I want to be my daughter's best friend and spoil her, is it wrong?

[Anonymous]

My wife and I just had our daughter this year. She's currently 7 months old.

I've never sang to nor lightly squeeze a baby's face before. It's only her I've been doing that to. I'll always love her no matter what. I've decided to be the good cop (the soft parent) in the house.

I'll be her best friend that she can trust, spoil her a lot, give her what she wants, etc. I don't think I have it in me to be hard, strict on a girl. Is this wrong?

[AviatorTom]

A parent is not their child's best friend. It's great when parent and child get along, and their relationship is open enough so that the child will talk about just about anything with the parent, but sometimes there is the right time for "tough love" by the parent, and it's the parent's duty to discipline when appropriate. Spoiling a child won't help the child deal with the real world. Be good to her, and enjoy. Congratulations.

[Asker]

I was thinking of letting my wife being the strict parent that disciplines while I'm the funny, softer one.

[AviatorTom]

It's important that both parents follow consistent discipline with their kids. Otherwise, the child will usually go to the more lenient parent. It's fine, and preferred for each parent to do different things with their kids and have different likes, but family rules and philosophy (that includes discipline) should be consistent.

[Guy13]

Congratulations on our baby girl... Daddy girl sounds about right. Both you and your wife enjoy and good luck !!

[SmokinAces2000]

It’s not wrong but I would say that it may not be best to overly spoil your daughter

[Asker]

Then I'll create a balance by letting my wife do the disciplining when my daughter gets older.

[Anonymous]

You are the parent, we can't tell you what to do.