What is Educated, Common Sense Parenting?

Ask anyone who knows me as a mom and they'll tell you I don't always follow typical "rules" for parenting. I tossed out What to Expect When You're Expecting when I was 3 months pregnant (too stressful) and started Brooke on lowfat milk when she was 18 months--a definite no-no according to "the books." I definitely don't go too much "by the book" or rely too heavily on what "they" say. However, I do a heck of a lot of reading and research on parenting issues. Then I rely on what I call "Educated, Common Sense Parenting."

Educated, Common Sense Parenting is exactly what it sounds like--a parenting style that is based upon lots of research, reading, talking to people (the "Education" part) and then making decisions based on your own gut feelings and what works for your family (the "Common Sense" part). What Educated, Common Sense Parenting IS NOT is for example, is making the decision to put rice cereal in your baby's bottle just because your mom did it with you, therefore it should be fine. Before making that decision, you would have had to consult not only your doctor, but friends, other family members and yes, maybe even "the book." And don't assume everything your doctor says or what you read in the mainstream "What to Expect" books is what's right for you. Brooke's Doctor told her is was perfectly OK that she was eating at 3am when she was 5 months old. That definitely was NOT "right" for me!

This is what Educated, Common Sense Parenting IS: Take for instance, the issue of co-sleeping in the family bed. When making the decision to co-sleep, a parent should do their research. They should visit message boards, blogs, talk to friends, medical professionals and of course, read Dr. Sear's book. But then in the end, a common sense decision should be made. And in this case common sense SHOULD tell you....uh....you could crush your kid death!!! What the hell are you thinking??! I don't care what research says about "attachment parenting" building confidence in kids. Use your common sense here, people! Would you rather have an insecure kid or a pancake-flat kid? However, this decision was based on my being INFORMED on the issues. I know what attachment parenting is and I know what the pros of this parenting method are. But I am making my decision based on common sense. And THAT my friends, is Educated, Common Sense Parenting.