There’s no way to put this gently- but nothing can truly prepare you for first-time parenting.
Every parent-child relationship is different and unique. It’s important to trust your own gut when it comes to your child. But there definitely are some helpful guidelines to make it a bit easier to avoid certain common parenting mistakes. Take a break from things that you should do, and focus on some things that you should avoid. New parents often make the following mistakes, so if you don’t want to act like a rookie parent, keep reading.
Rookie Parenting Mistakes to Avoid
1. No time for you or your spouse
Indeed, a baby changes everything, especially your priorities and daily schedules. But that’s no reason to make the parenting mistake of completely neglecting your well-being and relationship with your spouse. Actually, this is the time when your bond should get even stronger. Make sure that you’re both engaged in baby care, keep your communication open and honest, and show your love for each other as much as you can. What’s more, a responsible parent takes care of themselves. If you’re happy and satisfied, your baby will feel that, too.
Parenting Mistake No. 2: Comparing yourself to others
This can’t be stressed enough – don’t compare your parenting style to those of other parents or your child to other kids. Proper growth and development is specific for each individual child. Rely on your senses more instead of comparing your baby to others. Also, if you happen to notice that your parenting style differs from someone else’s, don’t doubt yourself. We may all be different, but we also do our best for our kids, in our own way.
3. Overestimating your budget
Welcoming a new family member will surely cost a lot. There will be many things to buy and all of those may seem essential. But, as a new parent, you can easily get overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in the stores. Hype that surrounds certain items, which both you and your child can live without, can also be overbearing. So, when you go shopping, ask someone experienced to accompany you. They can help you stick to the necessities and avoid impulse buys. Refrain from spending loads of money on baby clothes that your child will overgrow after a couple of months. Tons of different toys are not essential either.
4. Putting too many clothes on your baby
One of the most common parenting mistakes that new parents make is putting too much clothes on their baby or covering them with one too many layers. Regardless of whether you’re going out or getting ready to sleep, stick to the following rule – your child only needs one additional layer compared to you. Nothing more. What’s more, if you plan to sleep together with your child, your body temperature will keep the baby warm. Dressing them in tons of layers in this case can only cause discomfort for your baby and sometimes even a rash. On the other hand, if you’re worried that they will move too much during the night in their crib, use comfy swaddle wrap to keep your baby cozy and happy.
5. Poorly prepped baby bag
Of course that you already know what essentials are necessary for your emergency baby bag, but another common rookie mistake is neglecting to refill it regularly. You need to think and act a few steps in advance. Always check whether there are extra diapers in the bag. You should also have a separate bottle as well as a pacifier safely tucked in there. Baby powder, a towel and some of your child’s favorite toys should also be in your bag. Most importantly, don’t underestimate the importance of baby wipes. You will need those a lot and you will use them faster than you can imagine. In that respect, make sure to always have these ready in bulk.
It is you who knows your baby and their needs best. Therefore, it’s very important to have some trust in your own parenting. (Everyone makes Parenting Mistakes). Not every unusual situation means the worst case scenario, so don’t be in a state of panic for every single thing. It’s essential that you learn how to stay calm and level-headed so that you can properly deal with whatever comes your way. By doing so, you’ll also manage to cherish every moment with your baby better and enjoy your new role in life.
About our Guest Writer, Zara Lewis
Zara Lewis (Twitter: @ZaraELewis) is a mom, fitness & yoga enthusiast and a regular writer for High Style Life. She is devoted to implementing healthy life habits in every aspect of life of her family and friends. She loves to share her parenting tips and is always open to learning some new skills, because she sees her parenthood as going to school forever. She enjoys traveling, hiking, cycling and baking.
Be sure to join us in our social media accounts to be up to date with the progress of our project!
And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag
#BreastfeedingWorld
[col1]
[/col1]
[col2]
[/col2]
[col3]
[/col3]
A photography project founded in late 2014 by Alexia Garcia, photographer a Alegares Photography. Breastfeeding World aims to promote breastfeeding and encourage new moms to nurse their babies through the art of photography and story telling.
