Is It True? “Nobody Knows What They’re Doing”
5/5/202632 min
You’ve probably said it—or heard it:
“Nobody knows what they’re doing.”
It’s meant to comfort us as parents. And sometimes it does.
But… is it actually true?
In this episode of our ongoing Is It True? series, Dr. Becky and Myleik Teele take a closer look at this belief—and what might be more helpful to hold onto instead.
They explore:
- Why this idea can feel relieving… and also limiting
- The pressure to “prove” you’re a good parent in hard moments
- What it really looks like when a parent does know what they’re doing
- And the powerful role of curiosity—about your child and yourself
Through real-life moments (public meltdowns, getting hit in a school line, vacation chaos), they show how parenting isn’t about having it all figured out—but about learning, adjusting, and building skills over time.
Read Dr. Becky's follow up on the Good Inside Blog.
Thank you to our partners for making this episode possible:
- Ergobaby: Use the code DRBECKY20 for 20% off for support at every stage
- LMNT: Get a free 8-count sample pack with your purchase at drinklmnt.com/goodinside
- Coterie: Get 20% off with the code GOODINSIDEBABY20
- Skylight: Get $30 off a 15-inch Skylight Calendar at myskylight.com/becky
Good Inside is growing up! Listen to The In-Between Years with Dr. Sheryl, for parents of teens and tweens!
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsBecky Kennedy· Host0:00
Does this sound familiar? Your baby wants to be held, needs to be held, and you need to do 10 different things at once. You're holding your baby while also trying to make coffee, get breakfast ready for your older kid, answer emails, and all those small and big tasks to make up your day. And what I see with so many parents is that when you can stay close to your baby and have your hands free, everything feels a little more manageable. That's why I recommend Ergobaby carriers. Babywearing has so many benefits. Babies tend to feel more settled when they're close to you, and that closeness can make a difference for parents, too. But here's the key. You only get those benefits if your carrier actually works for your body. Otherwise, your back hurts, and you're taking off your carrier after five minutes. It's why I'm a big fan of Ergobaby. Ergobaby carriers are designed to be truly ergonomic and newborn ready, so you can use them comfortably from the very beginning. They have patented design that supports the parent by distributing the weight evenly for a lighter, more comfortable carry. And they have options for every stage, which is why so many parents keep using them as their baby grows and grows. If you think that kind of support will make your day-to-day that much easier, use code DrBecky20, D-R-B-E-C-K-Y 20, for 20% off site wide at ergobaby.com. There's a sentence parents say to each other like it's a warm blanket, "Nobody really knows what they're doing," and it's usually delivered with that kind of shrug, or it's delivered over coffee or just kind of whispered in a group text after