đŸ€ŻADVICE FOR NEW PARENTS - 10 TIPS FOR THE FIRST-TIME MOMđŸŠžâ€â™€ïž


Becoming a mom is one of the most wonderful (and terrifying) things that you can ever experience. The indescribable feeling of knowing you have created a life cannot be compared to anything else, but it can also be overwhelmingly frightening. đŸ‘»

Being a new parent with your first baby can be hard.


Since your baby won’t come with a guidebook (more on that later!), we’ve put together some pearls of wisdom that, if taken to heart, will most certainly put you and baby on the right path.

1. Trust Your Instincts


One thing that parents of a newborn learn very quickly is that they don’t (and can’t possibly) know everything. However, once you get to know your baby a bit better, you will find that you develop a sixth sense for them. đŸ€Ż

A parent and child's hands touching palm to palm.

Source: Pixabay


While neither apathy nor panic is ever a good option, it can’t hurt to consult a physician if you have concerns. At the end of the day, trusting yourself and your own instincts rather than taking everyone else’s advice can really work wonders for your confidence as a mother and for your stress levels. Besides, who could ever know your kiddo better than you?

2. Don’t Lose Your Sense of Humor


Having a child can be a messy, exhausting, thankless job at times. It is this very fact that makes it all the more vital to find the fun(ny) in the everyday tasks that come with having kids. Better than letting the constant diaper changes, blowouts, late night feedings, and colds get you down, have a laugh about it instead. 😂

Baby's Guide for Mommy and Daddy

All About the Challenges of Becoming a Parent

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A fabulous way to help yourself stay positive is with an actual Guidebook to help you giggle your way through the ups and downs of parenting. Silas's Guide for Mommy and Daddy is a spicy personalized book that combines the craziness and wonder of life with a newborn. Personalize your characters, choose 10 baby-based stories to include, and turn that frown upside down!



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3. Rest and Sleep Whenever and However You Can


We know, it’s easier said than done. 😮

There's no avoiding midnight meetings when you have a new baby in the house.

Getting any sleep at all can seem like climbing Mount Everest when you have a baby at home, but facts are facts. A lack of sleep negatively affects both your physical and mental health, disrupting nearly everything your body needs to do. Quite literally, a well-slept mommy or daddy is a healthier one. Stop prioritizing household chores like laundry and cleaning and start focusing on your own health instead. We promise, baby won't remember if the dishes were done as regularly as usual and neither will you.

4. All Babies Are Different ... But All Babies Cry


Obvious? Maybe. But this is a fact that does tend to get lost in the whirlwind of novelties that accompany a new baby. Even the most competent experts on children have to admit that just because a certain approach worked for one child, the same approach may have little or no effect on another.

 

So what do you do? Your best bet is to follow your instincts and get to know your new family member. Knowing them is what will allow you to find methods that work for you or to incorporate advice you’ve received into your routine. And don’t forget that all babies cry 😭, whether it be colic, hunger, a dirty diaper or a lack of snuggles. So don’t sweat it.

5. Don’t Rack Yourself with Guilt


There are many people who agree parenting and guilt are an inseparable combination. While it is totally and completely normal to be second-guessing yourself at times, feeling guilt whenever a mistake is made is excessive.

Feeling guilty for not always getting things right is normal for new parents.

Source: Pixabay


Being a dad or mom is a never-ending learning experience. We all make mistakes and have days where we beat ourselves up for not knowing better, but the truth is this mentality doesn’t lead anywhere worth going. Rather than letting the guilt consume you, try to celebrate the victories, no matter how small. đŸ„ł Doing a great job means learning from failure, so forgive yourself and learn instead.

6. Expensive Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Better


This is a Golden Rule for you to carry through life, to be honest. Ads would have you believing that if you really love your son or daughter, you’ll spend as much as is humanly possible on their accessories. 💾 However, a baby will likely sleep (or not sleep) the same in a $10,000 bed as in a $20 one.

 
Source: Pixabay


Running yourself into financial ruin to purchase "life-changing" products is not going to help anyone at the end of the day. Shop around for products that fit your budget and don’t be afraid to go second hand. Regardless of what you’ve been lead to believe, babies don’t need as much as you’d think.

7. You Can Refuse Visitors


In the first few days that you welcome baby into your home, there can be a great deal of pressure to invite everyone and their brother over to "view the child". While the sentiment behind this is nice (we want people to be interested in our kiddo, after all), there is a high level of risk that comes along with it.

Visitors should be kept to a minimum during a baby's first month at home.

Source: Pixabay

Adults and children alike can carry any number of viruses without becoming ill themselves, so they can potentially pass on a cold to a new born without ever knowing. During the first month of a child’s life, it is recommended that visitors be kept to a bare minimum for just this reason. Though we all have that relative that will take offense to such a measure, remember that this is your baby and the decision lies solely with you. 🙅

8. Be Ready to Adapt


One thing parents-to-be are not told often enough is that raising children requires constant improvisation. As we mentioned, there is no real manual for child-rearing (besides ours!) and every child’s needs are different. You’ll have to be able to think on your feet a bit, but, in time, it won’t be such a chore.


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Some children breastfeed without a care in the world. Others struggle and the decision to switch to formula is one a parent may have to make. Remember that this relationship is an entirely new one and as you get to know each other, everything will start falling into place. Just give it time. đŸ§‘â€đŸŒ

9. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help


A tough one. We know. Asking for help can be hard when you have been convinced that you should be able to handle it all on your own.

It takes a village to raise a child, so bring in grandparents and family to help.

"It takes a village to raise a child". A village. Not one person or even a dynamic duo. So don’t you dare beat yourself up for feeling overwhelmed. Take that trip to the grocery store alone. Go for coffee with a friend. Have a baby-free date night. The point is, if you have support, use it. 🩾 Sacrificing everything you are for motherhood is no way to live. Keeping a part of yourself just for you will only make you a happier, more relaxed mother. What more could a child need?

10. Enjoy It. They Won’t Be Babies Forever


When the days are long and the nights are longer, it is hard to believe that it will ever end. But a day will come when you’ll change their last diaper. Mix their last bottle. They’ll start sleeping through the night. They’ll start walking and won’t want to be carried. At first, it will be a relief. After a while though, you may come to miss the baby phase.

The cover of a custom baby book for the birth of a child.


Once your newborn, you’ll look back at those photos you took and wonder if they were ever really that small. Any keepsakes you have, like this book from our Mini Heroes Collection, will become precious reminders of those first days together. Savor them because they will never be that little again. đŸ„°

PERSONALIZE NOW


BONUS TIP: 
Don’t Take Anyone’s Advice Unless You Want To

We think this one speaks for itself. 😉


OTHER BOOKS FOR MOMS


These books not floating your boat? Well, in addition to these books, Hooray Heroes offers many others that are sure to make the perfect Mother's Day gift. 

đŸ‘©â€đŸ‘§â€đŸ‘Š A book for Mom + 1, 2, or 3 kiddos

đŸ‘šâ€đŸ‘©â€đŸ‘§â€đŸ‘§ A book for Mom + Dad + up to 3 children

🚀 A book for Mom + 1 child about jobs (s)he may have

đŸŒ A book for new Moms

đŸ‘”đŸ»A book for Granny + 1 child


HOORAY HEROES BOOKS