The first year of having your child is often going to be the hardest. This is not necessarily because of the baby themselves, but more all of the things that come with having them. In fact, the newborn stage is one that a lot of people find the easiest, as they dread the toddler stage. But, that’s a long way off at the moment and you need to concentrate on getting through this first year, where some people struggle more than others. In this article, we’re going to be talking about how you can get through the first year of your new baby, and how you can enjoy it at the same time. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.
Poorly Baby
The first problem that you might encounter with your baby is if they get sick. Colds are pretty common in children, but it can be worrying if you have a new baby. You should be taking your baby to see the doctor if they are under three months and have the signs of a cold because it impacts babies differently than the rest of us. In some cases, there is nothing that can be done other than to give them medicine and wait for them to get better as you would with anyone else. However, this can be extremely difficult. It’s not the easiest thing to watch your baby have a snotty nose or a cough and not do anything about it, but it’s something that happens to everyone.
We recommend that you have all of the essentials to deal with a cold, and make sure that they are remaining hydrated. Lots of snuggles are going to be needed here, whether that’s for your sake or for theirs doesn’t matter.
Reflux
Reflux can be tricky to deal with if your baby experiences this. It usually gets better on its own the older your baby gets, so just hang in there because there will come a day where you’re not covered in baby sick! Reflux is where your baby is bringing up milk during or shortly after their feed, and it’s pretty common. In some cases if the reflux is severe then you will need to speak to a medical professional, but usually it’s nothing to worry about.
Reflux will mean that you are doing a lot of laundry for the first couple of months, and that you should always have a muslin handy. It’s just something that you’ve got to get through, and we know that you can do it.
Sleep Regression
Have you found yourself in the situation where your baby was sleeping absolutely perfectly, in a nice routine and then they just stopped? It seems like the world is ending when you are no longer able to get those precious hours of sleep because your baby doesn’t want to sleep for more than 10 minutes at a time, we know. This is likely to happen a few times as your child gets older, and we know that it’s tough but it’s not their fault. For example, the 4-month sleep regression is going to be one of the most difficult, and you are likely to be more exhausted from lack of sleep than you will be by the 12 month mark.
Sleep regression happens often at key developmental leaps, but not everyone experiences these regressions. Some babies continue to sleep absolutely fine, and some don’t. As with all other things, it will end and your baby will sleep again, we promise.
Adjusting To A New Life
When you have a baby, you are adjusting to a completely new life. Things have been thrown upside down, and even if you have another child, no two are exactly alike. Adjusting to having more children, or your first child can be tough because it’s vastly different from what you are used to. This in itself is going to be draining, piled on top of everything else that you have got to do and think about, it’s not easy to manage. The best advice that we can give you is to not be afraid to ask for help and support when you feel like you need it. Lean on those around you and let them help where they can. You do not have to do it all alone.
Learning To Communicate
During the first year, you will start to learn what your baby’s cries mean as they can’t talk to you. They cannot communicate through words so they use their voice to scream instead. We know that this can be frustrating, but it’s the only way that they know to get your attention. But, you will notice that each cry sounds slightly different depending on what the problem is. For example, the cry for when they are tired will sound different to when they have soiled their diaper and need a change.
You should pick this up without thinking about it too much, but some babies make it a little more difficult than others. As such, the learning to communicate period can be difficult, but you will do it, even if you think you can’t.
Constantly Feeling Overwhelmed And Exhausted
Finally, there is the general feeling of being overwhelmed and exhausted all the time. Yes, it’s normal. Yes, it’s okay to feel this way. We know that you likely feel as though you can’t do this, but everything always feels impossible until it’s done. Take breaks where you need to, and remind yourself that parenting is hard, and you’re allowed to be tired. You just need to do your best.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you should expect in the first year of having your baby. We know it’s not the glamorous picture that has been created of having a baby, but it’s still one of the most wonderful experiences of your life. Even though all of this is possible, it is all worth it when you hold your little bundle in your arms, looking down at them with the unconditional love of a parent. We wish you the very best of luck, and want to remind you that the hard times will always end eventually.
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