Parental Guide: 17 Common Mistakes New Parents Make

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When first-time parents experience the joy of their little one coming into the world. They quickly find just how much their lives change. From ditching a traditional sleep schedule to learning how to change a diaper. There’s a lot to learn and adapt to. Along with these changes comes the process of learning from mistakes, for which there will be many. Think you’re ready? Even the most prepared parent who has read all the books and taken all the classes won’t be able to anticipate every situation they’ll encounter. If you’re interested in learning about some of the most common mistakes, then keep reading for some useful insight in 17 common mistakes new parents make article.

mistakes new parents make

1. Not Anticipating the Change of Life

The first of mistakes new parents make is here. While most parents understanding that having a child will change their life, many don’t comprehend just how much of an adjustment will be. Instead of having your previous life with a baby in tow. You will have a brand new life to begin living. This means learning a new sleep routine, feeding on demand and fitting in daily tasks only when you can. If you have a list of things to do for a day, anticipate not getting all of them done. Be realistic and understand that you might get one or two completed. While you’re taking care of your newborn.

2. Assuming a High Temperature is Fine

A temperature of 100.4 can be handled with some aspirin at home for an adult. But for an infant, it’s an incredibly dangerous situation. If you see anything higher than this after taking a rectal temperature, then your child should be taken to the emergency room. This is a rule to keep in mind for the first three months of your baby’s life to help keep them safe. The only exception to this rule is after immunizations, although your pediatrician will tell you if you can expect a fever.

Tip: Always take the rectal temperature to get the most accurate reading. While you might be squeamish, rest assured that your little one won’t feel anything. And you’ll get more accurate information by doing so.

3. Assuming Every Problem is an Emergency

Is there a red spot on the baby’s skin? Or are they having enough dirty diapers on a daily basis? It’s good to worry about your child. However, this shouldn’t consume every waking moment for you or your partner. Infants do a lot of weird things, from crossing their eyes as they begin to focus on making strange noises as they nap. In time you will get used to these things, but in the meantime, they might make you wonder if something is wrong. Try to research online what you’re concerned about, and for everything that keeps you worried, talk to your pediatrician.

Tip: If you can, e-mail or call your pediatrician for everyday concerns. This will save you a trip to their office and can give you peace of mind knowing that everything is alright.

4. Comparing Children

In today’s society, parents can be more competitive than their children. This is especially true in the first few years of a child’s life, as this is when parents will compare how their little one is developing in relation to others who are the same age. If you find yourself doing this, take a step back and remember that every child develops differently. Try not to focus on development charts because those are just averages taken from a broad range of children. Additionally, other children develop differently and shouldn’t make you worry about how your little one is sleeping, learning, or grasping a new concept.

If you’re genuinely concerned that something is wrong, then speak with your pediatrician. However, in most situations, they will simply tell you to relax and let your child develop at their own pace. Just because one child moves a little more quickly than another doesn’t mean anything other than more work for the parent!

5. Not Installing the Car Seat Properly

The car seat is one of the most important safety devices that you’ll buy for your child. For this reason, you should research the seat you buy and only purchase one that is brand new. In addition to this, send in the registration form that comes with it to ensure you’re alerted of any recalls that might take place. Once you have the right car seat for you picked out, it will be time to have it installed in your vehicle. Before doing so, it’s recommended to watch videos online and read the entire instruction manual that comes with it. While installation might seem easy, you will learn a lot about safety by reading that little book. Not sure if you’ve done things properly? Don’t take any risks.

There are many car seat checkpoints in every state in the country where certified inspectors will take a look at your seat. They’ll let you know if it’s in place properly and give you tips on how to keep your baby safe when they ride. This can give you peace of mind while helping you correct any issues that you otherwise wouldn’t have known about.

6. Leaving the Diaper Bag at Home

A quick trip to the grocery store might seem like an easy task, but that doesn’t mean you can leave your diaper bag at home. Although cumbersome to bring with you, it will be needed when you least expect it. It’s one thing you never want to leave home without, whether you’re going for a short trip to the store or a long road trip to a family member’s house. If you do happen to forget it once, you’ll never make that mistake again (just ask experienced parents).

common mistakes new parents

7. Not Making Time for Your Marriage or Relationship

Your baby will no doubt be demanding and want your attention all throughout the day. While you should never neglect them, you should try to schedule the time to do something with your partner. After all, your relationship is the reason why you had your baby, and that should remain strong so you can be there for your little one. While dinner and a movie might be out of the question, who says you can’t be romantic? Order in Chinese or a pizza and put on your favorite 30 -minute show for the night while the baby is napping.

Small things like these will help keep both of you close together and remember why you created the little bundle of joy that both of you love so much. If you really want to do something special, then ask someone to babysit while you go out. This will be much appreciated after you’ve been all -consumed with the baby and can give both of you a needed break.

8. Not Resting

Newborns sleep for quite some time during the day (although it may not feel like this at night). Unfortunately, many new parents don’t take these naps as opportunities to rest themselves. Instead, they find themselves doing other tasks around the home or watching television. While this might be okay the first few days, in time you’ll find that this begins to affect how you function. You may begin dropping things, feeling dizzy, or having constant headaches. Don’t risk potentially harming yourself or your little one by getting rest as often as you can. Even 20 -minute catnaps throughout the day can make a huge difference in how you feel overall.

Tip: When friends or family ask if they can help, let them! Even if you don’t want them to take care of your baby, you can have them do your laundry, wash the dishes, vacuum, or do other tasks that need to be done around the house. It’s okay to relinquish control and let someone else handle things for a while. You shouldn’t feel guilty, especially since you’ll be healthier and happier for your baby as a result.

9. Listening to Other Parents

As new parents, you can learn a lot from other parents who have been there and done that. However, you shouldn’t take everything they say and incorporate it into your life. In addition to providing you with incorrect information, they may also give you tips that really don’t help you in everyday life. While you can listen to what they have to say, take their advice as stories that you might need to use later on. As a parent, you’re going to learn on your own and adapt to your baby based on their needs. Every situation is different, so don’t make the advice of others your go -to the resource.

10. Leaving the House Without Preparing

Remember the days when you could get dressed and walk out the door? With a newborn, these days are over. Instead, you’ll have to spend much more time preparing for even a simple outing with your little on. Getting them dressed, changing their diaper, making sure they are fed, and packing the diaper bag are just a few of the things you’ll need to do. Believe it or not, this can add an average of 30 minutes extra to your getting ready time (and that’s a good day for most).

11. Not Buckling Baby Into Changing Table

As your baby gets older and learns how to turn around or wiggle more, they are going to be able to get out of the spots you place them in. This is especially true of the changing table, which is where many parents feel comfortable leaving their baby while they run to grab something or wash their hands. Never leave your little one unbuckled on this table, as they will be at risk of falling in just seconds.

12. Bumping the Baby on Door Frames

When you’re holding your baby as you walk through the house, it’s important to add a few extra inches to your clearance as you walk through doors. One of the biggest mistakes new parents make is cutting corners too closely or accidentally hitting their child’s head because they walked into or out of doors like they did before.

13. Not Packing the Right Items in the Diaper Bag

Although diapers and formula or other bottles are important, those aren’t the only items that you’ll need in your bag. In fact, it will only take you one trip to a store to see why these bags are so big. Some of the most important things you may not realize you need until it’s too late include: an extra outfit, a plastic bag, snacks, water, phone charger, and napkins. In time you’ll likely add more and more to this bag, depending on your child and their needs specifically.

Remember, it’s never a bad idea to pack too much in your bag. You’d rather be over -prepared than
under -prepared in the even that you have a particularly dirty diaper or extra hungry baby. By being prepared, you’ll reduce your stress and help keep your baby happy with everything that they need.

14. Buying Too Many Baby Items

There are endless baby products on store shelves, from naggers that promise all-night sleep to chairs that promise quite play. With so many options out there, many parents become overwhelmed and end up buying more than what they need. This means a crib, two sleeping bassinets, chairs, play yards, and so much more.

It’s true that some of these things will be useful, although it’s also true that many will go to waste. If you want to save money, spend time comparing your options before you buy. Also, remember that nothing is magic and will make your baby sleep or change their habits completely.

Tip: Keep newborn clothing purchases to a minimum. Your baby will grow out of them more quickly than any other clothing.

15. Expecting to Sleep

Most new parents know that they are going to have problems sleeping, although they don’t realize just how much this is going to change. At night you’re not guaranteed that your baby will feed and go back to sleep. Sometimes they will feed or have their diaper changed and then stay up for hours on end. For someone who has already been up all day, this can be quite difficult to get used to. Make sure you have some good television shows to watch for times like these.

common mistakes new parents make

16. Not Letting Your Partner Help

A lot of new mothers tend to take on most of the burden of parenting but not because their spouse isn’t willing to help. Many simply feel that they are the authority and should do everything themselves in order to do things right. It’s never recommended to do this, as it can make you feel exhausted and stressed out. Let your spouse how to learn how to care for the baby themselves so you can have a break. This means letting go of some of the control but for a good reason. By letting them learn to parent on their own, they will feel a deeper connection with you and your baby.

17. Over -Wrapping Babies

A good rule of thumb is that your baby should wear one extra layer than what you wear in order to stay warm. Keep this in mind as you bring your little one home, as many parents accidentally over -wrap their babies in unnecessary blankets. This can make them uncomfortable and can even be dangerous if they are too warm.

Conclusion of Mistakes New Parents Make

If you’re about to or have just become a new parent, congratulations! Hopefully, the common mistakes new parents make above give you some useful information that can help you avoid making some of them yourself. However, it’s important to remember that every parent is going to make many mistakes along the way. After all, there is no instruction manual to navigate parenthood! Don’t be too hard on yourself when the day comes, and remember that your little one will think you’re fantastic either way.

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