Welcome to the world of parenting. Here you can learn about your newborn’s development week by week and get ideas about toys and activities to share with your new baby. We have advice on the best way to keep your baby safe , as well as tried and tested tips for soothing a fussy baby
Dealing with advice
You will find that not all advice given to parents of newborns is helpful or constructive.
Getting advice like “don’t worry” when you are concerned is not beneficial. You need people around you who listen and respond to your concerns, not dismiss them. Advice can be constructive or destructive. Constructive advice allows you to complain about or confess your feelings and know that the thoughts shared will remain confidential. For example, if you have an overwhelming feeling that your spouse is not helping out enough (which is an almost universal feeling), constructive advice will bring you to want to work with your partner instead of feeding on your negative emotions. A constructive advisor will help you feel ready to approach your problem from a new angle, not feed negative, self-righteous feelings while a destructive mentor’s advice will make public a weakness that you wish no one knew about.
Reserve the right to trim someone out of your support network if they are counter-productive. If you find a particular person’s advice unhelpful, simply stop asking her for advice. You do not need to cut her out of your family’s life (especially if she is a member of your family), but you should think twice before going back to her for advice. Changing what you talk to a friend about doesn’t mean that they can’t be a friend. Remember that the purpose of your support network is to nurture you and your new baby, so resist the urge to accept unwanted or nonconstructive help in order to please others.
The people who support you during this marvelous and demanding part of your life will make you a better parent. When they coo over your newborn’s hiccups, your joy in parenting intensifies. When your pediatric nurse tells you that the tiny bumps all over your newborn’s pretty face are normal and will go away, you will relax and may even snap a photo of your pimply babe. While these are small helps, they build your sense of security so that you can give yourself wholly to loving your baby. The words are apt. The family, friends, and professionals who care for you and your newborn create a net that works to support you as you walk into new territory.
Reserve the right to trim someone out of your support network if they are counter-productive. If you find a particular person’s advice unhelpful, simply stop asking her for advice. You do not need to cut her out of your family’s life (especially if she is a member of your family), but you should think twice before going back to her for advice. Changing what you talk to a friend about doesn’t mean that they can’t be a friend. Remember that the purpose of your support network is to nurture you and your new baby, so resist the urge to accept unwanted or nonconstructive help in order to please others.
The people who support you during this marvelous and demanding part of your life will make you a better parent. When they coo over your newborn’s hiccups, your joy in parenting intensifies. When your pediatric nurse tells you that the tiny bumps all over your newborn’s pretty face are normal and will go away, you will relax and may even snap a photo of your pimply babe. While these are small helps, they build your sense of security so that you can give yourself wholly to loving your baby. The words are apt. The family, friends, and professionals who care for you and your newborn create a net that works to support you as you walk into new territory.
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