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Expecting Moms and Dads are bombarded with information and advice for new parents every day. However, once the little one arrives, it can be a challenge to remember everything — especially when it’s the first time.
Is the baby supposed to do this?
Is it okay if he cries when I put him down?
She looks hot — is she too hot?
As babies get older, things get even more complicated. For this reason, it’s important that advice for new parents keeps coming from trusted sources like parents who have experienced — and overcome — these issues.
Words of wisdom for new parents are often a welcome reminder that ultimately, everything is going to be okay.
Let’s take a look at some of the most heartfelt, useful, and poignant advice for new moms, new parents, and parents-to-be.
Advice for Parents-to-Be
Much advice for expecting parents aims to boost their confidence before the big day and helps them to gather the tips, tricks, and tools they’ll need to meet this life-changing new chapter head-on.
Among advice for expectant mothers, these little nuggets of wisdom stand head-and-shoulders above the rest:
1. Take Time for Yourself
Your baby will be the best thing that ever happened to you, but everything is going to change drastically when she’s here. That includes being able to look after yourself in any logical manner.
So, before your new arrival appears on the scene, take time to treat yourself to a movie, get a manicure, or just enjoy the freedom of walking down the grocery aisle alone.
In a few months, when it’s hard to even find time to go to the bathroom alone, you’ll be glad you did.
2. Get Your Finances in Order
Seems like a bummer, right? The last thing you want to do before baby gets here is to have to focus on a budget.
After all, you have the nursery to decorate and cute clothes to buy!
But having your ducks in a row when it comes to finances ahead of your child’s birth is a smart move that will save you stress and tension later.
At the very least, you should:
- Plan for costs of your delivery
- Get your maternity or paternity leave figured out
- Estimate expenses and plan a budget for when baby arrives
And be sure to make certain you have health, life, and home insurance coverage so you’re protected in the case that anything goes awry in your household after you’ve become parents.
Having financial peace of mind goes a long way to smoothing over stressful moments all new parents face.
SEE ALSO: 3 Ways to Save Money for a Baby That’s On the Way
3. Get Your House in Order
Being a first-time parent, you won’t have the time — or the energy — to ferret out and fix all the safety issues in your house.
Baby-proofing an entire home can take a lot of energy. Start swapping out toxic cleaners for natural, organic choices now and change your outlets, drawer pulls, and door handles to safety ones.
Discover the “dirt-magnets” in your home — those places where dirt and germs seem to accumulate — and start getting them squeaky clean before baby’s arrival.
If you think you’ll be hosting a mother (or mother-in-law) to help with the baby when he’s born, prepare that space in advance.
Think of little things your live-in guest may need, like toothpaste and such, so you’re not worried about making sure they’ve “got everything” while you’re trying to adjust to your new life with baby.
SEE ALSO: How to Install an Infant Car Seat (Or Where To Get Help)
4. Prepare Everyone Ahead of Time
Things are gonna change. Now’s the time to prepare friends, family, and even pets for the coming event.
Discuss how you prefer visitation, line up some post-baby help, or just set guidelines for the days after your baby’s birth (for example: please don’t call after 9pm, no more dropping by unexpectedly).
If you have pets, get them used to the new routine ahead of time, and conduct any re-training that needs to be done. There’s nothing worse than dealing with a surly pet and a new baby at the same time!
SEE ALSO: 6 Important Ways of Preparing Pets for a Baby’s Arrival
Advice for New Parents
Some of the best advice for new parents comes from parents who have, “been there, done that.”
These savvy survivors have tried-and-true tips for new parents that come from experience, not from the pages of a magazine.
Here are some of our favorites:
1. Play More Than You Clean
There will always be laundry to do, a kitchen to clean, sheets to change, and toys to be put away. But you won’t always have the precious time with your babies, as they grow and change all too quickly.
Don’t stress about the cleaning — it will be there tomorrow.
SEE ALSO: 5 Tips on How to Make Baby Bath Time Fun and Safe
2. Remember That You WILL Sleep Again
In the middle of sleepless nights — and sometimes days — it’s hard to remember what a good night’s sleep felt like.
Just keep your eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel.
The sleep-deprivation stage doesn’t last forever. By six months, your baby will be ready to get some z’s at night rather than be up playing — or crying.
In the meantime, try and tag-team with your partner so you can get a bit of shut-eye.
SEE ALSO: 3 Tips to Establish a Baby Sleep Schedule in the First Year
3. It’s Hard to Really Mess It Up
Sometimes, all the helpful parenting tips start to pile up and cancel each other out. Group A says to pick your baby up when he cries, Group B says to let him cry it out. Which do you choose?
The good news is — you can choose either and your child will still end up being a happy, well-adjusted member of society.
It’s hard to really screw up parenting, so don’t beat yourself up about the choices you make.
4. Don’t Compare Your Child to Others
With social media all the rage, it’s hard not to fall into the child-comparison trap. But try to resist it, because it’s not good for you or for your baby.
Every child is different. They reach milestones at varying times, they look different, act different — they even eat differently.
And thank goodness! What a horrible, boring world it would be if we were all alike.
Comparing milestones can really put new parents in a spin and adding stress and shaking confidence. If you’re really concerned about a milestone — check with your pediatrician. Otherwise, shake it off.
Just Relax — The Best Advice of All
The best advice of all for new parents is to just relax about parenting. Stop overthinking every milestone, worrying about your dirty house, and stressing over whether or not your parenting skills are up to snuff.
It WILL be okay.
Your sweet baby will grow up to be happy, healthy, and well-adjusted. Well-adjusted enough to have a family of her own one day and turn to you for some sage advice.
You can simply smile and tell her, “Relax.”
What is the best piece of advice for new parents that you’ve heard?
Share with us in the comments below!
Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
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