Becoming a first-time parent can be exhilarating and overwhelming all at the same time. This is mainly because there are pieces of advice pouring in from everywhere you look at. In the midst of all this, how would you know which suggestion is going to be all the more worth to you? Who should you believe when it comes to the guidance about the best parenting style you should adopt for your first child?
Look, parenting is a full-time job. You now have the responsibility of raising a child and you must do it with absolute determination. But you are human after all and you can always make mistakes. However, you need to ensure that you learn from the bad experiences that you have along the road.
Parenting your first kid is a performance. You need to do the best you can for the rest of your life. You need to make choices that are right for your kids and you need to teach them how to make the right choices for themselves. Amid the dozens of parenting styles, everyone talks about these days, you have to figure out what’s best for your child, considering your own circumstances.
As you move on to the journey of this new parenthood, you will learn a lot of new things and you will share hundreds of experiences. But you need to ensure that you and your spouse are in this journey together, for the sake of your kid.
As a new parent, you are always afraid. You are bound to stumble but you must look for answers in order to be good at what you do.
So we’ve compiled this handy guide of quick tips from in-the-know parents and experts to get you started and give you the confidence you need to embrace your new role.
You must learn to live in the now
Now that your baby has arrived, it is time to take a step back and enjoy the now, the time you now share with your little munchkin.
Take some time off from your checklist and learn to appreciate the little things. Connect with that little soul in your hands and enjoy every moment of it.
Do not stress about their meals
We have seen that most of the parents are always stressing about the eating habits of their toddlers. They’re always looking for newer foods and replacements that their kid may or may not like.
One thing you need to understand is that your child is human after all. You cannot pour a gulp of milk down his throat as you do to yourself. Your child will eat when he is hungry. Do not bug him with food every time he cries.
Don’t walk on eggshells while your baby is asleep
One thing that we have noticed among most of the children is that they adapt to the environment you’re providing them according to your own understanding.
We have seen a lot of babies having trouble sleeping in noisy environments because their parents developed a habit of hushing everyone down once their baby went to sleep.
When your baby is a toddler, the habits you will develop by then will carry on throughout his life. Make sure you make him used to sleep under all kinds of circumstances. When he has fallen asleep, watch TV on a moderate volume or vacuum your place, even talk to your mother if you want to.
Trust us, your baby will not wake up.
Also read: My baby is making weird noises while sleeping? Is it normal?
Keep your baby awake during the feedings
Do not feed your baby while he is asleep. That just not makes him eat or take feed slowly but it also disturbs his sleeping hours.
We have observed that a baby sleeps well and for longer hours is he has been fed right before it. Feed your baby and then make him fall asleep. You will notice how soundly he will asleep after that.
Stick to an early bedtime
Bed timings are so important yet so disturbed in the first few weeks once the baby arrives. Of course, this is bound to happen but you cannot let this go on for a long time.
As your baby grows, you need to ensure that you make him habitual of going to bed early. The earlier he sleeps, the more time you will get to recharge your own batteries.
Learn to say no
This is by far the hardest thing a parent has to do but he must learn to say no.
You should say no and turn down not just unwanted pieces of advice from the people who surround you and question your parenting but also to your kid.
As time goes by, you will learn that the well-being of your child is the most important thing to consider and you must say no to some of his harmful requests to give him a better future.
You need to be ready for the sick days
It’s that time of life when your side table drawer is going to be occupied with medicines and syrups.
Stock up on rehydration drinks like Pedialyte, Gatorade, or Vitamin Water. So you don’t have to run to the store in the middle of the night when your little one is vomiting.
You need to remember that you are a role model
Everything your child does, he learns it from you so you need to ensure that you set the right examples. This is the biggest responsibility that has fallen on to your shoulders and you must take it seriously.
Do not set bad examples, do not be rude and teach your child the moral values you learned while growing up. You are the biggest role model in your baby’s life so you need to take your own stances seriously now.
As you’re a mom, make sure you let your kid know how wonderful it is so that someday, she would want to be a mom herself. Teach her everything that you have learned and make sure you do not set wrong values in front of her.
So, these are a few of our tips for all the new parents out there. We hope this article was helpful to you and you now have a clear sense of perspective.
If you have any questions or suggestions in this regard, do let us know through email in the Contact section.
Also read: Why Is My Baby Always Sticking Out Tongue?