Being a parent is the best thing in the world. As cheesy as it sounds I have loved every moment with my kids no matter if it was a vacation, a school sporting event, going to a movie or even having to try and listen to them explain to me why Super Mario is amazing for thirty minutes. But there are times when I look back to when I had my first child and how I wish I had a time machine and I could go and give myself a little advice. Well I cannot do that. yet, but until then I want to share a few of my thoughts that can make you new parents out there lives a little less crazy!
Do Not Spend A Fortune On Baby Books
I went way over board on buying baby books and magazines in the months leading up to the birth of my first child. If there was a baby book when I went out grocery shopping I would buy it. I would read them cover to cover, but over the years I have realized that many of these books are written from that parents point of view (kind of ironic that I am writing this and saying that, isn’t it?) and what worked for their baby may not work for yours. And just because a baby book says that babies should do something does not mean that yours actually will! Babies are babies and they do not care what these books say they should be doing! They will just poop and sleep when they want! So while these books can be interesting, do not look at them and think your baby is going to behave the way they say.
You Do Not Need To Buy That Stroller Carrier From Babies R Us
Many first time parents will go way over board (like me!) when it comes to buying stuff for their baby. Weird seats, special stroller bags, play mats and a million other things. The fact of the matter is that half the stuff we bought we did not actually use and in the end we would up passing it on to other people. While most of the stuff me and my partner thought looked cool and cute, the fact was it really was not essential at all! So try to think before you buy things and always ask around friends and family before you do as they may have one they can pass onto you.
New Born Baby Clothes
You will be mind blown at how fast your baby will grow. The amount of clothes that we bought for our child was just insane. I swear to you guys that I do not think that he wore of what we bought him. You see when you have a baby you will probably end up having the washing machine on all the time anyway! So we found that we got into a system where he would be in many of the same clothes and by the time we would want to try something new it would not fit! Try to have a system where if friends and family really want to buy clothes for the baby, ask them to buy ones that will fit months down the line!
Do Not Get Competitive With Other Parents
My first son could not walk until his was around 18 months. To say I was freaking out is a huge understatement. I had other people telling me how their kids could walk before they were one or how they could play the piano when they were three months or how they taught a class on economics when they were two. Do you see what I am saying here? Parents like to exaggerate about their kids, do not get caught into some kind of contest with them. All kids develop at their own pace so just let them be kids! Now my son is always running around and having fun, so really the fact it took him 18 months to walk in the grand scheme of things was not a big deal at all!