Parenthood is a joy and excitement. It also opens newer responsibilities for both the father and mother. Expecting a child is the most anxious and beautiful period in marriage life. The arrival of a child changes the lifestyle and routine of every parent. Though there are huge changes and responsibilities involved, the joy of welcoming a new member into your family abate all the struggles incorporated with parenthood. Welcoming a child is not just like buying a new pet, though several couples consider so. Both the mother and father are to be mentally and physically prepare oneself before the child arrives into their lives. There are several aspects to be considered as a self-preparation of welcoming a kid.
Mentally preparing for parenthood is probably a very big topic for parents or prospective parents, because they’re going into the unknown. And when you go into the unknown, that inevitably causes anxiety, inevitably causes stress, inevitably causes worry.
So how do you mentally prepare? Well, you know, in a sense it’s a bit like preparing for an exam. When one prepares for an exam, what people tend to do is actually do some studying, do some research, do some reading, get to understand more about the topic. So, the best way to prepare for parenthood, actually, is to take the time and take the trouble to understand what is involved in parenthood. And that goes right from the moment of pregnancy all the way through to the early childhood years. And those people who do take the trouble to do the sort of things I’ve referring to, reading books, talking to friends, talking to their own parents, going to parenting classes, going to mother classes where there are other parents, tend to do better in terms of coping with parenting.
That’s not to say it’s mandatory, of course it’s not. But if you take the effort, take the time, learn, work out what’s normal, what’s not normal, what to expect, then, inevitably, you’re gonna find parenthood a lot easier.
Finally, there are, of course, all of the processes that go with having children. There are early childhood centers, there’s the vaccination schedule. Those sorts of environments create an opportunity to talk to someone who’s an expert in parenting who can help guide you through, what is always challenging and at the same time, always incredibly exciting.
Preparing for Life with Your Baby
While welcoming a baby into your family is a joyous occasion, planning ahead can help to make the transition to parenting easier. It is also important to get enough REST. The following suggestions may help:
Rest
- Make sleep/rest a priority
- Make time to take care of yourself
Eat
- Eat nutritious meals and snacks and drink plenty of fluids
Support
- Discuss parenting responsibilities with the support people in your life
- Ask for help when needed
- Accept help when offered
- Ask other mothers how they felt during the first few weeks at home with baby
- Talk to your health care provider about what to expect when baby comes home
- Learn about parenting programs in your community for new parents
Take your time
- Slow down and enjoy the parenting role
- Have realistic expectations
- Set small goals each day
- Think about the way you were parented and your expectations of yourself as a parent
- Acknowledge that being a new parent can be stressful
- Make time for relationships
- Make time to nurture your body, mind and heart
Taking Care of Your Baby
There are a few things you need to consider before the birth of your baby:
Feeding
How you feed your baby will be one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. Make an informed decision about feeding your baby.
Sleeping
When your baby comes home, it is important to create a safe sleep environment. For more information visit Safe Sleep for Your Baby Opens in new window provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
Crying
It is normal for babies to cry. Babies cry to tell you that they need something. Learn about why babies cry, what you can do to soothe them and how to prevent shaken baby syndrome.
Travelling by Car
Babies have special safety needs when travelling in a car. It is important to choose the right car seats and install and use car seats correctly.
Product Safety
Safe products are important for your baby’s good health. Choosing right products for your baby can be confusing, learn about product safety Opens in new window, and how to protect your baby.