Being a first time parent is an exciting but scary time. There’s a lot to learn for any new parent, and it can feel overwhelming. Where do you start? How do you learn everything you’re going to need to be a good parent in time? Don’t worry! Most of parenting just comes naturally, but in case you are curious, here are 19 things every new parent should know.
Things every new parent should know
- Baby proofing. You want to get your home ready for your newborn. Concentrate on things within grabbing reach for little ones, and move things like cleaning chemicals that might be within reach. For a newborn, you won’t have to worry much, but toddlers can get into just about anything, so it’s best to be prepared.
- Sleeping tips. Babies wake during the night a lot. In the first few months, you will be up and down a lot. During these days of night feeds and nappy changing, it’s important to have some idea of how to help baby get back to sleep to start learning good sleep habits. Try this guide to help; Baby Sleep Safety: 7 Expert Tips For New And Expecting Parents.
- Give yourself a break. Parenting is overwhelming for everyone, and no new parent knows what they’re doing when they start out. It’s okay to feel scared. You will get the hang of it as you go along.
- Take advice from experienced parents, but remember that all children are different. Try different things, and be open to suggestions, but what works for one family may not work for you. It’s normal and okay to do things your own way.
- Cut yourself some slack. As a new parent, you will make mistakes. All new parents do. The best way to handle your mistakes is to learn from them and move on. Don’t dwell on them or worry too much.
- Don’t forget to look after yourself too. A new baby can feel like they’ve swallowed every spare second of your time, but you can’t care for them properly if you don’t care for yourself. Try and find a few minutes to do normal things like shower and make something quick for dinner.
- Don’t panic about breastfeeding. It doesn’t come naturally to all mothers, but there’s a lot of pressure on women to make it work. Relax and keep trying if breastfeeding is something you want to do. If you can’t make it work, your baby will be absolutely fine if you don’t breastfeed. Don’t panic.
- Be prepared for everyone, parents or not, to give you advice on what you should be doing, whether you ask for it or not. Nod and smile, and then carry on with however you feel is best to do things. It’s your baby, and your way is just fine.
- Babies don’t need as much stuff as you think they do. As long as they have somewhere to sleep comfortably, and you can feed them, clothe them, bathe them and give them clean diapers, they’ll be fine. It can be tempting as a parent to buy every baby thing in the store.
- Remember that you and your partner might not have the exact same parenting style. Try to let if go if they want to do things differently. Don’t argue about parenting, and try to find a compromise in the middle somewhere instead.
- Use nap time wisely. Babies take a lot of naps, so use that time wisely. Some parents advice to sleep when the baby sleeps. During the sleepless nights, a nap is probably a good plan. You can also use nap time to do things like get a shower, put a load of laundry into the machine or get something out of the freezer to defrost for dinner.
- Don’t feel bad if you don’t get dressed for the first weeks of parenthood. Being a new parent is exhausting and a few days in pajamas won’t hurt anyone. After a few weeks, try to go back to real clothes again. You’ll feel much more like yourself and a lot better.
- Get some exercise and fresh air. You don’t have to go back to the gym or your spin class, but a walk around the neighborhood can make a world of difference. Escaping the house helps you stay sane, and some exercise will release endorphins that helps to ease stress and anxiety.
- Be prepared for your hormones to give you some serious mood swings. Remember, it will fade as your hormones settle down again after the birth. You might feel angry for no reason, or want to cry even if you’re not upset. This might make you feel crazy, but is completely normal.
- If you’re struggling, ask for help. Anyone can be hit by postnatal depression, and bottling up your feelings won’t help. These feelings don’t make you a bad mother, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need some extra support. Counselling or someone to talk to can work really well.
- Not all diapers are created equally. Try a few brands to see which you get on with best, and balance price with quality.
- When you read to the baby, read something that you want to read. At first, they won’t be taking the words in anyway, and what they enjoy is just the sound of your voice. You’ll read the same books on a loop enough when the baby is a little older, so while you can, just read your own book or magazine aloud. Baby won’t know the difference.
- Get some time without the baby. At first, leaving the baby with anyone else will feel like a real wrench, but when you can, ask Grandma to babysit and get out for a date night with your partner. Having time alone is important. Make time to see your friends too, both with and without the baby. Parenting can be lonely in the early days, so don’t isolate yourself.
- Hang on and have faith. Remember, no matter how unlikely it seems, the baby will stop crying eventually, and they will go to sleep in the end.
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