To the Mom Comparing Her Baby,

To the mom comparing her baby,

Photo by Sarah Mumper Photography

If you're up for another middle of the night feed, scrolling social media and seeing what your mom friends (or even mom strangers) are up to and you see:

"Alex has been sleeping through the night since 5 weeks! What an easy baby!"

"Madison took her first steps today! She'll be 8 months tomorrow."

"Can you believe it?! Jaiden said his first word today- at only 7 months!!"

It might feel good to celebrate with these moms and enjoy these exciting milestones but it also might feel like a constant battle to be raising the best baby. These "milestones" can easily feel like small victories or like giant battles in your child's development depending on what season of life you are in. It's OK to feel either (or both!) of these things.

Studies have shown that children's intelligence and motor development later in life have no connection to achieving these milestones during infancy. You know what that means? It's OK if your baby is not measuring up to the squares you see on Instagram. It's OK if your baby walks before they crawl, or chooses to just babble past their first birthday.

Instead of comparing how your baby is measuring up to the ones you see on social media, at the library, or in mommy and me class; take the time to appreciate all that your little one CAN do. Enjoy the reality of your parenthood journey and don't compare the highlights of someone else's life to the every day monotony of your own. Allow yourself to celebrate those small victories for other moms, even if you're still in the thick of that battle with your little one. Motherhood is a difficult journey without the competition and comparison, make it easier by supporting those on the journey with you.

Give yourself (and your baby) some love and grace today.

- The Sleep Chick