What's The Best Advice That You Can Give To New Parents?

Answer 1

1. It's OK to feel overwhelmed for the first few weeks. New babies cry alot, don't sleep nearly enough, and need an awful lot of diaper changes. But initially, you don't get anything in return- no smiles, no laughs, nothing. It's normal and OK to feel a little underwhelmed with parenting at first.
2. Expect to be amazed. Your life is going to change the first time your baby smiles at you. From that point on, your child will be the most amazing thing in your life- revel in it. Don't compare your child to anyone else, just enjoy and appreciate the person that your child is becoming.
3. You can never take too many pictures.
4. Be a parent, not necessarily a best friend. Children need boundaries, and they need you to set them. It's going to be tough the first time you say "no" and it reduces your child to tears, but you will be happier in the long run if you stand your ground.
5. Be consistent. Children remember alot more than we give them credit for. If you give in "just this one time" to make life easier, it will be a much harder battle the next time around.
6. Tell your child you love him or her. Say it everyday, say it after a fight, say it before bed, say it in the morning, say it for no reason at all. Unconditional love is the most important thing you give to your child.
7. Read "What to Expect the First Year". It will answer alot of questions before you need to ask them. It was my Bible the first year!

Answer 2

Breastfeed. It's so very important for your child's health. Baby will benefit from ANY breastmilk you are willing to give and every single drop is important. The longer you nurse, the more mom and baby will benefit.

Sleep when the baby sleeps. It's normal for a baby to not sleep through the night for the entire first year. Get your sleep whenever you can...day or night. Don't use all of baby's naptime to do housework. Cosleep if you can.....it can be done safely and will help you get so much more rest, especially if you are nursing and can just roll over to feed.

YOU are the expert on YOUR baby. Not someone on the internet, not the doctor, not your mother-in-law and not your neighbor. None of them live with your child. YOU know your child better than anyone else. Trust your own instincts to know what to do.

Treat your child with love and respect. Follow the golden rule and treat them the way you would want to be treated and the way you hope they will treat your grandchildren.

Answer 3

don't stress over every little thing. The baby will roll over. If it doesn't happen at exactly 4 months, it doesn't mean something is wrong with your child. The baby will sit up. If it doesn't happen at 6 months, oh well. The baby will stop drinking from a bottle. If you can't make it happen at exactly one year, don't stress. The baby will eventually learn to use the potty. If you don't have all these things accomplished when society thinks you should, don't stress over it. Enjoy your time with your baby. They cry. That's what babies do. That's their only means of communication. It does not mean you are a bad parent. People will come out of the woodwork to give you advice. Learn to sift through it and take whatever fits your family's lifestyle the best. People will try to make you think their baby is smarter than yours, more advanced than yours, prettier than yours. That is their baby. Of course they think that. They are wrong. Your baby is smarter, prettier and more advanced.. ;-)

Answer 4

If you're not sure - ask! So many 'new parents' think they know it all and they end up extremely frustrated or making tons of mistakes. Just ask those who have been through it before (maybe your own parents...) and get some pointers. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT read any book by Dr. Spock (if they still sell them). The fool never had any children but proclaimed to be an expert. Again, it never hurts to collect all of the knowledge, from others who have already been through this, possible and then retain what sounds logical to you. Remember, it's basically 'logical decisions'; if it makes since then it will work - if it sounds 'far fetched' then it will never work. Good luck and have fun!

Answer 5

Honestly- don't ask for advice, you'll be given enough unsolicited advice as it is. =)

Don't compare your baby to other babies, your husband to other fathers or yourself to other mothers. (I guess that's for moms, but you can switch it up to apply to you.) Enjoy your uniqueness as a family, and this will help you stop worrying about the "shoulds."

Listen to what others share, but don't let their advice, or judgmental attitudes, rule what you do. Follow your instincts and know that every person is different, every family is different, and everyone is right in their own way.

Pick your battles and be consistent. Keep the number of battles you fight to a minimum, and find a peaceful middle-ground on everything else.

Remember that you were a couple first, and parents second. Children are the centers of our lives, but don't let that steal your identity as individuals or a couple. Kids should not be brought up thinking that everyone else's needs come after their own. Have date nights, encourage independence (without neglect) and take help when it's offered.

Enjoy everything, take lots of pictures, and don't bemoan the sacrifices. It's all worth it.

And, most importantly, remember that EVERYTHING can be laughed at. Humor heals all.

Answer 6

The best advice I could give parents of new babies: Don't wish your baby could talk, don't wish they could walk. Don't wish they could eat more, do more, or anything more. Appreciate every single second with them and enjoy who they are at the moment. They'll never be that little baby again and someday you'll long for those precious moments you shared with your baby and wish they were little again, just so you could hold them close and smell that sweet baby smell. It happens so fast, in a blink of an eye. Enjoy every minute - they won't last.

Congratulations!

Answer 7

i would say to always listen to what your kids have to say (when they can talk) and try to set aside time daily where you can talk to your kids about there day... i think that is the most common reason why america has so many broken families because the parents are to busy in there lives to take the time to listen to the kids... also have patience, kids can be a hand full and the more you dont let the lil things bug you the less stress you'll have in your life.

Answer 8

When your baby starts crying and you are exhausted and the laundry has not been done in days and the dishes are piled to the ceiling take a moment and tend to your child because your child will not be that same exact age again. Enjoy them at every given opportunity that they need you.

Answer 9

To go with your parental instincts and don't listen to people who tell you that "this is the way you need to raise your child..." That's really annoying. No one knows your baby better than you and the other parent do.

Answer 10

Patience is something will come with time. You are not perfect and neither is your child. You are not given anymore than what you can handle. Let people help you when given the chance because you do not have to do everything yourself. Take time out for yourself and be good to yourself & your child.