Unwanted advice......

Right on!!

Don't always trust what your pediatrician tells never implicitly believe what they say.

They don't know everything.

Do what you think is right and get advice from people you trust.

Oh how true you are. Advice came from everyone that would give it. Just listen to the advice and see if it is better or not and do what you think is right.

As a single father - the worst time for me with respect to advice was potty training. It seemed that everyone around me knew that my daughter wasn't being trained properly. After that, I stopped listening - so if anyone did give advice - I didn't hear it.

Good luck with your daughter.

Paula- You are the parent you do what you feel is right. I wouls simply say to whoever gives you the advice Thank you for the suggestion and then do what you want.

Sometimes unwanted advice is wonderful. There has been many of times that I didn't want advice and it actually worked out to be great advice that I used many of times.

Best of luck with your daughter.

How To Handle Unwanted Advice
We're all prone to getting unsolicited advice from friends, family, or strangers at times. People give advice for many reasons, some of which are well-intentioned, others less so. It can be confusing knowing what to do with all the types of unsolicited advice that we encounter, so it helps to examine where the words might be coming from.

Helpful Motives for Unsolicited Advice:

Altruism: Often people offer advice just because of the simple reason that they think they can help you, and they want to make your life easier. Perhaps there's something they know of that they think would work perfectly with your situation or personality, and they would love to hook you up with something that would improve your life or reduce your stress.

Friendliness: Sometimes unsolicited advice is offered by a as a way to start a conversation, or by a friend or family memberto perhaps forge stronger connection.

Excitement: Other times, unsolicited advice comes from those who have found something that works for them, and they want to share it with the world. They see your situation as a perfect fit for this new product, tool or piece of wisdom that's made their life so much better, and wish someone had told them about it sooner, so they share.

Whether or not the advice fits with your values or specific situation, this type of advice generally feels good to get.

Once you've thought about where advice can come from, and examined your own thoughts and feelings to see if perhaps you're being overly sensitive,

Decide if you want advice from this person. After thinking about the possible motivations of your self-appointed advisor, looking inward at your own reactions to the advice and the advice-giver, and perhaps even considering 'political ramifications' (if it's an office situation) you can figure out if accepting the advice (and future advice) is a good idea, or if you'd be better off curbing this dynamic in your relationship.
If you want to take the advice and get future advice from this person, it's easy to thank them for their advice, ask them to expand on it, and remember it in your life. (However, if your situation were that easy, you probably wouldn't be reading this article, so on to steps 4, 5 and 6.)
If you want to make the other person feel valued, but don't want to take the advice, say, "Thank you; I'll take that into consideration," and then change the subject. This way, you can think about the advice and immediately discard it, but still let them know that you value their thoughts.
If you want to draw a boundary with this person to eventually prevent loads of unsolicited advice from them, you can politely but firmly say, "That's a good idea, but I have my own way of handling this," and change the subject. If they persist, you can say supportive, but noncommittal things like, "I'm glad that works for you. There are so many different ways of doing things," or more firm things like, 'Thanks, but I'm doing fine."
If the unsolicited advice keeps occurring, you can choose to keep ignoring it, or you can gently but firmly tell them that you don't need any advice. "Thanks, but I really don't need advice; I'm already researching a solution," or "Thanks, but if I need advice, I'll be sure to ask for it."
Try to remember that the advice is most likely coming either from a place of wanting to help you, or of needing to feel important. At best, it's meant as altruism, and at worst, it's coming from a weak place, but not a mean place, in the other person.

You tell them!!! I had the same thing when my first son was born!! It drove me crazy!! You will definitely know what to do and what is best for your daughter!

Are you asking me for my advice?...

I'd just say "thank you".

Just stick to your guns, and keep doing what you are doing.
Most people mean well, but I remember how irratating it could become!

People drove me crazy!!!
The weirdest piece of advice was to literally flip my child over from head to toes three times so she would sleep through the night. How strange was that.

Please remember a parent's instincts are very very strong when it comes to their child.

Well mine aren't babies anymore and people are still trying to tell me how to raise them lol. I just smile and nod and then do what it my way lol

yes shannon, in this case i am asking for advice! lol

Well you would be talking about my MIL!! LOL! I am sorry but I never took her advice-she once told me to give Kyle sugar water/jello water for something I don't even remember what now and I never did but she did and he had 4 rotten teeth because of it! Her answer to everything was pop. or juice and even though I told her not to she did! Who puts pop in a BOTTLE for a baby!!?? Stick to your decisions and your ways!!

I just let it go in one ear and out the other, as I knew their intentions were good, so I didn't want to hurt their feelings.

April has given you some suggestions about thinking about the motives for their advice you have not solicited.........Another thing to remember: when your baby is a little older, and you and your husband have solved many problems, faced various issues and come away wiser, you will meet the new mom or dad and you will want to share the wisdom you acquired over the first years and later. You'll want to make their trek through early infanthood easier. Advice givers are not necessarily thinking you and your husband don't know what you're doing, though there may be a small number of people who do that. The majority of advice givers just see a beautiful child, know you love her and want what's best and think they can help a sometimes rocky road a little easier.
If you don't want to consider the advice, just nod and say 'uh huh' and 'oh really' as though you are making notes. And remember, some of it may come in handy some time in the future.
I am a parent, by the way, and I learned all of the things I am saying to you. Sometimes down the road a bit of unsolicited advice comes in handy.
You do have a beautiful baby by the way. Thanks for sharing her picture with us.

I didn't like the barrage of advice either. I trusted my Dr. but that was the wrong move too...go with your gut and if you don't like the answers from the Dr. find one who will help.
I tell people I appreciate input but don't take offense if I do what I want anyway, it's my life and most of us try to do the very best for our kids.

Shirley S your words
"Advice givers are not necessarily thinking you and your husband don't know what you're doing, though there may be a small number of people who do that. The majority of advice givers just see a beautiful child, know you love her and want what's best and think they can help a sometimes rocky road a little easier." are right on.

I always just smile and tell people I appreciate their advice. I don't think people mean to offend or imply you don't know what you're doing when they give advice, they're just trying to be helpful!

When I'm confronted with unsolicited advice I just shake it off. Getting upset doesn't help and giving the advisor a piece of my mind wouldn't help either. Unsolicited Advisors do it because they genuinely believe they are helping you. Their presentation often needs re-adjusting, but I really do think their heart is in the right place. Are they being busybodies? Yes. Are they off-base? Usually, but they mean well. The only reason they are targeting you is because you're fresh meat. New parents stick out like sore thumbs. It will pass.

When people come up to you and say, "OH! Is this your FIRST???" You could answer, "No, it's my fourth." That will shut them up! (hint: use any number greater than 2) :-)

I agree with Elsie, tell the your have four or five. tell them the babies twin brother is at home..

Believe it or not these ppl with advice think that they are helping and they are truly trying to share with you, BUT you are the baby's Mommy and in your heart only you will know what is best for her. As far as medical help, if you need it of course, ask a prefessional. When you get the advice from other's try your best to be sincere and thank them for it and that you will take it into account.
Good luck Mommy.................................thx for sharing...................... :O)

I always listen and say "thanks" if it's something that might make sense. It doesn't bother me when someone gives me advice, as long as they have kids, or work closely with kids. The only ones that bother me are the ones that say things like "I would never let my kid scream in Walmart!" etc, even though they have no kids of their own. It's a lot easier to keep an invisible baby quiet. :)

This article brought back memories of when mine were babies. Oh my...it seems as though everyone had advice to give to me. Like you..if I asked for it...it was welcome. And sometimes even when I didn't ask...if it was truly valuable advice. What really upset me was when advice was given with an insinuation that the way I was doing it wasn't quite right. I had to just tell these people nicely that as much as I appreciated their advice, it was up to me and my husband to make such decisions...and that we probably would make some mistakes along the way.

I wish you the best. I know how annoying it can be.

Brought back memories. Specially advice on how to discipline my child, when I already had two and knew from experience that the same discipline doesn't work on different kids.

Mostly I just smiled and said thanks, then did what made sense.

Sometimes unwanted advice is the best because it gives you a different perspective.

HOWEVER: the best way to handle "advice" from everyone is to say this:

"I'll take that into consideration."

Good article, and you got lots of good advice here, too, lol!

Just smile sweetly, say thank you and change the subject.

Larry, My name is E L I S E. Not Elsie. Sorry, I just can't let that go. It comes from years of mispronunciations. You'll get it right next time. :-) LOL

I usually just say "thanks for the advice" and usually forget all about it if I think it's bunk. If it's unsolicited, it's usually bunk.

"Thanks, I've got it covered." :)

I had been taking care of younger siblings for years before I had my own children so was knowledgeable to start with.. I took good advice and used it, ignored the rest. Don't sweat the small stuff. If someone persisted I would say I will think about it thank you and change the subject. Good luck and enjoy.