11 Effective Advice For New Parents

Welcome to the wonderful parenthood journey. Before jumping into effective advice for new parents, this new adventure phase is filled with laughter, tears, and many magical moments. I want to make it clear that no one is a perfect parent, and no such thing exists. Every parent will go through this challenging phase. On the flow, you will learn and grow. This blog helps you to make the journey go smoothly.

Seek help from family

My advice is to learn to ask for help once you become a mother. Asking for help doesn’t mean you are not capable or weak. You are making yourself mentally strong.

Please don’t fall into that category; that mother needs to do all. Don’t think about other people’s judgements on your motherhood journey. Speak out your feelings and problems instead of being silent. Silence will make you understand that you are comfortable with things. Instead of assuming things by yourself, clarify your doubts, like latch issues or milk supply, with a lactation consultant. Always remember that you are not alone in this challenging role. Many mothers around you are facing this every day. Share your experiences with other moms so that they can speak out to ease their stress and pain. This will be one of the most effective pieces of advice for new parents that should be followed from baby shower

Prepare yourself to raise a little one

Parenting newborns is a life-challenging event. In the initial days of your baby, start singing lullabies, make funny sounds, or do regular nursery rhymes with actions. It looks awkward when you sing in front of everyone. But believe me, singing often will make the bond stronger. You can make silly faces while reading books before bedtime. Coming to screen time, talk to family, and avoid screens for 2 years. After 2 years, offer fewer stimulation shows or educational shows with limited time.

Do not compromise on Baby Food

As parents, we all know that a child can’t be happy 24/7. because as they are in the growing phase, they develop all sorts of emotions like sadness, anger, being unhappy, etc., but we can raise a healthy child.

Always have in mind not to compromise on food. At the end of the day, it’s your baby. Always give your best, no matter if they eat your new dish or rely on the same food. Firstly, our ultimate goal is to raise a happy eater. So it’s our responsibility to teach them how to eat, chew, swallow, etc. Food is going to be a daily part of their life, right? So prepare a healthy, baby-friendly meal plan for a week and make sure each meal you offer is packed with all nutrients (both micro and macro), carbohydrate, fibre rich, meeting daily protein requirements, etc.

The report says that the USDA replaced the old food method on My Plate. That is, half of the plate is fruit and veggies. To make it more fun while eating, cut fruits into fun shapes, make sauteed veggies or veggie tikki with a healthy dip, etc. And when it comes to junk food, read the ingredients carefully before giving it.

Regarding meal time, provide a baby high chair, a bib, and specialised plates; make sure feet rested well; etc. And, of course, there will be days when your child hates high chairs, and it’s okay. and allow them to make a mess. This will make them learn basic table manners, including how to handle forks and spoons, clear the mess once done, etc. To make mealtime stress-free, never force them to eat.

Encourage mess

People used to start solids once they turned 6 months old. First thing, prepare a nutritious meal plan and feed your baby. Allow them to explore the food’s texture. As they are new to food, they touch and feel every bit, and obviously, they create a mess. Remember, you won’t see this mess in your home when they are 5–6 years old. Sometimes, it’s hard to control. But no other way.

If you want your child to eat independently, they say yes to mess. Don’t get scared about the internet. You can see tons of information loading about meal plans. Make simple dishes that have all the nutrients. Have a meal schedule, and it’s important to give the right combination, like iron + vitamin C, to enhance iron absorption in the body.

Baby is watching you

Every parent should be a good example to their child. Remember, your child is going to watch you all day, noticing your reactions and every type of emotion you show at home. So, it’s your responsibility to be more cautious around your child. This is important advice for new parents. Sometimes, you need to know that some of your habits may lead to bad parenting

Get partners involved

We all know smart work plays better than hard work in this fast-paced life. and it suits a mom who handles both personal and work life.

To work wisely in your personal life, start sharing responsibility with your partner. Sit and talk about how you feel, about the roles to be shared, appreciate each other for their efforts, and take turns on alternate days. It’s not required to do everything by yourself at any time. As a new mom, I can understand how much work has to be done, like breastfeeding, babysitting, bathing the baby, diaper changing, and other household chores.

Yes, you can do all these in one day. But what if it is done for a month without a break? You feel exhausted, and your mental health will collapse. So, start switching roles among your family members. If something has to be done only by you, you can do it and share the remaining tasks among the family members.

Maintain work-life balance

Coming to a balanced work life, I know every new mom will break out when they want to go back to work after maternity. It’s 100% true, and mom guilt is real, but what are you guilty of? Leaving your child or not being with them and juggling with many thoughts? Really, it’s not required to have any guilt if you plan your work life perfectly. Firstly, prioritise your work schedules. Follow the basic rule, “You should be working women at work and mom at home.”.

Most importantly, never take your office work home. Give your fullest effort during your office hours so that you can reach home and spend time with your baby. Follow the work timing and prioritise the work based on the deadlines. Don’t carry too much thought about pending work, report submissions, etc. Complete the pending tasks on the next day when you start to work.

Deal with baby sickness

I know that, as parents, we hate the period when the baby is sick and throwing tantrums. Because it causes a lot of trouble for both parents and child in terms of giving medicine, solid intake, etc., don’t complicate things when they are sick. During sickness, their appetite is reduced. They need strength to recover. So don’t force yourself to complete the entire bowl, and no excuse for medicine. And most importantly, keep the medicines away once given. Make sure they stay hydrated and offer any kind of liquid. Often, avoid hanging out with friends when any of your family members are sick.

Don’t buy too much

Babies won’t ask for whatever you see. Buy the basic things needed for newborns. For example, if you take nappies, buy disposable, affordable, organic, and rash-free ones. For toys, don’t opt for battery-operated toys because they are choking hazards and also reduce their imagination and creative level. You can go with educational toys, which should be age-appropriate. Coming to clothes, buy organic cotton, a comfortable and breathable one, and it depends on the climate in your place too.

Do Baby proofing

As they grow, they become very curious to roam around your house. This will develop their motor skills. But this exploration might end up as a danger. So it is better to protect them using baby-proofing things at home. Wherever there is sharp-edged furniture at home, use a corner protector. Use cord organisers to prevent lamp switches. In the kitchen, use cabinet locks for drawers. Don’t keep all the cleaning agents down. Keep sharp utensils like knives and scissors out of reach of children. Keep your medicines and other supplies out of reach of children. This may look like funny advice for new parents, but there are basic things that need to be followed from the beginning.

Use the baby crib around the bed and check whether it is well. Do this before your baby rolls over. If there is a staircase, install a safety gate and check for the gap between the gate bars so that the child’s head won’t get trapped in the gate. Use the doorknob to prevent little fingers from opening and closing it. Make a safe haven home by installing babyproofing things at home.

Takeaways

Thank you, and I appreciate the effort you put into reading the effective advice for new parents to mould yourselves to raise a little one. Feel free to drop me an email or review or share your personal experiences after applying the above points in your life. I will discuss other important topics like postpartum depression and self-care, in an upcoming blog. Stay tuned!