Avoiding the Google Rabbit Hole
Do you ever find yourself on the third page of Google Results looking for a nuanced answer to your current nursing problem, or typing your search again and again hoping for a better solution (like no sleep training!), or start a search on baby products but need to research 10 more topics based on the results?!
This is the Google rabbit hole. It happens whether we are on our first or fifth baby because having a newborn is chaotic and fleeting. But here are some tactics to avoid it.
Separate fact from opinion.
Facts can be answered by objective evidence and do not use judgments such as “best” or “most.” For example, how much sleep does my newborn need?
Instead of Googling each question, find one or two websites as your go to. I like to use:
-CDC’s Learn the Signs, Act Early https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html
-AAP Parenting Website https://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx
Check in with baby’s pediatrician. Many offices have a 24-hour nurses line to answer all your questions. Pediatricians expect you to be calling with lots of questions.
Ask your doula. Doulas are trained in the “normal”. When things fall outside of this range, we refer out to the clinicians and relevant specialists. As my doula and friend @NewFamilyNeeds says “don’t Google it, Doula it!”
Opinions express feelings, judgments or beliefs. They may be true for someone and false for someone else. For example, what is the best bedtime routine for my newborn?
Ask a friend. Crowd-sourcing information from places like Reddit or Facebook mom groups are great, but do you ever doubt how honest someone is being or only want to try one thing at a time? Sometimes less is more! Start with a friend that can hold this all for you better than a big group of strangers.
Ask your doula, again! As a doula I have the unique privilege of watching how lots of different families approach the same issues. Without sharing any personal information of course, we can share tips and tricks we’ve learned from previous clients!
When it comes to opinions, try to listen to what makes sense for you and your family and leave the rest. Sometimes opinions are directly conflicting (for example some say to limit naps during the day to improve night sleep, some say to never wake a baby and better sleep in the day leads to better sleep at night). Remember all babies are different and all families are different.
Finally, sometimes the Google rabbit hole happens because we get this feeling that if only I had this one answer, everything else would just click and start getting easier. Momma, you aren’t doing it wrong, it’s just really hard! Sometimes it’s best to take a step back and try to follow your gut instincts. You know your baby better than anyone in the world, including the “experts”. Trust your gut and do what works best for you and your family.
