For new parents, it’s very difficult to know exactly what the first several weeks and months of parenthood will be like until you start to experience it. You can read the books, talk to friends, use services such as Nutricia Careline parenting advice and take courses to prepare but there’s nothing quite like experiencing it all first-hand. There are many contributing factors to this, such as the recuperation period after pregnancy, which is different for every woman, the establishment of the bond between the baby and parent and the temperament of your baby.
Once you are a parent, you need to add the word ‘adaptable’ into your everyday vocabulary. There is no end to the process of improving parenting skills since every stage of your child’s development will require a different skill set which you will continue to develop as time goes on. Above all else, it’s crucial that you are patient and open to learning new things. Everything will come together in the end so be sure to keep a positive attitude and be there for your child when it matters.
Continue reading to learn what steps you can take to ensure that the parenting journey is an enjoyable one for you and your child.
Listen Closely
Being a rookie parent can be nerve-racking especially with everyone around you telling you what to do and how to do it. When the dust settles remember the best thing you can do is to let your baby guide you. You are the one who is spending the most time with your baby and you will be the first to recognise patterns and understand the meaning of psychical signs with which your baby is communicating. The real recipe for a happy and healthy relationship is listening with the intent of hearing and understanding. This is true for communication with older children too, as their way of expressing difficult emotions like sadness, anger and fear is unique and you should try to be aware of their specific ways of letting you know how they’re feeling.
Manage Expectations
In the first year, and the next few after, you need to rethink the expectations you have set for yourself. All the responsibilities you were able to take on before the pregnancy and giving birth will now be much more difficult to meet as you now have new things to deal with. Staying longer at work, getting dinner ready on time, exercising and seeing friends often will no longer happen as frequently as they used to. Juggling work, friends and alone time can lead to disappointment, frustration and “mother’s guilt”. To avoid these negative feelings creeping into your life, be sure to prioritise and remember you won’t be able to please every person in your life or accomplish every goal like before.
Share The Load
Ensure a child has alone time with both parents. Even from birth, besides mum, a baby needs dad’s love, voice, touch and gesticulation. Allowing the father to start the bonding process with the baby can have a positive long-term effect on the quality of the relationship. Additionally, the baby will become more comfortable around other people and be better prepared for time spent alone with grandparents, relatives, friends or childminders, while the mum gets to have some relaxation time.
Sharing the load is also important not only for infants and toddlers but for older children too. Parents bring different things to the table and the diversity in the behaviour of caretakers gives children the possibility to learn more and have more options for behavioural modelling.
Be A Role Model
In the early years, parents are the first coaches and teachers to their children. Your baby observes more than you might think and will mimic and imitate what you do and build habits similar to yours. Be aware they are like sponges, soaking up everything they hear and see. Therefore, choose your words carefully while playing together, strolling through nature, singing and dancing as what they see they will do. This remains true even when they grow up. For example, studies show that children of parents who smoke have a greater chance of becoming smokers themselves.
Understand Your Child’s Learning Style
There are different types of learning styles and by knowing which is your child’s you will be able to influence the improvement of his or her learning. Some children will be more prone to visual learning through seeing and drawing pictures, some through tactile and kinesthetic experience, by playing with clay for example, while auditory learners will pay most attention to what they hear. By understanding how your child learns best, you will be able to improve comprehension of the world around him/her by using the best-fitting form of learning.
Continuous Improvement
The role of being a parent is challenging but at the same time exciting and joyful. It’s important to be well prepared to perform well in your role as a parent but your preparation is only half the battle. The right preparation will make things much easier, but you can never prepare for everything that awaits you on this beautiful and unpredictable journey. Always be ready for constant adjustments and improvements. Just as every child-parent relationship is different so is the road to successful parenting for each and every child. Be open to experiences, learning on the go, listening to your instincts and your child you will grow into an amazing person.
