends can offer empathy and understanding, making you feel less alone in the challenges of parenting.

On the other hand, relying solely on friends’ opinions may limit your perspective. Every child and every family is unique, so what works for one parent may not work for another. Seeking professional guidance or consulting a variety of sources can provide a broader array of ideas and strategies tailored to your specific situation. It’s important to strike a balance between listening to friends’ experiences while also considering expert advice. Keep reading for a recommended approach to receiving expert advice.

Additionally, when turning to friends for parenting questions, it’s crucial to remember that their opinions might be biased or based solely on their personal beliefs and experiences. Sometimes these opinions can become unsolicited judgments, causing unnecessary stress or feelings of inadequacy as a parent. So, take what your friends or family members say with a grain of salt and think about what fits best with your own values and situation.

Consult reliable sources and experts

If you’re facing a specific challenge or have concerns about certain aspects of parenting, it’s always a good idea to consult reliable sources and experts in the field. Look for reputable books, blogs, or websites authored by pediatricians, child psychologists, or other professionals with expertise in parenting matters. While it’s important to remember that not everything you read will be applicable to your situation specifically, these resources can provide helpful guidance on general parenting practices and strategies.

A better option yet is to ask your questions live to a licensed pediatrician.

Option: Asking your Pediatrician – for parenting advice

Asking a doctor for parenting advice can provide numerous benefits. Doctors have extensive medical knowledge and experience, allowing them to offer informed guidance on various health-related aspects of parenting. From vaccinations and common illnesses to nutrition and developmental milestones, doctors have the expertise to address these concerns. Consulting a doctor can ease anxieties about your child’s well-being since they possess firsthand knowledge of your child’s medical history.

However, there are some challenges with seeking parenting advice from doctors. One major drawback is the limited time doctors have during appointments. They may not be able to thoroughly discuss all your concerns or provide in-depth advice on certain parenting topics that may fall outside their expertise. Additionally, doctors’ recommendations might be influenced by pharmaceutical constraints rather than individualized approaches for each child or family situation.

Wait for it, the recommendation is next!

But by all means please continue to take your child to their wellness check ups, follow all recommended vaccination schedules, and take prescriptions as per your doctor’s order. This next recommendation is focused on the daily questions you may have and don’t get to ask outside your scheduled doctor’s appointments, and any issues that may come up where reaching your doctor’s office would take more time.

Option: Summer Health – for pediatric telehealth

You made it! Now for the option you’ve been waiting for.

Why Telehealth?

Telehealth, the ability to receive medical care virtually, has become a game-changer for parents in today’s fast-paced world. With telehealth, parents now have the convenience of scheduling appointments around their busy lives and avoiding unnecessary trips to the doctor’s office.

One of the biggest advantages of telehealth for parents is the immediate access to medical advice and support. Whether you’re dealing with a stubborn rash or a fussy eater, telehealth allows you to connect with healthcare professionals from the comfort of your own home. This not only saves time but also provides peace of mind as you can quickly get answers to your burning questions without having to venture out into germ-filled waiting areas.

Ultimately, telehealth brings convenience, accessibility, and active participation to parenting by making healthcare more accessible than ever before.

What is Summer Health?

Summer Health Everyday Care is a text-based service for parents to get your questions answered in real time by pediatricians. They’ve launched a family-centric approach to primary care, giving parents immediate and unlimited access to medical practitioners. This care team includes a lead pediatrician and medical team, as well as specialists such as sleep coaches, lactation consultants, and nutritionists. Their Care Hub app allows parents to easily manage their children’s health all in one place with visit notes, milestone tracking, and treatment plans.

Summer Health‘s biggest value to new moms is the ease and timeliness of this care. Imagine waiting for your nurse to call back to answer a question, especially during the weekend? Now imagine sending a text to your personalized team, and getting a response within 15 minutes. That’s the power of the Summer Health program.

Summer Health solves the need for in-between and specialty care to augment, not replace your relationship with your own pediatrician. Summer Health learned from their parents that when it comes to caring for their families, there are so many more needs that primary care isn’t able to address – the in-between questions that happen outside typical visits, a desire for deeper relationships and continuity in care, and a team in place all under one roof for all integrated needs, one that not only knows you but also evolves and grows with you as your children grow and have new needs. Everyday Care is the solution for this.

Say goodbye to frantic late-night Googling sessions because Summer Health has got your back!

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My Experience with Summer Health

Summer Health gave me a trial of their program so I could check it out and share it with you.

Can I just say, as an aside, I totally needed something like this when my child was born! You see, I didn’t have a network of family living nearby to help me, and pediatrician visits were what, 15 minutes long? I had some coworkers who were less new at parenting than me so I could ask them some questions, and a few friends I still kept up with here and there. Add to that, my husband was away for a year and a half while our son was a toddler, so I really was managing it all on my own. I had one neighbor who was an absolute amazing friend during that time, who I probably overwhelmed with all my daily overwhelming questions.

Now my son is in elementary school and my questions are no longer daily. But I took an opportunity to ask a question about some behavioral struggles, and got a reply almost immediately! It was the middle of the day and I was making lunch, and chatting with a child specialist.

I also tested the system by asking a question at 7pm on a Sunday, and it took a little longer to get connected to a pediatrician. But, I continually got text messages to update me on the status. True to their word, as outlined on their FAQs, if they ever can’t connect you to the doctor in 15 minutes they refund or give discounts on your monthly subscription to compensate for that. And I still got a reply within 45 minutes that high volume evening.

While the questions I used to test it out this past week have been more general to my child’s age, the purpose of this subscription is to help moms with all their baby and young child needs. Does your child have a fever? I mean, you could go to urgent care. Or you could text with a physician and get personalized help right at home.

Try Summer Health and use my code EXCLUSIVE3MO which provides 3 free months!

Common Questions New Moms Ask

You can ask for all kinds of help and advice from your Summer Health personal care team, but here are some common questions new moms often want to know about caring for their babies.

How do I care for my newborn’s umbilical cord stump?
How often should I feed my baby?
How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk?
What is the right amount of sleep for my newborn?
When should I start sleep training my baby?
How can I soothe my crying baby? How do I handle colic?
Is my baby gaining enough weight?
How do I get my child to sleep through the night? Is sleep regression common for their age?
When and how should I introduce solids to my kids? What do I need to know about food allergies?
What’s the best sleeping arrangement for my baby?
Should I wake my baby up for feeding during the night?
What vaccinations does my baby need, and when?
When should I be concerned about my baby’s milestones?
I can’t get my baby to latch, what can I do about breastfeeding challenges?
I have anxiety when I leave my kids, how do I teach them about stranger safety?
How do I deal with these power struggles?

When to call the doctor? These situations below warrant reaching out to a doctor and are a great use of Summer Health’s text-based system to get your child taken care of right away.

My baby has a fever.
My child has a persistent cough or trouble breathing.
Does this rash look normal? How do I treat it?
My child has a cold, should I keep them home from school?
Does my child have an ear infection?
My child has persistent vomiting or diarrhea.
Is this pink eye?
My child fell and hit their head, should I be worried about this bump?
My child appears dehydrated.

Trust your instincts

As a new mom, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice and opinions from various sources. While seeking guidance from others is important, ultimately trust your instincts as a mother; after all, no one knows your baby better than you do! Do what feels right for both you and your child – there is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting. By focusing on building a strong bond with your little one and being responsive to their needs while also taking care of yourself mentally and physically, you’ll gradually gain confidence in your own abilities as a new mom.