37: Bad Advice New Moms Get (and What We Wish We Knew Instead)

What’s the wildest thing someone told you to do with your baby?

In this episode, it’s just us—two moms trading stories, laughter, and disbelief over the worst parenting advice we’ve ever heard (and that our followers have gotten too). From sugar water bottles to “cry it out for hours,” we unpack the bizarre, outdated, and sometimes downright harmful advice that still circulates in mom culture.

We talk openly about feeding schedules, sleep training, vaccines, and the guilt that comes with trying to do it “right.” The conversation is equal parts funny and grounding as we share what we’ve learned about trusting our intuition, letting go of perfection, and realizing that most bad advice comes from fear, not wisdom.

By the end, you’ll feel validated, less alone, and reminded that motherhood doesn’t need to follow anyone else’s rules but your own.

Tune in to hear:

• The wildest “bad advice” new moms actually get (yes, sugar water made the list)

• Why “cry it out” can do more harm than good for babies and moms

• The truth about rice cereal, Tylenol before vaccines, and early feeding myths

• How to stop letting conflicting internet advice fuel mom guilt

• Why you can’t “spoil” a baby by holding or comforting them

• The power of letting kids help, make messes, and learn through play

• Why your intuition matters more than any app or expert opinion

• The advice that actually is worth keeping: “Hear everyone, but listen to yourself.”

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction — bad advice new moms have heard

[00:07] Sugar water bottles and old-school feeding myths

[00:42] Why feeding schedules don’t make sense for newborns

[01:10] The “cry it out” controversy and generational trauma

[02:27] Leaving kids in the car — why “convenient” can become dangerous

[03:37] Lip ties, rice cereal, and outdated baby advice

[04:26] Tylenol, vaccines, and what parents should actually know

[05:29] “Babies don’t need to eat until one” — myth or truth?

[06:04] Pumping tips and flange sizes that changed everything

[06:25] Age and timing pressure for having kids

[06:46] “Give sugar so they talk smoothly” — the wildest myth yet

[07:00] Why moms should pick their battles (and chill)

[07:42] Letting toddlers help — even when it’s messy

[08:52] Listening to one or two trusted voices only

[09:13] “You can’t spoil your baby” — why connection matters

[10:02] You can actually enjoy pregnancy, birth, and postpartum

[10:37] Mom intuition and why it’s always right

[11:05] Naming babies after family and what makes it meaningful

[12:01] The reality of postpartum hormones and first periods

[13:46] Wrapping up with real talk and pizza night plans

Connect with us:

Kate @thatcrunchymomkate

Jordan @themoderncrunchymum

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