The Agile Parent: Intuition, Agency, and Adaptation

AI outlines a comprehensive philosophy for new parents, focusing on the first six months of a baby's life. The core argument advocates for becoming an "Agile Parent," a highly responsive caregiver who relies on intuition and real-time behavioral prototyping rather than following rigid, generic advice from books, unreplicated academic studies, or the baby gadget marketplace. This philosophy emphasizes that every baby is as unique as their DNA, making most commercial products and crowd-sourced wisdom applicable only to a "thin slice" of the population. Furthermore, the text explores the immense cognitive load placed on the primary caregiver, arguing that the relentless, non-stop problem-solving required to meet a baby's ever-changing needs is the main source of exhaustion, a critical point often misunderstood by working partners. Ultimately, the sources encourage parents to build their own internal compass by trusting their observations, rejecting fear-based parenting rules, and prioritizing the immediate, functional needs of their child.