Advice for first-time parents.

Being a new parent is hectic. Suddenly, you have a child in your hands and this can upset your routine and turn you upside down. However, this shouldn’t scare you as most parents go through these doubts and even question themselves and their ability to take care of their newborn. I am here to tell you that all these doubts are completely okay. Being a new parent is hard and you take time to acclimate to it. Follow our guide to make this transition smoother and your life easier.

1. Be kind to yourself.

You won’t get most things right on the first go, and that’s completely okay. Most new parents barely held a child before their own and you will take time to learn the proper techniques to hold your baby but with time and practice, you’ll become an expert at it. Don’t be ashamed if you don’t know much about childcare, do your research and do your best to assess any situation and be conscientious that most parents went through the same journey with their first child. This is your test run and you are allowed to make mistakes; not dropping your kid on the ground kind of mistake but still. Treat yourself as if you were treating and talking to your best friend.

2. Accept help.

 

Don’t think of parenting as a solo sport but rather as a team sport. Never in the history of parenting have parents been expected to take care of their newborn alone. Let your parents, siblings or even close relatives help you out, and most often than not, they will do this without batting an eye because they know how hard it is to have a newborn. Lean on your friends and family for the first couple of weeks or months. Trust your instinct here; if you feel overwhelmed and feel like things are getting out of hand, ask for help; trust me on this one.

3. Sleep whenever you can.

Yes, having a new baby takes a lot out of you, but this is compensated by the joy they bring to your life. However, even though you will overwork yourself during the first couple of weeks after the delivery, you should sleep whenever you find free time or when your baby is sleeping. Sleep deprivation isn’t fun and will make you irritable and the smallest thing will make you want to throw a fit and cry. The best advice that any veteran parent can give you is to adopt the same sleeping pattern as your kid.

4. Take care of your partner if you have one.

If you are raising the child with your partner, then it should be a 50-50 job. One shouldn’t have more than the other; take turn feeding the baby, bathing them and changing their diaper. I know the diapers are the nightmare of most new parents and I won’t lie to you; you will gag and want to throw up the first couple of times that you do this, but you’ll get better with this over time.

Though you just had a kid, you shouldn’t put your relationship on the back burner, do fun family activities together. Go on walks, cuddle on the couch, watch a movie or cook dinner together. It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are spending quality time together.

Every baby is different and you shouldn’t compare yourself with others because it will only make you worry about the little things. Your baby will crawl, babble, talk, walk on their own accord, don’t put a specific time frame on this. If you think they might have a real developmental issue, it is best to take them to see a pediatrician. Remember, if you are a first-time parent, you are doing a fabulous job even if there are a few hiccups here and there. Sound off in the comment section below and tell us how your parenting journey is going.