You won’t ruin your baby.

You won’t ruin your baby if you give her formula.

You won’t ruin your baby if he uses a pacifier.

You won’t ruin your baby if you rock her to sleep.

You won’t ruin your baby if you hold him while he sleeps.

You won’t ruin your baby if you put her down.

You won’t ruin your baby if he sleeps in the swing or rocker more than the crib.

You won’t ruin your baby if you don’t jump out of bed the moment she makes a peep.

You won’t ruin your baby if you answer his cries.

You won’t ruin your baby if you don’t have every high-tech baby gadget ever invented.

You won’t ruin your baby if you give him store-bought food.

You won’t ruin your baby if she views a screen before she turns one (or after for that matter).

You won’t ruin your baby if you don’t take him to storytime or do play dates every week.

You won’t ruin your baby if she’s not on a schedule.

You won’t ruin your baby if you don’t do it “by the book.”

You won’t ruin your baby if you do.

This may all seem pretty obvious, but when you’re in the thick of it, it feels like anything but that.

It feels like every single thing is a life-altering decision that will impact the rest of your child’s life.

And it’s not until you’re finally seeing clearly, until you’re past the fog of those first few weeks and months and maybe even year, that you know.

You won’t ruin your baby.

And once you know, you may just wonder if someone else needs to hear it, too.

So mama, hear this: You won’t ruin your baby. You really won’t.

Pass it along.

*This piece originally appeared on the author’s blog page Motherhood Awry. Follow along for more parenting truths, humor, and inspiration.

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