Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.
Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.
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Notes -
After trying for years, my wife is pregnant with our first. Any advice from the parents of the Motte? Books, bloggers, etc. I know about Emily Oster, but it is challenging to find solid advice for parenting.
I liked Mayo Clinic books.
From a more personal standpoint: nothing you do matters much, so unclench your sphincters. You have to be [actively malicious](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genie_(feral_child)) to fuck up your child. You see people from dysfunctional homes grow up into upstanding citizens, you see people from good families shoot up schools. Your socioeconomic status and genes have already defined something like 85% of your kid's future. The remaining part will be shared between you, school, friends and random internet strangers.
Formula vs breastfeeding, co-sleeping vs separate rooms, letting the baby cry it out vs singing lullabies, two walks a day vs no set number of walks a day, daytime sleeping outside vs sleeping inside... who cares, just keep your wife happy.
You will fuck something up. You will set a bad example for your kid. You will feel like you don't spend enough time with him or her. You will lose your temper and make the kid cry in fear. It's okay to feel bad about this; it's not okay to redefine yourself as a bad dad just because you've done this.
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