Best Advice For New Parents

New parents need all the advice they can get. In this frantic season of life, it’s difficult to know what is important and how to navigate all the new challenges you face. I’ve been there.

So, I recently asked a group of experienced parents the best advice they would give to new parents. 

I took the nuggets of gold that resonated with my experience as a new parent and compiled them below.  

Here’s the resulting list of best advice for new parents:

1. Trust your gut instinct

I think the biggest struggle as a new parent is lack of affirmation. It’s hard to know if what you’re doing is “right”.

Everyone will have a different opinion.

Our advice: trust your gut. Learn to read your baby’s cues. Use common sense and don’t get too anxious about what other parents are doing.

2. Ask for help/Don’t ask for help

Decide for yourselves how much help you want and communicate that to your family. Maybe you need it or maybe you don’t have a good relationship with your in-laws/parents.

The biggest question is: will the help actually make my life easier?

Also, consider what kind of help you want. Our favourite is when extended family drops off food and doesn’t stay too long!

3. Don’t let anyone impose how you “should” parent

It’s your responsibility to be your baby’s parents.

Beware, many people will think you’re not capable. Parents will lecture you about this or that, in-laws will constantly be looking over your shoulder, and even complete strangers will make passing comments.

You should be humble enough to listen, but in the end, it’s your call.

4. Don’t worry about a clean house

I used to get so stressed about the state of our home when we had our first. Cleaning into the night would keep me from getting enough sleep, spending time with my wife, and just relaxing for a bit.

Don’t make the same mistake I did and accept the mess around you.

And don’t beat yourself up with the guilt! 

5. Be “careful” when changing your baby’s diaper

Your newborn baby is prone to explosive poop and surprise pees at any time.

With our first, it seemed like she waited just for when I opened the diaper to do her worst – check out some of my stories.

So be sure to open up the diaper underneath the old one and proceed with caution!

6. Keep your marriage a priority

Once the baby comes, it will be hard to spend quality and intentional time with your spouse. You won’t be able to do the usual things you guys love to do.

Also, the new mama will be so infatuated with her new baby that she will forget about the husband.

So make an effort to keep your marriage a priority. Even the small romantic gestures can be powerful during this time.  

7. Try your best to breastfeed

The benefits of breastfeeding for baby and mommy are many.

The bigger challenge is keeping it up.

You and your baby could have a very smooth breastfeeding experience or a really up-and-down one. We ALMOST quit breastfeeding, but together we persevered.

The key is to be a team and cheer baby and mama on.

8. You’re not going to fail

Trust me when I say this: you’re not going to fail.

It’s very hard to fail.

Fail isn’t even the right word as there are many ways to go about raising your new baby.

God made you a parent and He will give you the common sense, wisdom, and community to be able to be a good mom and dad for your little one.  

9. Newborn babies don’t need much – just milk and love

In a world where we spend too much time observing other people’s lives, it’s easy to believe you need to own it all in order for your baby to thrive.

You might think you need to own a home and get all the latest gadgets (stroller shopping for new parents is a nightmare). But really they just need love, milk, diapers, clothes, and somewhere to sleep. 

10. Work together

You need to work together with your spouse because of all the new challenges you face.

It’s wise for dads to take time off to be present at home. There are actually many ways you (dad) can help out during postpartum life. This takes the pressure off the mom to get some much-needed rest.   

11. Schedule time for quick moments of prayer and stillness

As Christians, it’s important to set aside time to connect with God (how?). Yes – your life is hectic right now, but that’s when you need the Lord more than ever.

Having that quiet time will rejuvenate you spiritually and give you grace to live righteously during this new parents season (see other benefits here).

12. Enjoy this season of your life!

This new chapter is exciting and sentimental.

The sweet moments you will share with your new child and your spouse will be unforgettable. And they will go by quickly!

Many of my (much) older friends say your child will be 40 in no time.

So don’t get distracted by other things and cherish these precious moments.

So there’s my list of the best advice for new parents! I hope these can help you in your joyful, but a tiring season of life. What advice would you share with a new parent? Or you wish you knew when you just became a parent? Let us know below!