If you could give one special piece of advice to a first time parent, what would it be?

Doing a little project, Being a first time parent can be very intimidating. There always something we learn along the way that no one told us before hand. What would your one piece of advice be?If you could give one special piece of advice to a first time parent, what would it be?
Children are the greatest gift from God. Greater than anything else ever! Life doesn't stop when you become a parent... life is just beginning. I only say this because when my husband and I started to try to have a baby, people kept saying that we need to wait. They all said life is not going to be the same after you bring a baby into the world. You know what, they were partially right. They told me I needed to live life first and then become a parent. Being a parent is where life begins in my opinion. I love my little girl so much. She has really brought so much joy to our lives. I don't know what we would be doing without her.





As far as products: cloth diapers were the greatest invention ever. Don't use them on the babies bottoms, use them as burp cloths.If you could give one special piece of advice to a first time parent, what would it be?
Take a parenting class. Being a mother is NOT instinctive...we have lost our instincts eons ago. How a mother/father acts is learned - good or bad. If married or partnered, be sure that both parties attend. You will learn tips and developmental information that you could not know otherwise.





If you were abused/neglected, also go into therapy. Even if you have had therapy before, having a baby can trigger memories that you thought were long resolved.





Being a parent is not difficult, once you have the information you need to have a happy child. It's no longer about your pleasure; it's about raising a child properly.
';Turn around and you're two,


Turn around and you're four,


Turn around, you're a man


Walking out of my door.';





................from ';Sunrise, Sunset';





It's true, too true.....
I would tell all parents to get their kids on a schedule. It is not hard if you began when they are still infants. Once they get the rythm of going to bed at the same time everyday; by time they are toddlers they will automatically began to fall a sleep at what ever time you asign them. I am a mother of four and all my kids are asleep by 8:30 not going to bed, but fast asleep. It gives me the rest of the evening with my husband. During the day make sure you keep them very busy with activities; not tv.
Have a sense of humour. Teach your child to find humour in everything. That way no matter what your child is up against in life he/she can deal with the situation easily.
Take time to hold listen touch embrace your child , love ...
No matter how frustrated you get (and you will get frustrated) just remember that you will love them more the next day, and even more the next day. Kids do things that aggrevate us, but they don't do it just to aggrevate us (especially the young ones) Good Luck!
I did read your additional details but my advice would be:





Go with your gut instinct and forget what other people say. Everyone gives you their opinions once you have a baby and some shove it down your throat. Do what you feel is right and do not let them get to you. I did what I thought was right but let others opinions and comments eat at me, now I do not and my kids are 6 and 8, I wish I could have taken the attitude of not letting it get to me much sooner.


That goes with doctors to, if something feels wrong push it, or get a second opinion. My daughter was not feeling good when she was 5 weeks and a Dr. said oh you just a first time mom and dismissed us, I knew something was wrong but did not know what, 2 days later she was airlifted to a nearby children's hospital.


My gut instincts have not let me down when I have followed them.
I wish people told me to:


-give warm milk, reduces long nights of crying. supposedly cool milk causes gas in babies.


-after burping, have her sit in her carseat for 20 min so she can digest, makes parents and baby happier


- get a rocking chair. told my mother in law no i didnt want one and she gave it to me anyway. cant imagine surviving this long with out it ( baby is 4 mo. now). swing probably works but usually baby likes to be rocked by someone instead of being alone. both works though


-try to give her bath in the evening so she sleeps longer during night time


- have her in your room first couple of months, my daughter has choked on her vomit many time and if i wasnt there then probably SIDS could have occurred


-have done a lot of research, avent bottles are the best. closest to the feeling of mother feeding the baby





cant think of anymore now but those are my top advice for a first time parent, hope this helps
Choose your battles. Certain things are not worth getting upset about while others definitely are. It makes for a much calmer household.





One more: don't always say NO. Most parents find that as the thing that comes out of their mouths the most. It's OK to say yes somtimes. That too makes for a much happier, calmer household.
Enjoy every moment of their child hood, for tomorrow they will be adults.