10 Mistakes New Parents Make in the First Year and How to Avoid Them

Being a parent is a joyful, exciting time where you get to know and raise your little bub, and see them become their own person over time. It’s also a challenge, full of adjustments and changes — but filled with love. The truth is, nobody can learn how to successfully be a parent until you try it out yourself. And just like learning anything new, you’re bound to make a few mistakes — and that’s totally fine. However, sometimes a few tips can make the difference when it comes to avoiding some of the most common mistakes new parents made. Keep reading to learn more.

1. Panicking and stressing over every little thing

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It’s absolutely normal to panic and stress over every little thing your baby does or doesn’t do. All you see is this tiny, fragile human that needs your protection at all times — of course, you’re going to worry! Just remember, babies are actually much stronger than we think. Try not to agonise so much about whether they cry too much or too little, whether they spit too much or not enough, or whether they’re making too many dirty nappies. Constant worrying can lead to anxiety — and that’s not healthy for you or your young family. While it can be hard, learning to let go and enjoying time with your baby is one of the best things you can do in the first year of parenthood.

2. Not sleep training your newborn

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Encouraging your baby to be independent is crucial for their proper development later on. While you may think an independant baby sounds like a paradox, it all starts with the little things — such as sleep training them. Letting your baby sleep next to you may be okay for now but once your child grows older, sleep training is very important — making them sleep at a certain time, in their room, and their own cot or bed. And the sooner you start with this, the easier it will be. Learn more advice about getting your baby to sleep with our article here.

3. Feeding on demand

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Many parents think that bub will let them know when they’re hungry, either by waking up or crying. While this is true, it’s not the best practice to just feed on demand and let bub control their feedings. During the first few weeks, your baby needs to be fed every two or three hours in order to properly grow — even if they don’t seem hungry.

4. Taking newborns to busy/crowded places

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Of course you want to introduce your baby to your whole extended family or take your mini-me to the shopping centre… but is it the best idea? During the first two months of your baby’s life, protecting them from germs and sickness is crucial — and crowded places or large gatherings are where germs usually thrive. Remember that your newborn’s immune system is still developing and not bulletproof just yet. Prepare for baby’s first outing by reading Bellamy’s simple guide here.

5. Not letting your infant cry it out

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It’s a natural instinct for us as parents to want to make the crying stop. But instead of associating your little one’s cry as you doing something wrong as a parent, see it simply as the way babies communicate. Babies are designed to cry, sometimes when there’s nothing wrong. You can still console or cuddle them — just know that crying doesn’t always have a negative connotation. Read more about the seven common reasons babies cry here.

6. Staying up late after the baby has gone to sleep

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It’s late and you finally got baby to sleep. Surely you want to catch up on that tv show — totally understandable. But, just like your baby needs sleep to thrive, you do too. Sleep deprivation for parents is a common and tough reality to go through — so as much as you’d like to catch up with your show, make rest a priority. Remember that in order to take care of someone else, you need to be as healthy and well-rested as you can.

7. Comparing yourself to other parents

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The fact is, just as every baby is different, other parents have their own experience and ways of doing things. There’s no point in comparing yourself to other parents. Your kids aren’t the same, and your circumstances are also likely to differ. Development milestones of your baby, such as walking or talking, are achieved only when they are ready to achieve them — so don’t stress out about what Michelle’s baby is doing – discover the 20 big little milestones to celebrate with your baby here.

8. Under or over-reacting to a fever

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Fevers can be serious in newborns, especially in their first three months of life — with the exception of the possible rise of temperature they get after getting a vaccine. If your child feels warm, call your paediatrician immediately. Learn more about what to do when your baby has a cold with this article here.

9. Not leaving the house

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When we said ‘don’t take your baby to crowded places’, we didn’t mean ‘lock yourself in your house forever and throw away the key’. While it’s true that a newborn’s immune system is weak, fresh air and a little sunshine are actually good for them — and you. Think about a walk down the block or a visit to the local park – here’s Bellamy’s list of the best parks to explore in Singapore.

10. Rushing out the door

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Remember when you could just grab your keys and your bag, and out the door you went? As a parent, leaving the house may take slightly longer than five minutes — so patience and planning are key! Nobody likes to be pressured or rushed when going somewhere — so take your time to burp bub, prepare a bag with all their essentials, pack their carrier, etc. Choose your destination carefully – like one of these 15 baby-friendly restaurants and cafes in Singapore. And if you’re travelling with a baby, you will need to plan and prepare ahead of time – check out Bellamy’s travel guide and downloadable travel checklist here.

Concentrate on love

Though becoming a parent is a joyful one-of-a-kind journey, it can also be overwhelming at times. And just like you always do when learning to do something new, you’ll make mistakes — after all, nobody’s perfect! We hope this guide enlightened you with some of the most common mistakes new parents made — so you can just concentrate on loving your new mini-me.

Stress less and ensure your baby has a pure start to life with organic nutrition. Take a look at our full range of products at Bellamy’s Organic — we offer infant milk, ready-to-serve baby food, snacks and more. Contact us today to find out more.