Negosentro | Practical Parenting Tips: 5 Indispensable Pieces of Advice for New Parents | New parents are confronted with the daunting task of caring for a tiny, defenseless human. Although this is an exciting journey, it’s an overwhelming one as well. If you’re feeling more overwhelmed than excited, don’t stress. We’ve created a list of our most effective tips for settling into the role of a new mom or dad.
1. Bottle Feeding vs Breastfeeding
There are a lot of misconceptions about bottle feeding that can leave parents feeling judged. Like most things, it’s important to respect individual choices when it comes to formula feeding and breastfeeding.
After all, once you find the best formula for babies, you can feel safe knowing that you are still providing your child with the best possible nourishment. Sometimes, it makes more sense to resort to bottle feeding, especially when you need to start going to work again.
2. Establish Healthy Boundaries
Bringing a new baby home usually means that many family members and friends will want to chip in and offer a helping hand. Whether they cook you a meal or offer advice, these contributions can be incredible if well-timed. Of course, even the most well-intentioned piece of advice can be uncalled for and may do more harm than good.
You might feel pressure to accept all the advice that is given to you by different family members and friends. But what happens when everyone’s advice is contradictory?
That’s why you need to set healthy boundaries and ensure that none of your loved ones cross these boundaries. While some advice may be good, too much can become overwhelming and make you miserable.
Not only do you need to set boundaries in terms of the amount of advice you choose to receive, but you also need to put your foot down if you do not like something specific.
3. Work Out a Routine and Work on Yourself
While it is important to establish a routine for your baby, so too is working on yourself and staying calm and collected. Plan out your week and take a break should you feel that child-rearing is taking a toll on your mental health. Remember, self-care is not selfish. It’s okay to take breaks now and again.
4. Sleep When Your Baby Sleeps
As all new parents will confirm, sleep often feels like a thing of the past when you bring a newborn baby home. This lack of sleep can make you feel grumpy. Indeed, it can feel as if you’re losing your sanity sometimes.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to catch a nap whenever you have the chance. Newborn babies sleep often during the day, so you can enjoy your baby’s nap time to the fullest by making it your naptime too.
5. Enjoy Every Moment
While preparing the nursery for your baby, keep in mind that they will outgrow the cot in no time. Also, savor every moment and be present so that you don’t miss out on any milestones.
Like most new parents, you probably wish that there was a formula you could use, but the truth is that no such formula exists. The most important thing you can do is to remain in the moment as much as you can. This will help you attend to your little one’s needs, but it will also allow you to enjoy all those precious but fast-flowing moments.
If there is one piece of advice that you need to keep in mind it is this: your mental well-being is of utmost importance. That, coupled with the tips in this guide should serve you well as you stride forward into the uncharted territory of parenthood.
