Top Five Parent Mistakes You Can Avoid

By Rob Starr

Being a fussy new parent is fine because, after all, you’re learning the ropes. However, a constant state of anxiety isn’t doing you or your new baby any good. Learning to read the language of your newborn’s crying helps to keep everyone calm and will allow you to stay away from destructive behaviors to better understand the ebb and flow of being a new parent.

One of the biggest mistakes new parents can make is not trusting their instincts. A lot of the suggestions you’ll read are based on averages and statistics but in the end, the fact that you know your child like no one else can help you sort through all the information and advice that’s out there. All My Children Daycare and Nursery School is always looking to bring new ideas to the table but please remember our input should not replace a professional guidance.

Remember: You Are Not Alone

Now that you’ve brought that bundle of joy home and everything about the life you’ve created and are responsible for is a little more real, the big job of becoming a new parent is probably settling in. By now, you’ve already realized even the crib you bought for your newborn comes with a set of instructions--but that’s not the case with the latest addition to your family.

Take heart, new parents, you’ve not being left alone in what would be the wilderness of raising baby by trial and error. There are many people who have come before you and been good enough to share the top five new parent mistakes you want to avoid. Their advice will help you steer clear of the brambles and bushes other new parents have gotten momentarily tangled in and stay on the path to good parenting right from the start.

Mistake #1: Panicking

Babies, it turns out, are far tougher than new moms and dads give them credit for. They spit up, vomit, have bowel movements, and cry--sometimes a lot. Remember, the Encyclopedia of Psychology lists one of the three goals of parenting as preparing children for life as productive adults, and striking a balance when you’re a parent means blending rational concern with calm reactions. It makes you a good example right from the beginning of your child’s life. In other words, there’s no need to always assume the worst when it comes to your newborn.

Mistake #2: Misreading Crying

Babies don’t have a vocabulary so they communicate the only way they know how. When they cry it doesn’t mean something is necessarily wrong. Still, new parents need to be aware that crying coupled with a rash or vomiting might signal an issue best brought to the doctor’s attention. There’s also a proactive side that might not go over well for new mothers who like some quiet time with a cup of their favorite blend. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding moms should consider cutting out that morning cup of java since caffeine can actually upset a newborn and cause them to cry.