Some things I wished I had known before having a baby

Baby's cries

Why do babies cry? They say that mom just KNOWS why.
This is total and complete bullshit.
For the first few months my husband and I constantly played the guessing game as to why our daughter was crying. We eventually figured out the cause after eliminating all others.

As the baby grows, parents LEARN how to recognise certain signs like fatigue, hunger, pain or just "hold meeeeee" whimpers.

Importance of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is best for your baby. Antibodies. Perfect food. Yadda yadda.
YES this is all true and moms to be read all about that stuff and some choose to breastfeed, others do offer formula.

But has anybody told you about how fucking CONVENIENT THIS SHIT IS?
Seriously. Moms have ready made milk, perfect temperature, perfect consistency, perfect everything right there, anytime, anywhere. She just lifts her shirt and pops the boob in the tiny human's mouth. That's it.
With formula there's definitely more work involved. Nurses at maternity wards should definitely insist on this aspect if they want to convince moms to breastfeed.

You cannot spoil your baby

It's true.
I was so freaking out that certain things that I do will set the grounds for bad habits in my daughter later on. NOPE. Until they reach about 8-10 months, spoiling is the least of your worries. Babies need to be much older to understand that they're being spoiled. I went over my head with affection and holding and picking her up at her slightest cry BECAUSE I WANTED TO.
She turned out just fine.
No ragrets.

Co sleeping

Having a giant scar on my uterus was quite painful and getting up 20+ times a night was also painful and I was a walking train wreck so one night I thought "fuck this" so I put my daughter into bed with me. We both slept better. Much better. Nursing was a breeze and my husband and I got plenty of rest. That's the way it worked for us and I realize it is not an option for many so, each parent will do what they think is best for their baby and themselves.

"But isn't that DANGEROUS?"
Yes. It is. If you're stoned, drunk or totally irresponsible then it is.

There are guidelines out there for safe co sleeping and it can be done. There are just some things that need to be kept in mind, that is all. Google is your friend in this.

"Back in my day...."

Stop right there.
I don't care. That was back in YOUR day so zip it.
Advice is very welcomed any day but do not try to enforce that shit on me. It's not gonna happen. I';m gonna listen to your advice, probably even try do to the things you told me and report back to tell you if it worked or not.

You need to remember that YOU are the parent. Not your mom, dad, aunt, neighbour or friend and YOU and only YOU decide how you deal with YOUR baby. Simple as that.

EDIT : I am well aware that breastfeeding moms go through a shitstorm of issues (souce : been through one myself) and weather to do it/not to do it is each and every mother's personal decision. I was just trying to point out that when I started doing it and it was so painful it almost drove me insane, I really wish I had someone tell me how much easier nursing would be compared to the formula making process (especially at 3 am while the baby is screaming), rather than lecturing me about benefits and other stuff. Many moms don't want to or can't actually breastfeed and that doesn' make them bad moms. Don';t let anyone pressure you into doing either if you do not want to.

FP edit : holy crap, guys. Thanks for all the love!
MRW I got the "Staff Pick" trophy http://i.imgur.com/JrCuAHB.gif
I'm relevant! (yelled the speck of dust)