Becoming a new parent can sometimes be daunting as well as a heart-warming and overwhelming experience. Along with the sleepless nights and nappy changing, there will be moments of pure joy as you watch your new-born baby grow up. New parents are often scared at the thought of raising a child, what should you do? How should you prepare? Every new parent will ask themselves these questions, and more. To help you through the chaotic moments of being a new parent, here is some advice that might help you keep sane:
-Avoid relying on other people’s advice
When it comes to babies, we tend to let other peoples opinion influence how we raise our own children. It is ok to seek advice, but we tend to rely on what other people tell us than listening to our own instincts. You are the ones who know what is best for your baby, you should trust yourself more when it comes to raising your baby. Try to avoid rushing to the internet to find advice; in most cases the advice given is incorrect. Speak to your doctor; they are more knowledgeable when it comes to the well-being and health of your baby.
-Childproof the house
This might not be a problem in the first few weeks, but as your child grows, they can become more curious as they start to learn to walk and explore areas of the house. Ensure that the house is child proof to prevent any serious accidents happening. This could be anything from covering electric sockets to installing a stair gate at the top and bottom of the stairs. There is a wealth of knowledge on the internet about how to child proof the home, some companies even manufacture child safety blinds that help promote child safety.
-Make time for yourself
You will want to put your baby before yourself constantly, which is a natural parental instinct, but you sometimes need to put yourself first. Make time for you and your partner; ask a friend or relative to take care of the baby while you both go grab a coffee for an hour or go for a meal. It is important for you both to be mentally healthy while looking after your baby; you are no use to your child if you are exhausted physically and mentally. It will also help keep you relationship healthy as having a child can put a strain on you both.
-Relax
Like the previous point, relaxing is important. Babies will pick up on the emotions of their parents. Their brain will mirror yours and if you are stressed, they will be able to sense it and will become stressed too. Develop some meditation techniques that will calm you down, it will provide some health benefits too such as helping you sleep better.
Parenting is never perfect and that’s ok. One of the key things you will need to remember is that you and your partner are not alone in this, doctors and family members are on hand to provide you with support. Try to avoid being too hard on yourself if raising a child doesn’t work out, just ensure that they have a loving environment and are well cared for.
By Harry Price
Harry Price is a young writer who lives by the sea with his 3 dogs, and loves playing poker – never for money though as hes not that good!
