The Don'ts

Wow. You're pregnant. Let the Don'ts begin....

Don't tell anyone until you're 12 weeks in. Don't eat tuna. Don't drink coffee. Don't eat soft cheeses. Don't lay on your back. Don't eat any raw fish sushi. Don't smoke. Don't drink. Don't expose your belly to loud music. Don't lay on your front. Don't eat spicy foods. Don't eat chocolate. Don't have your seat belt across your stomach. Don't dye your hair. Don't use regular cleaning products. Don't panic.

No wonder first-time moms-to-be feel so overwhelmed. By the time you are sitting in pre-natal class learning that soothers are a no-no, and that bottles are taboo, you begin to feel like if you happen to wipe your kid's face with the wrong type of cloth that the child is going to just blow up right there in front of your eyes. "Did you hear that Stacey had a girl? Yeah, she was 8 lb 14 oz, but when they gave her her first bath, they washed her hair with the body wash instead of the shampoo and so then the baby just vapourized into thin air". Let's all keep in mind that babies in third world countries somehow make it into this world without bouncy chairs and swings and thousand dollar strollers. I did buy a natural bamboo fibre sling, and ironically, I am sure that some of those third-worlders are getting toted around in some "organic" carrying device. This is not because they are environmentally conscious, but because bamboo is all that they have so that's what they use.

I followed all the don'ts, we loved our bouncy chair and swing and thousand dollar stroller. I never used the sling because it felt weird. It's great to be Canadian.