Believe it or not, children do not come with instruction
manuals. You either know this first hand or you will! You will
really have your hands full. If you have family or friends that
can help you then great, but if not, the first two months are
going to be a challenge. However, IT WILL GET BETTER!
Now, don't be scared nobody can even explain how hard raising
your first child can be. Although you have nine months to plan
and prepare for the arrival of your first born, there is no way
to prepare for sleepless nights and colicky babies. Knowing when
to call the doctor, decide why your child is crying, or knowing
what to do each and every minute of the day is different for
every parent, so knowing all of the different possibilities that
can happen really is the best way to prepare yourself.
If you happen to be blesses with a second child, you will come
to realize the second is much easier than your first, but that's
only because you will know what you are getting into. Everyone
who has a child has to experience the difficulties that come
along with your first born, and the only way to prepare for this
is by reading during your entire pregnancy. I wish I would have
had a resource available to teach me every little thing there is
to know about being a mother, like being able to understand what
each different cry means. That's why I wrote the New Moms Guide!
One of the toughest parts of raising a baby is protecting her
from her own home. My husband and I were recently married when I
got pregnant, and had an apartment full of nice furniture that
was definitely not baby proof. We had an entertainment system
with all types of game systems, movie players, and even a cable
box, all of which had cords hanging down with exposed outlets. I
eventually learned how to keep the baby safe in her own home,
but a resource could have taught me how to prepare for her
arrival by providing me with baby safety tips that all new moms
should know.
Although many Pediatricians can give great tips for new moms,
most don't have the time to discuss every little problem that
may be going on in your life. I found this out when I would call
the Pediatrician on a weekly basis, wondering whether or not her
diaper rash or excessive spit up was something to worry about.
Most of the time I would have to leave a message or make an
appointment and the problem was usually resolved by the time I
got an answer.
There are a number of different tips that I could give to new
mothers, but I think the most important advice I could ever give
is to read as much as you can. Learn as much as you can during
your pregnancy, and continue reading even after your child is
born. Keep a reference or resource book available for when you
have a question, because most of the time it can be solved just
by picking up a book. Knowing about every little illness, rash,
or problem that can occur, you can prepare yourself for the
arrival of your new addition and feel secure that you will be a
great parent.
About the author:
Tess Barksdale is Author of <a
href="
http://www.new-moms-survival-guide.com">New Moms Survival
Guide</a> and writes parenting tips and articles for a number of
prestigious parenting guides, books, and blogs.You can find her
book at
http://www.new-moms-survival-guide.com
