Lets get debating :insert evil grin here:

Babykatnz wrote: um... wow... and I CBA saying anything else in response

LIKE

Smacking
I think smacking has it's place but as an everyday form of punishment then I dont think it's acceptable. I was smacked as a child and whenever I was smacked it was for a bleatin good reason.

Circumcision
After doing research on it I find it suprising that people still want to do this to their children. I'm of the opinion that if the boy wants it done then that's his choice once he turns 18 and can make the decision for himself. I'd rather not take that decision out of his hands unless there is a very good medical reason.
I dont think it looks tidier at all or cleaner and I know from my side of a couple I prefer an uncircumcised penis.
From what I've heard the HIV/circumcision thing is based on some iffy research and as such some men in Africa are getting circumcised so they dont have to use condoms anymore which to me is a very scary thing as this will most likely INCREASE the HIV rates.

BFing v FFing
I tried to avoid the other thread because I didnt really know how to put my opinion into words but I'll do my best here lol.
As long as the child is being fed then that's the important thing. Yes, I do think breastmilk is the best milk and I would like to breastfeed for as long as possible. If I'm not able then I am glad there are alternatives that I can use.
I'm also the kind of person who would advocate for a BreastMilk Bank and would contribute if I could. I'm also one who would be eager to wet nurse for someone if they wished it. Yeah, I'm a weirdo lol.

Vaginal birth v Elective c-sect
I have some pretty strong views on this from research that I have done and I think that unless there is a very good medical reason then a vaginal birth is the way to go. I was quite genuinely horrified when I found out that the NZ cesarean rate is approaching 30% when the WHO reccommends that the rate be no higher than 10% to 15%. I think higher intervention rates and the misdiagnosis of certain conditions have their contribution to this.
For me, I'm aiming for a vaginal birth and ideally I'd want a home birth but due to medical reasons (damnitt) this isn't an option for me

When to start solids
Well all I currently have to go on are the reccomendations but I do know that not every child will fit with those reccomendations. I think it's up to the parents to decide when their child is ready whether that be at 4 months or 8 months.

Homemade solids v Storebrought solids
I think home made would be better as you know exactly what is going into it and it's also cheaper. At this point I'm planning to make my own baby food where I can with minimal use of store purchased.

BLW v Pureed food
I guess it depends on the child and the parents and how they feel best to feed their child. At this point I'm looking at doing a mix.

Vaccination v Non-vaccination
I'm still researching this so reserve judgement.

Routine v Non-routine
I barely have a routine for myself but I would prefer to have at least some semblance of routine with my child even if that be a set bedtime and pre-bed ritual to go through.

CIO/CC v Not (coz I can't think of what that'd be called)
Cant really give my opinion until I have experienced this but I think they both have their place.

Cloth nappies v Disposables
I guess whatever works for you. I'm planning on using cloth but you know what they say about good intentions lol I'm not opposed to using sposies but I think that because greener options are avaliable I will make use of them. I seriously dont like the thought of icky pooey nappies going into landfills and i'm the strange sort of person who actually ENJOYS doing laundry lol. I'm also looking at making my own nappies and covers.

Lol so yeah, I'm a hippy in goth clothing.

Edited by lil_lease

Smacking
Funny, I was against it until I had a toddler, We don't use it much, and I don't see my self using it when he is old enough to understand time out and naughty chairs, there are much better ways of dicipling, and I don't get parents who say, stop hitting, whack either.

Circumcision
Go for it if you want, it does seem to be more hygenic, I wouldn't do it.

BFing v FFing
Whatever, if you want to be arsed doing all those bottles and sterilising and pay for formula you go right ahead. Though you can't deny that breastfood is always the most nutritionaly best for any baby.

Vaginal birth v Elective c-sect
VB, A girl a work is "too posh to push" I think she's just scared. After having an emergency c and a VB the recovery from a VB is a million times better

When to start solids
When you want to, I met a woman who gave her kids weetbix from 3mo and I don't think they grew any extra heads.

When to start solids
Homemade is wayyy cheaper and nicer

BLW v Pureed food
I love both

Vaccination v Non-vaccination
This is the point I got really annoyed about, because I know plenty of people who fully research Vaccinating before they choose to get their kids done, yes many people do it because they are told to, and thats crazy, but we choose to do a lot of things in life without fully researching (look at what we eat without asking what is in it).
On the other side I have met a lot of people who don't immunise, and they do it out of complete ignorance, I have heard, "I just couldn't be bothered", "we don't have those diseases anymore", and "I didn't want to hurt the baby".
There is a reason we don't have those diseases anymore, and I would be way too worried about the amount of immigrants that are coming from countries that do have still have these diseases to not immunise,

Routine vs Non-Routine
I would like to routine, but I find it way to stressful to try to implement, being that I don't really have a routine to my day. Do what works for you.   However we do have a bedtime routine, I guess, my boys don't just stay up all hours of the night.

CIO/CC vs not
I don't know how people can do the other, my boys would cry my arms as young babies despite anything I did so I would have to leave them to CC. I think that CIO really doesn't work until they are 8 months old or so. In saying all that I do think people that try to sleep train under 6 weeks old are mean and a little crazy ( newborn cuddles are the best)

Cloth nappies vs Disposables
I like cloth, but sometimes I have to use dispoables when I can't cope.

Smacking - I'm completely against smacking... I don't ever see it as necessary and think there are far more effective and relevant ways to discipline a child.

Circumcision - nope wouldn't do it if I had a boy - unnecessary IMO...

BFing vs FFing - For me, I BF... for others, great if they're gonna give BFing a go, as we all know it's nutritionally the best start... but if you wanna FF it's your business...

VB vs CC - I don't care what others do... I would prefer VB (and have had 2) but if necessary would have a CS... If for whatever reason someone else chooses elective CS I really don't care it's their recovery not mine...

Solids - when ready... I will leave as long as poss this time as life is so much simplier just BFing...

BLW vs Puree - need to look into BLW - with my others I did puree...

Vacinnation vs non - Both my kids are fully vaccinated and I researched it and decided it was the best decision - it's a bit unfair to say cos someone comes to the decision to vac they are lazy as lots of us do research it! I agree with Flissty there is a reason these these dieases are no longer around... Also with regards to the "CBAed" comments - if someone really can't be bothered reading all the research themselves, I would think the safest/best option would be to follow the advice of the health professionals - which is the case in this situation

Routine or not - we have always been pretty flexible in our routine and it works for us....

CC, CIO or not - I have never done CIO, CC with my girls and don't really like the concept...

Cloth vs disposables - we mainly used disposables but used cloth about 30% of the time... will try to use more cloth this time but we'll see

Seems vaxing is the most fiery topic on here. Vaccinations have their place and when DS1 stepped on a rusty nail when we were taking the old chicken coop apart we took him straight to the doctor and got his tetanus done because we both believe that vaxing is entirely appropriate in situations like that.
I don't agree that the drop in those diseases is down to vaccinations alone, we have better hygiene, better living situations, clean water, a better diet. All those things contribute to a healthier immune system. I've personally known a couple of children who have had an instant and dreadful reaction to their vaccinations and I've heard from a few doctors that it is very possible that children have more of a reaction to vaxing than is recorded as its not the 'done thing' to pursue any links between a child whos showing unwellness and their recent vaccinations. I have also seen in my research that many doctors do suspect that there are more reactions to the vaxing than is healthy (for lack of a better word) however due to lack of time, lack of support from the medical 'bosses' and the fact that often their income is made up in part from their support of drug companies and the like, nobody looks into it.

I'm not arguing with anybody I'm just sharing a few things I've come across.
Otherwise this is cool - its staying pretty friendly and like someone else said people can share their POV and reasons without it getting ridiculous

Emmecat wrote: Oh and we left off Vegetarian vs Meat (just to increase the wind up factor lol) VEGETARIAN   My work here is done. Now I will go hide in a corner and wait for the backlash

You cruel and unusual parent you! How can you sleep at nght knowing you're deprivng your children of MEAT!!!!! Hide in that corner lady coz all the cows are coming to trample you!!

Joking Hahahaha....

I think meat has its place and in fact I'm a big fan but other than bacon on occasion I don't eat pork! Do you know it doesn't actually digest? It rots in your stomach/intestines and gets passed that way

This is an interesting topic!

Smacking - No, although the threat of a smack on the butt from Dad was enough to pull me into line as a child.

Circumcision - No, it's mutilation.

BFing vs FFing - If you can BF, go for it. I was lucky to be able to BF. DS slept through the night for first time at 8 months after he was fully weaned from me and FF. Big ups for FF there.

VB vs CS - None of my business really. Most CS women don't get the choice. Anyone who is to posh to push though, how could you readily choose major abdominal surgery... ouch. The vagina is designed for childbirth.

Solids - Between 4-6 months, when the baby is hungry - and you will know! So much easier just BF/FFing for at least 6 months though.

Storebought vs Homemade solids - I had a freezer full of lovingly prepared fruit and veg and DS would not have a bar of it. The only thing he liked was store bought pumpkin jars and the fruit custards.

BLW vs Puree - Not sure, I think DS would have been better at BLW than puree but he's ok now. I put his fussiness down to not having teeth.

Vaccination vs non - Yes. I'm in the 'fully vaccinated and I'm ok' party. I believe in herd immunity and as far as research goes, I have a uni background in human bio, so it was a non-starter. If my child died or was maimed from something that could have been prevented, I could not forgive myself.

Routine or not - Not into rigid routine but a semblance of something was useful for organising my day.

CC, CIO or not - CC was necessary for us when DS would be so overtired, it was the only way for him to sleep. I didn't like it but it worked and I had support from plunket, my MW in choosing to do so. Kathy Fray in OhBaby writes a good chapter on this.

Cloth vs disposables - disposables. I gave cloth a go and didn't like it.

Edited by JessDub

myonlineself wrote: When to start solids I don't understand why you would chose to introduce solids prior to 6 months. If your baby is hungry its not like a bit of pureed carrot or something is going to fill them up more than milk....

I introduced solids at just under 3 months with Jake (on plunkets recommendation too) coz he was just so hungry, plus he was lunging at our food, and trying to put atuff in his mouth though he was totally unco. I gave him a mouthful and he rolled it around and ate it like a pro then promptly tried to grab the spoon. Tyler was somewhere between 3-4 months and he also was lunging for our food, pulling off the breast/bottle when we were eating and trying to persuade us to feed him. After a full BF and almost 750ml of formula and a still upset baby I offered him a banana (just held it up, whole) and he guzzled the whole thing.
I think different babies have different tummies. Both my boys were pretty chunky born and they both have always been big eaters, for all the fact they're super long and lean

i'm anti-c-sections that are unecessary and this is why:

I was pregnant in Japan with jake and we went to an Obs - as you do. He was telling me that I would probably have to have a c-section as he wouldn't be delivering on the weekends, or after 10 at night. basically they let you labour until they decide it's getting too late (for them) and then whip you off to get cut open. It was this remark coupled with "you don't need pain relief, having a baby doesn't hurt - woman need to get tougher" that made me determined to come back to NZ to have Jake (and we did)

My blood pressure went through the roof - and it was only when I was at that doctors (i measured it at the gym and it was normal). And they tried to put me on a diet too, and told me I shouldn't be putting on any weight at all. They also put my 60kg gf (170cm tall) on a diet cause she was "too heavy" and had gained over 12 kgs in the pregnancy. the diet started in her thrid trimester.

As a first time mum, it was terrifying to hear all the "control" I thought I had been taken away. Thank God for Jo Henwood - my midwife, who took me on overseas and then emailed me all the time dismissing my obs claims as "dumb",

Sheza its not just pork - all meat is digested that way. Originally man (as in the species) were vegetarians.