10 New Parent Mistakes To Avoid

Pregnancy and being a first parent can be a very happy, enjoyable and enriching experience, if new parents avoid making the 10 classic mistakes. 

Avoid the 10 new parent mistakes:

 
1) The first mistake that most new parents make is that of believing everything that you hear; seeking advice, being offered opposite suggestions could make things confusing.  Parenting is your own creative role and it’s your opinion and intuition that matters the most.

2) Do not overestimate the weeks, months, or years off from your job with the infant as a holiday; you are only starting out on a new job with a tinier, more vocal and demanding boss. It would be difficult for you to catch up with friends or even cook dinner leisurely every night; just set one realistic task every day like returning a phone call or making the bed and feel happy if you strike it off the list. 

3) A New York City psychotherapist who works with new mothers feels they should make time for themselves to keep in touch with friends, attending a yoga class and catching up on activities you love; it is more a necessity rather than an indulgence to be a better parent.

4) Many new mothers make the mistake of not sharing the load; though you may initially diaper or bathe the baby more confidently, your spouse too needs to master these tasks as childcare is a shared task.  Resist the temptation to constantly hover, criticize and instruct your spouse; he would be a responsible parent.    

5) The addition of the baby to the family does not mean you have to neglect your spouse; this could be one of the biggest challenges to many marriages. Make your marriage a priority; hire a babysitter once in a while to spend time focusing on each other and talking on things other than the baby. 

6) New parents lose between 400 and 750 hours of sleep during their baby's first year; overcome this by snoozing whenever possible daily and take a long nap on weekends. Enough rest is very important to enjoy all the things in this happiest time of your life.  

7) It is best to not worry and accept small health challenges that come your way. Handle this new responsibility as a positive experience; learn to relax while the baby is an infant then you will probably not worry about the other weird experiences that would follow in childcare.

8) Never compare your baby with others; just observe that your baby is developing normally. Each baby develops at his/her own pace, so just relax, if yours is within normal range.    

9) Avoid the mistake of overspending especially during the first year; it is best to take an experienced parent with you while shopping.   Go easy on clothes and toys that your baby will outgrow; this would save money for the college.   

10) The last important thing is preserving the moments; you may want to cherish and relive it once your baby has grown. Do it with journals, photos, or videotapes of simple everyday things.

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