Congratulations! A new baby in the family is a wonderful thing. Now all you must do is raise him/her to be a successful human being, that will go on to realize their full potential. No pressure.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s start with the first month and take it from there. After all, you have approximately 18 years to get all the other parts right.
The first month with a newborn can be challenging. Challenging for mom/baby/dad/for any siblings the baby might have. Today though, we will focus on the new-parent relationship. We’ve thought of 5 relationship savings tips that might help you get through that first month.
- Communicate: Talk about your feelings, concerns, and expectations. Make sure to listen to each other without judgment. Remember that both of you are going through a major life change, so be patient and empathetic.
- Share the workload: Taking care of a newborn can be overwhelming. There’s the feeding, the burping, the changing of diapers, and the endless washing of bottles and/or baby clothes. How does such a little thing create so much mess? It's important to share the responsibilities. Make a list of tasks that need to be done and divide them equally between the two of you. This way, you'll both feel less stressed and more supported. Sometimes writing it down makes it clearer to see how much work there is and what should be prioritized and what can wait.
- Prioritize sleep: Lack of sleep can make even the strongest relationship fragile. Make sure to take turns getting up at night to feed and care for the baby, so both of you can get some rest. If possible, try to nap during the day when the baby is sleeping.
- Schedule time for each other: With a newborn in the house, it's easy to get caught up in the daily routine and forget about each other. Make a point to schedule time for just the two of you, even if it's just for a few minutes a day. Use this time to talk, cuddle, or do something enjoyable together like getting outside for some fresh air with baby.
- Be kind and patient with each other: Remember that you're both learning how to be parents, and it's okay to make mistakes. Celebrate the small successes together and see the joy in this new chapter of your lives.
Remember, the first month with a newborn is a fleeting moment and in one short month, you will be closer to pro-status. By working together and supporting each other, you can strengthen your relationship, which in turn will create a happy, healthy family dynamic.