Many people talk about the changes that happened to them as they became parents, there are people who have had to use ivf technology to get to the point of having a baby for themselves, and sometimes people feel guilty for complaining. But there’s no denying the fact that having a baby can turn your world upside down.
Even though it is something that we long for beforehand generally, there are things that happen, things that we aren’t prepared for, and things that we just could never have known or imagined before, that really throw us off course. It goes without saying that we absolutely adore our children, and this doesn’t take away from that fact. But knowing what could throw you off course, knowing what to expect, and knowing how to deal with these things, will best place you to have a wonderful experience. So as a new parent here are some tips from others that have been where you are now.
Sleep
Babies are biologically wired to wake frequently, this is to keep them safe, in caveman times babies would’ve had to have woken up regularly to remind the parents that they might need cleaning, feeding, or removing to safety. Now, of course, things are a little bit different, and we find it difficult to understand why the babies need to regularly wake up. But it is for exactly the same reason. Your find a baby wakes in the night for a diaper change, a feed, or if they feel particular and say. This is a wonderful thing for keeping our baby safe, however, it does interrupt our sleep patterns and if you want a person who can cope on very little sleep, then you may find yourself tired, worn down, and a little bit disillusioned. It’s great to make sure that you have a support network around you, but there is nothing quite like self-care and looking after yourself carefully. The main thing to remember is that generally the babies who don’t sleep too well, will eventually grow out of it, and whatever way you choose to tackle this, it’s good to remember it is completely normal, and you aren’t doing anything wrong if your baby doesn’t sleep well.
Work
For some having children can be the end of the line for their career, it shouldn’t necessarily have to be this way, but having children is all-consuming and not everybody is able to continue a career, whilst taking care of them full time. The main problem that occurs here is that you can’t really plan for how things are going to go when your baby arrives. Sometimes babies eat, feed and laugh along without any problems at all. And some babies end up with colic or reflux, which can make things pretty miserable for everybody. So being prepared to make sure that you are being sensible with time off, and that you keep in touch with your employer, means you should be able to carry on. Having the right childcare in place, getting a good night’s sleep, and ensuring that you aren’t allowing yourself to feel too guilty about the decision, can really help strengthen your resolve, and make sure that you are ready to face the world when you need to.
Anxiety
Anxiety can be the cause of many problems, and even if you didn’t suffer from anxiety before you had children it is perfectly normal to gain a significant dose of anxiety after having children. Children are known to try and cause themselves problems, by testing out the environment around them. It’s only natural that they are trying to learn and grow, but unfortunately for us parents, it can be tricky to watch them learning how to climb a tree, or assessing every risk as we go. Anxiety as a condition can be disabling and causes some mental health issues for some which need treatment, but in general, a small dose of anxiety is normal and can help keep everyone safe, so we can see things to keep them out of danger and teach them to do things in a safer way then they would do otherwise. It’s just about keeping the balance right and making sure that children don’t pick up on our anxiety and become anxious themselves.
Organization
Being organized is going to be your biggest tool when it comes to getting anywhere on time. Many people find that once they have children they are never on time for anything again, because babies and children take up a lot of time, and have a lot of problems keeping up with the rules if they are small. Generally when you’re on time to go out, and you try and go for a walk, they will vomit, cry, and potentially feel unhappy, which is why people tell you to leave plenty of time and be very organized well in advance of the event that you need to leave for. Sometimes if the weather is fine, we want to spend a little time outdoors, so making sure that you have nappies, wet wipes, feeding items, and entertainment for your new baby, is ideal and keeps you prepared for all eventualities.
Love
There will be nothing quite like it, this new human will be your absolute world, and you will do anything to keep them safe. This may mean that you could become overprotective, and make some decisions that the people won’t understand. But that’s absolutely okay because the way in which preparing our children varies from person to person coming from a place of love at all times, this means that emotions are high, but children are safe and loved. Generally, all they need is a warm place to learn the safe place to eat, and clothes to keep them warm and dry, but everything else depends on what your idea of parenting is. Before long you will be telling other people about this love that you have your children, and why you can never quite explain it to another person.
So having a baby could really complete your family, but thinking it through thoroughly and making sure that it’s the right thing for you is of course essential.
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