When you’re expecting a baby, it often comes with a steady flow of advice and tips from seasoned parents.
Because it’s brand new territory for first-time mums and dads, they’ll take all the help they can get.
The more important things, such as baby care and baby items, will likely always come to the fore during these discussions.
However, sometimes with all of the parenting advice, more wholesome and personal ways to get through the early days can get brushed to the side.
One expectant parent, keen to get as many tips as possible, asked mums and dads on the internet what they wish they had done in the early days of parenthood.
Some of the answers make so much sense, but you can understand how they may be overlooked during the adjustment period after welcoming a baby.
“I’m curious to hear from more folks who have gone through it and learn what you wish you’d done differently and/or what really helped in that early transition period when you bring home a newborn,” the soon-to-be parent wrote on Reddit.
This prompted an array of lovely responses from parents who offered things they had done as new guardians, as well as replies from some who shared what they wished they had done.
One user said they had downloaded an app called ‘One Second Everday’ many years ago after welcoming their child.
This was for a very special reason.
“I took video of my kid every single day for a year. Just a tiny clip it doesn’t have to be much. Then I used an app to stitch it all together and let it take one second from every day to make a video. There’s a few apps that do it easy.
“This time is going to fly by quicker than you want it to but not quick enough when you’re exhausted and sleep deprived. You’ll be saying “Oh it’s going to be better soon enough” and suddenly your kid is 8 years old and calling you bro,” they shared.
Following on from the advice of documenting your baby’s start in life, another parent stressed that every new mum or dad should ‘back up’ their pictures.
“Back up you [your] pictures the 1st 2 months of my son’s life got deleted. Luckily I had a few already uploaded to the internet and my mom had taken a bunch but I still cried like crazy,” they confessed.
When it comes to breastfeeding, there are several items new mums will likely have added to their list.
However, one Reddit user recommended one that, while it isn’t marketed towards breastfeeding mothers, makes the world of difference when nursing their baby.
“This is so simple you might laugh at me. I wish I would have gotten the biggest CamelBak water bottle they made – like a gallon water bottle or something. The one with the spout that had a straw, that’s really convenient to drink out of.
“I struggled with breastfeeding because I didn’t drink enough water. I was always trying to get up off the couch with a newborn attached to my nipple, filling up this regular sized water bottle every hour. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner,” the user shared.
One answer that was given multiple times was ‘just enjoy it’ and it’s arguably the most important thing new parents can do.
While it may sound obvious, it seems many parents get so caught up in doing everything right that they forget to take joy in this magical time with their newborn.
“I wish I had known it doesn’t last forever. To soak it all in. Not sweat the small stuff. It doesn’t matter what you do, eventually baby will sleep through the night, so toss the books out the window and do it however works best for your family.
“You don’t have to follow all the rules, and stress yourself out because “they say” to do it one way. Keep your baby safe, obviously, but beyond that, just don’t worry so much. I wasted my babies entire infancy being so nervous I wasn’t doing everything perfectly by the book.
“I was stressed that everything I did wasn’t exactly right. Instead I wish I had just enjoyed it, done what worked for ME and not what the books all said.”
Is there anything from your experience as a parent that you would share with a new mum or dad?
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