Top Tips For First Time Parents

Expecting your first child is an incredibly exciting experience. However, you may experience some feelings of uncertainty. Children don’t come with an instruction manual, and everyone’s approach to parenthood is different. First-time parenting can be full of ethereal highs and challenging lows.

From pregnancy worries about what essentials to buy before your baby arrives to the early days of caring for a newborn when you don’t know how much sleep your child should be getting, it can feel extremely overwhelming. We have rounded up our top tips for first-time parents in our latest blog to help you have a smooth journey.

• Sleep whenever you can
  Parenthood is exhausting, especially in the first few months. It is important that you rest whenever you can, and your baby napping presents the perfect opportunity for you to sleep, too. Although it may feel like a great time to catch up on housework when the baby is sleeping, taking a nap is the most productive thing you can do as a parent to a newborn. Not only do you need all the energy you can get to look after your child, but you will be exhausted from going through childbirth, too.

• Trust your instincts
  When you are a first-time parent, it’s normal to feel like you have no idea what you are doing and take heaps of advice from other parents and read all the books you can find. However, trusting your gut can work wonders for your stress levels and self-esteem. Always remember that you know your baby better than anyone else, so if you feel as though there is something wrong, the best thing you can do is get some advice from your doctor or health visitor.

• Don’t be ruled by guilt
  Many parents will tell you that guilt and parenting go hand in hand. While it is perfectly normal to second guess some of your parenting decisions, you shouldn’t feel an overwhelming sensation of guilt each time. Every day with your child is different, and every day you are learning something new. Remember, you are doing a great job, so ditch the guilt and celebrate the small wins.

• Expensive doesn’t mean better
  So many ‘top’ brands offer ‘life-changing’ baby products that you ‘absolutely need’ for an extortionate price. You will feel like you need the absolute best for your baby, but the best doesn’t always mean the most expensive! It’s easy to get caught up in buying the best-branded products and filling your home with all the baby products in the world, but the cost soon adds up. There is no harm in shopping around for products that fit you, your baby and your budget. This may mean opting for own-brand and second-hand items, often just as good as the brand-new branded versions.

• Avoid comparisons
  One of our biggest tips for new parents is to remember that all babies are different and reach their milestones at different times. Just because your friend’s baby is bigger than yours or on solid food before yours, it doesn’t mean your baby is ‘behind’ or not reaching their milestones as soon as they should. Your baby is their own individual with a unique temperament and capabilities; it’s what makes them so wonderful. There is a wide range of ‘normal’, so you should not be concerned about the difference between your baby and another. 

• Be present and enjoy your baby
  Hearing the phrases “time goes so quickly” and “they’re not going to be this small forever” can be annoying, but it is the truth. It is so easy to get caught up by distractions today, so being present with your baby and enjoying every moment is so important. Make a conscious effort to fully engage with your baby during playtime, feeding time, and other interactions. These early years are incredibly important, so being fully present allows you to savour these special moments.

• Remember, all babies cry
  It’s important to remember that all babies cry, even the happiest of babies, so try not to be too hard on yourself if you can’t soothe your baby immediately. Soothing a crying baby can be difficult, and if they are fussing a lot, it can lead to a lack of confidence in your parenting, but this should not be the case. Always remember that you are trying your hardest and that all babies cry. Obviously, if your baby cries constantly, then there could be something else going on, so it is important to visit your GP or Health Visitor if you have any concerns.

• Ask for help and accept help
  Another top tip for new parents is to ask for help if you need it. There are plenty of people around to support you if you need a bit of extra support with your baby. Whether it be your partner, family, friends, colleagues or health professionals. Caring for a newborn is hard work, and it’s easy to become quickly overwhelmed – There is no harm in asking for help. On the other hand, it’s perfectly okay to accept help when it is offered to you. In fact, accept all the help you can get! Nobody expects the parents of a newborn to look after their child completely on their own 24/7. If somebody offers to cook you dinner or do your washing, it doesn’t mean you are a terrible parent because you didn’t do it all yourself.

• Take time for yourself
  Looking after a newborn takes so much time, so it may seem like you can’t find time for yourself – but it’s extremely important to do so! If you have a support network, make the most of it and ask somebody to watch your child for a little while so you can indulge in some much-needed me-time. Pop out for a quick coffee with a friend, take a long relaxing bath, catch up on your favourite show and retain some sense of normality. It’s completely necessary and needed!

• Be kind to yourself and look after yourself
  To look after your baby, you need to be at your best. This is why being kind to yourself and looking after yourself is so important. It may seem impossible, but find some time to practise self-care, whether going to the gym, going for a walk, taking part in yoga, reading, or even taking a nap! Most importantly, always be kind to yourself. Remember, you have never done this before, so you are bound to make mistakes, but you are doing amazing.

The more you prepare, the better off you may be, but in the end, you might decide to throw all the “best” parenting advice out the window and follow your instincts. And that’s perfectly fine, too! There is no single perfect way to be a good parent. We hope our tips for first-time parents have been beneficial. Check out our other blogs  for more useful advice.