Becoming a parent is one of the most exciting yet daunting journeys one can take. There are certain Tips and Tricks for New Parents that help to avoid a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety on your parenting journey. The earlier you get to know them the better!
Tips and Tricks For New Parents
| Always Get Reputable Advice | Every single parent in the world needed advice and ended up online seeking answers. But every parent has a different piece of advice or opinion on the question you’ve posed. Dr. Google is another portal best left unchecked. In one minute your baby’s heat rash has become a life-threatening illness that causes you to panic and rush to the nearest hospital. Grannies, grandpas, aunties and uncles, and your entire extended family all mean well in their advice. Strangers are also not afraid to dispense their pearls of wisdom. Make your own choice of what information you’ll use and what you’ll discard. If you have a genuine concern about something, see your pediatrician. Get advice from a qualified professional so that you can make the right decision for yourself and your baby (more info about parents’ mistakes here). |
| Step Aside From Buying Expensive “Beautiful Outfits” | Babies need comfort above everything else. Buying that expensive name-brand frilly outfit is just not suitable for a small baby. If you’re spending a fortune on baby clothes, you’ll be concerned every time your baby spits up or stains the fabric. But you don’t need to spend energy worrying about that! Oh, and babies grow very, very quickly. Gimmicky baby items are another trap that new parents fall into. Things like a wipe warmer, a poop alarm connected to your phone, via an app, or an iPod are all unnecessary expenses. Ditch the splurges and rather save the money for your child’s future. |
| Turn Up The Volume | Many new parents make the mistake of being absolutely quiet around their newborn baby, especially at nap time. They’re so afraid that any noise will wake the baby up. Probably, it makes sense at the time but as your baby grows older, you’ll find it’s hard for him to fall asleep unless their environment is perfectly still. They often have noise sensitivity issues as they grow older and will find it difficult to drift off in different environments. |
| Take Care Of Yourself | This is not something that many new parents admit to and speaking about it openly will benefit many first-time parents. Bringing a new baby into your home is a massive adjustment. Sometimes it takes weeks or even months to develop the bond with the child. And that is okay. If you find yourself in this position, firstly, it’s ultra-important to speak to your partner about it. And secondly, speak to your doctor. There is absolutely no shame in identifying postnatal depression, PND, and having a few sessions of therapy. Remember, a new mom’s body has undergone intense changes, both physically and emotionally, and psychologically combined with fatigue is often overwhelming. Take care of yourself, the rest will follow. |
| Let Routine Happens Naturally | New parents are often under so much pressure from peers, baby magazines, and websites all instilling a fear-based narrative about how important routine is for your baby. That when it’s not achieved, you feel like a failure. Your family’s routine will come naturally. If you find you’re struggling to get your baby down at 7 pm and end up taking two hours every night to induce sleep. Then rather move their bedtime to 9 pm. |
| Don’t Waste Your Energy Worrying About Your Weight | Moms who have spent nine months carrying their babies are amazing. Their bodies have endured stretching, prodding, poking, kicking, backache, weight gain, stretch marks, childbirth post-op recovery, and we can go on. Often new moms still look pregnant for a while after their babies are born. Even if you didn’t carry your baby and adopted are fostering or have a surrogate, your regular routine is a thing of the past. You can’t just nip out for a run or a quick gym session because you’re now a full-time parent, and your priorities are different. Be kind to yourself, and enjoy that special time with your newborn. That baby smells, sounds and touches don’t last forever. |
| Get Your Paperwork In Order | This is something that you should do before your baby comes home. You need to know who your child’s guardians will be, should something happen to you or your partner. Nobody likes to speak about death, but it’s a reality. And it’s your job as a parent to ensure that your child is properly taken care of in your absence. Make sure that you have an up-to-date will in place and that your child’s guardians have a copy. Take out life insurance for you and your partner so that if you die, your child will never have to worry about financials, ensure you have a study policy in place for him. The earlier, the better. Also, make sure that you have a decent retirement policy. The last thing a parent wants to be on their children is a burden. |
| Don’t Be a Super Parent | When you bring your newborn home, it’s easy to get caught in the trap of trying to be a super parent. New parents try to be on top of everything: having a clean house, socializing with peers, getting back into shape, going back to work, and still trying to figure out yourself in a new role. You don’t need to do all of these things. Your baby needs a parent that is well-rested, calm, and happy. And if that means having a pile of dishes in the sink or eating two-minute noodles a second time in a row, so be it. If your bestie wants to come and hang with your new baby while you grab a coffee, hot shower, or 20-minute nap letter. It also benefits your baby to get used to other people looking after her. As long as those, that give you the Helping Hand, share the same values as your family, then lean on them whenever you need them. |
| Don’t Neglect Your Partner | This is a mistake that every new parent makes and it’s one that can be so easily avoided. Many heterosexual couples struggle with the gender roles that come with the caring of a new baby. Mothers often feel resentful of dads because they can’t possibly understand the pressures they’re going through. Many dads feel extra pressure to work harder to ensure the financial welfare of his family. Same-sex couples experience the same things. As all the focus is on the newborn, the close connection the couple once had is neglected. Firstly, it’s important to acknowledge that the transformation is hard for both of you. We quickly fall into the trap of comparing our hardship with others and believing that we have it worse than our partner. Instead of that thank your partner for always bringing you that morning coffee or running you that bath. Love is not one big thing, but a million little things. And finally, be kind to each other and remember that thankfulness is of great importance. |
| Do Not Compare Your Baby To Others | Milestone events in babies’ lives are often posted on social networks. The excited parents post footage of their baby taking their first steps at 11 months and then get millions of comments. My baby walked at 10 months, my baby walked at 9 months. And eventually, someone will post that their baby is reciting Romeo and Juliet while whittling a Christmas decoration and drinking a green smoothie at three months. Parenting is not a competition. No child starts school wearing diapers and sucking a dummy. If you continue taking your child to their regular checkups and your doctor is satisfied with their progress, then you have nothing to worry about. Just remember that key developments do not influence your child’s future. Just like adults are all different. Our babies take each day as it comes and whether your child walks at 10 months or 14 months, it’s still going to be a joyous special occasion (read more about toxic parents). |
Raising small humans is not easy, but it’s totally worth it. Even after the toughest day when you have two small arms wrapped around your neck and hear such words as, Mommy or Daddy, I love you, then you know you’re doing it right. Children forgive very easily and they’re resilient. So even if you’ve made some or all of these mistakes, your children will still turn out just fine.