You are about to welcome your first child into the world! While this is excellent news, it is also a time of intense preparation. To help you prepare for parenthood, we have created a short guide! Look at some essential tips, and feel free to implement these in your daily life.
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Comfort and CushioniKnowledge is power – everything you need to know about pregnancy, birth and parentingng
Pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood are topics that keep future parents busy. Fortunately, many questions can be answered by books or the internet. However, using trusted sources to help you prepare for parenthood is always wise.
Remember – there are no stupid questions, and what may seem obvious to some may be challenging to others – especially as you prepare to welcome your first child into the world. And while you are searching for answers to your questions, you may find some practical advice or tips that will make this time a lot easier.
In the period before the baby’s birth, you can also learn the basics of parenthood. Yes, there will be time to put this knowledge into practice later, but once the little one is with you, there may not be enough time for such education!
Don't be afraid to ask for help
While we encourage you to do your own research, it is sometimes best to seek professional advice. Especially when it comes to health issues. However, asking for help or looking for support from others can also take on a different, more personal character. And here, family and friends play the most crucial role.
Support from family or friends, especially emotional care, is vital at a time like this because it is not difficult to have mood swings when the hormones are raging. There is nothing to be ashamed of, as it is a natural part of pregnancy and the postnatal period.
Of course, help from loved ones can also be more practical, and the experience of older family members or friends who already have children will undoubtedly be helpful in the first few weeks with the baby.
Prepare your family budget
Another important issue is the family budget. Pregnancy and early parenthood are also times of expense – both one-offs (such as buying a pram) and regular ones. It can be easy to fall into the trap of spending unnecessarily, especially if you are new to this area and unsure what products you will need.
How to avoid this? Making a financial plan is the best way. And although it sounds scary, all you really need to do is think about the future expenses and where you can make savings.
You can also plan for potential costs with our other guide, which lists the products a baby needs in the first few months of life. You can read it here: „Checklist of Baby Essentials: Your Guide to Baby Must-Haves”.
Physical and mental health before and after childbirth
Parents’ physical and mental health, before and after childbirth, is so vital that it must be included in our list. Of course, mums-to-be are usually the focus of attention at this time, but welcoming a new family member is a significant change for dads, too. So make sure you take care of yourself as well.
Regular visits to the doctor, a good diet, easy physical activity and a healthy rest are issues that should be close to your heart. But how to emotionally prepare for parenthood? Talking openly with your partner, family, or friends can help you deal with the stress and anxiety of pregnancy, and if necessary, you can consult a specialist: your doctor or a psychologist.
How do you prepare your home for a new family member?
Preparation for parenthood includes adapting your home to welcome another family member. How to do this? First, you must create a space dedicated to your baby. This could be a separate room or a corner of your bedroom.
Of course, you should consider the space for baby care products, such as cosmetics, food, clothes or toys. It is also worth considering where the pram or the pushchair will be kept – the smaller the apartment, the more critical it is to organise the area properly.
Bonus: some practical tips
We believe that preparing for parenthood should be an enjoyable time. And while there’s no denying that it takes some effort, we hope our short guide will make it easier.
We also recommend reading our other article, which looks at this issue from a different angle: „Preparing for a Baby: What Every New Parent Should Know”, which gives you some bonus tips. With this knowledge, you will be prepared to welcome your baby into the world.
