Advice for New Parents: Wellness Tips

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New parents can find the initial stages of taking their baby home a little scary. Suddenly, you are in charge of this baby twenty-four seven, and it is your job to protect, feed, and play with them. This is a highly important job that you can easily become absorbed in. However, it’s important to remember that you need to look after yourself as well as your newborn.

You cannot pour from an empty cup, so these are our Parenting Tips to allow you the time to recuperate without feeling guilty. Create a healthy balance between maintaining your personal wellness and spending time with your baby. 

Sleep When Baby Sleeps

Try to avoid pushing yourself too hard, and use the time when your baby is sleeping to rest yourself. The best thing you can do as a new parent is get as much sleep as possible. This can allow you to enjoy the time when your baby is little and treasure every moment together. 

You are more than likely to experience disrupted nighttime sleep with your newborn, which can become exhausting over time. Try to make the most out of your baby’s naps and sleep schedule by getting in some much-needed shut-eye for a couple of hours. 

One Thing at a Time

It’s so easy to focus on bigger milestones and try to cram in as much as possible during the newborn stage, but you should try to take it one day at a time. If you don’t have the best day, remember that tomorrow is a fresh start. 

If you or your baby are still recovering from the delivery, then it’s even more important to take things slow, and allow yourself to fully heal.

Try to be flexible, and take each day as it comes rather than setting rigid plans or following a schedule.

If you or your baby are not feeling well, then it’s absolutely fine to spend more time at home resting and cancel plans if you need to. 

Set Boundaries

Remember that this time is about you and your baby, not anyone else. It can be easy to schedule family visits as soon as they are born, but you should try to avoid this as much as possible. Let you and your baby have a couple of days together without disturbance, so that you can recover. 

Even if your relatives are extremely pushy and want to see the new baby, remember that you do not owe them anything. They can wait a few days or weeks, and it can help with your baby’s immune system. 

They have a higher chance of catching illnesses or viruses from new people coming into the home, so you could consider setting boundaries with visitors, especially during the early days. 

It is easy for certain people to barge in unannounced when you do not want visitors, so it’s encouraged that you set boundaries with these types of people in your life.

That way, you will be able to limit how often they visit and ensure that they arrange ahead of time. 

Most people will respect yours and your baby’s space, but there are some exceptions to keep an eye on when you become a new parent. 

Hydrate!

Your body has been through some drastic changes, and it’s completely normal to feel dehydrated.

Regardless of whether you are breastfeeding or using formula, you should try to regularly sip water throughout the day. This can help your body recover and allow you to feel more focused when you are interacting with your baby. 

Support System

While it’s important during your baby’s early days to set boundaries and avoid visitors if you want the privacy, you should try to keep those that matter close to you when you need them. Becoming a parent can push you away from certain social circles, and it is easy to feel isolated over time. 

Try to avoid this from happening, and keep your close friends and family members within your support system. This can allow you to have someone to speak to about things you may be struggling with, and even organize an adults-only activity to help you feel a little more normal. 

Another thing worth considering is a new parent group where you and your baby can interact with others and share experiences. Check for local groups to see if there is one near you that you can attend. Not only will this get you out of the house, but it can allow you to feel less alone. 

Summary

When you become a new parent, one of the most important things you can do is make time for yourself and allow your body and mind the chance to recover. This way, you can focus on bonding with your baby and sharing the experience with those you are close to.