Around 1.2 million women give birth for the first time every year in the United States. As a first-time parent, it can be difficult to navigate all of the new steps and challenges that you face with your newborn child. Many new parents find the experience somewhat overwhelming and struggle to find the right balance.
The reality is that every parent makes mistakes and it is nothing for first-time parents to overly worry about. Being a parent, as with every other step in life, is about learning as you go. In this blog post, we will share 4 common mistakes that new parents make and highlight how you can avoid them.
1. Panicking Over Everything
It’s natural to feel protective of your newborn. That said, over-worrying or panicking about every little detail, from food to sleep to crying, won’t do you or your child any good.
Surround yourself with people who understand the experience better than you, like your parents or friends with children of their own. They will be able to answer any concerns you have and stop you from worrying about something that doesn’t merit it.
2. Compared Your Child to Others
Every child is different—that’s what makes them so wonderful. Just because one child sleeps through the night or started to walk at a certain age doesn’t mean that your child should necessarily follow suit. Developmental charts aren’t exact rulebooks so don’t worry if your child isn’t quite there yet.
Every child will develop at their own pace. If you are worried about a certain issue, speak to a doctor or a professional who can put your mind at rest. Click here to learn more about what to do if you have clingy toddlers.
3. Not Sharing the Workload
If you are raising your child with your partner, then work together and help each other out. Share the responsibilities and take some of the more challenging tasks (like getting out of bed) in turns.
Perhaps your partner isn’t keen on some tasks, such as changing the diapers. That’s okay, so long as they pick up the slack in another way. Communication between parents is super important and will help to make everyone’s life easier.
4. Snooze When You Can
Research has shown that new parents get only around 5 to 6 hours of sleep per night. Your child will nap at different times of the day and night, so be prepared to take some power naps when you can.
Waiting for the nighttime, expecting to get a full night’s sleep is being a little over-ambitious with a new baby, so take the naps whenever they come!
Common Mistakes New Parents Make
The bottom line is that parenthood is tricky and you will make mistakes. Learning from these mistakes is the key. The above information and advice for new parents will help you on your existing journey.
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