5 Tips For Adjusting To Life As A New Parent – By Ryan Howard

Remember That There Is A Light At The End Of The Tunnel

You can get through the first few days on pure excitement and adrenaline. After a couple of weeks though, reality starts to sink in. You may wonder if you’re ever going to get a decent night of sleep again, or to even have a single moment to yourself. There is a light at the end of the tunnel though.

It might take a few months, or even a year. Gradually though, you will get the hang of things, and life will become a bit easier. Once you reach a certain point, it will seem that every day is more manageable than the one that came before it. Unless you decide to have another baby. But, that’s a whole different topic.

Prioritize Sleep

If there is one truism about the beginning of parenthood, it’s that it is nearly impossible to get a decent night of sleep. Newborns often mix up night and day, and they only sleep in short bursts anyway. Plus, you can pretty much count on the fact that you’ll need to wake up several times each night for feedings and diaper changes.

So, just how are you supposed to get enough sleep? First off, try going to bed early.  Really early.  Instead of staying up until 10pm or 11pm, go to bed at 8pm. That way, even if you have to wake up a few times in the night, you can still log some significant Zzs yourself. If you’re a napper, by all means this is a good time to indulge as well.

Finally, take turns with your spouse on who has baby duty each night. You might even sleep in a different room when it’s your better half’s turn to take care of the baby. That way, you can get an uninterrupted night of sleep.

Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff

It’s natural for new parents to want their baby to have the best of everything, so that they’re all set up for a wonderful life. While this is an admirable ambition, it’s also an impossibly high standard to maintain. So, try your best, but cut yourself a break too. It’s ok if you don’t read 11 books to your baby every night. They will turn out perfectly fine.

Make Time For Yourself

There are all sorts of fun family activities. You might enjoy putting your little one in a stroller and going for a family walk around town. Sometimes though, you do need to take a break and go off on your own. Hit the gym, play a little tennis, or go get a cup of coffee someplace. Do just about anything that your heart desires for at least a couple of hours each week. This may seem like a small thing, but it will go a long way toward helping you keep your sanity.

Enjoy The Ride

Attitude is everything. You can let all of the new responsibilities of parenthood stress you out, or you can choose to embrace your new life and enjoy every minute.

Yes, having a baby means everything changes. You are no longer free to jump in your car and head anywhere you want at a moment’s notice. Intead, when you want to head out, you need to pack a diaper bag, and load your little one into a car seat. You also need to plan these outings around nap time and feeding.

Still though, every bit of responsibility is far outweighed by the rewarding experience that comes with parenthood. So, try and enjoy the ride.

Author Bio: Ryan Howard runs SmartParentAdvice, a site that provides parenting advice for moms and dads. Ryan writes about all of the different ups and downs of parenting, provides solutions to common challenges, and reviews products that parents need to purchase for babies and toddlers.

Life as a new parent is exhilarating, exhausting, fun, and overwhelming all at the same time. You may have mastered living life as an adult, but having a baby is a whole different ball of wax.

In theory, you have lots of time to prepare since babies don’t just come out of nowhere. In reality though, everything seems to change all at once when your little bundle of joy arrives. Here are a few tips that will help ensure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible.