Useful Tips and Tricks For First-Time Parents
Parenthood is one of the most amazing gifts that anyone can be blessed with.
Nothing compares to the first time you hold a baby that is a piece of you and your partner. However, parenthood is not all rainbows and butterflies.
While it’s definitely a joyous time, it could be very challenging, especially if it’s your first time. You might feel overwhelmed with both emotion and responsibility and wonder if you can get it all right. Well, we’re here to help all first-time parents with some useful tips and tricks that will get you on the right track.
Trust Your Instincts
You could read thousands of parenting books and use even more apps and hear a multitude of conflicting information, but at the end of the day, you need to follow your instincts. The best thing you can do for your child is get properly informed from all sides, then trust yourself to go with the information and advice that feels right to you. The most important thing is not to get discouraged or guilted by other parents who do not use your methods or criticize them. No one knows your baby as well as you do, so trust that you’ll know what best for them.
Sleep When They Sleep
A golden piece of advice for all the sleep-deprived, first-time parents out there; sleep as much as you possibly can. The first few months of having a new-born are always the hardest and a major reason is that you barely get any sleep. That’s why the baby gurus at Parenting Tipster emphasize the importance of establishing a standard sleeping schedule for your baby that has them sleeping through the night. However, until you do, take any chance you can get to sleep! Once they’re down, so should you, even if it’s a quick nap or just resting your eyes, it will go a long way. Catching up on your sleep will make you a better parent with enough energy to handle anything.
You can also check out Nested Bean for more information.
Focus on Developing A Bond
Many first-time parents get so caught up in getting things done right that they miss out on the most important aspect of parenthood; bonding with your child. However, creating a strong bond, especially in the first weeks and months, for both moms and dads, contributes to both their physical and emotional growth. Promote a lot of skin-to-skin contact, eye contact, and learn to recognize your baby’s needs. Babies are very sensitive to noise, so make sure they get accustomed to yours by talking and singing to them. This bond you build will last a lifetime and you will cherish these precious moments forever.
Plan It All
Organization is the key in any challenging task, and it’s no different with a new baby. It’s essential that before doing any baby-related task, you have everything laid out and prepared. Planning everything from feeding time, bath time strolls, naps, and bedtime will make you feel a lot less overwhelmed. You should also prepare for each event, for example, taking extra clothes, wipes, and diapers when going out. At the same time, don’t let all the planning stop you from being flexible when things don’t go as planned, sometimes going with the flow works too!
Take Care of Yourself Too
Even though it’s hard to find time for yourself while taking care of a baby, it is essential that you at least try. Your baby will need you to be in your best physical, emotional, and mental shape so that you can properly tend to their needs.
That’s why you should try to set aside half an hour each day to do something you enjoy or even just to take a breather by taking a walk or talking to a friend. You can also treat yourself to a date night with your partner that would be much needed for both of you.
There are of course a million other pieces of advice that could be given to first-time parents, but the best thing we can advise you is not to overthink it. Parenthood is an instinct that is instilled in each one of us and all you can do is your best and that would be good enough. If it feels like too much sometimes, remember it will get easier as you get more used to it. It’s important to maintain a sense of humor as you navigate this new life with your partner and take care of each other along the way.
Remember that children grow up faster than you will ever expect, so take lots of pictures and cherish each moment before it’s a distant memory.
