No-one said parenting would be easy – we’ve all heard the saying, that ‘parenting is the hardest job you’d ever love’. And the other beauty: ‘your parents did the best with what they had’. The trouble is, you never realise these two sayings are actually true, until you’re a parent yourself.
When you have children, it’s not like the midwife or doctor hands your new bundle of joy to you in one hand, and the manual in the other. It’s trial and error, and you all have to learn as you go along. You, any partner or other children you might have, and the new baby; it’s all original experiences for everyone concerned, so making silly promises like ‘you’ll do a better job than your parents did’ only set you up for failure.

The best thing is that your new baby lets you know pretty quickly what’s wrong. And usually, trial and error will tell you what you need to do. With babies, their needs are simple and revolve around one of a few things – food, sleep and comfort. A good feed, a good nap and a clean nappy/warmth/cool will (in most cases) solve all your problems, and make for a happy baby. Of course, there are times and situations when these three things won’t resolve the crying and then it’s time to see an independent expert (not an Aunt or your mother-in-law).
Your childs used to routine – yours. Before they’re born, they slept when you were awake, walking around rocking them gently. They woke when you were asleep, wondering what happened to all the noise and movement. And they ate when you did. So it makes sense that a good routine will help settle a baby, and add to the army of solutions you can call on to help when times are rough.
When things aren’t that simple, though, there is no shame in seeking help from outside your family unit. Counselling, a doctor’s visit or perhaps medication might be what’s needed when your hormones and lack of sleep are wreaking havoc. No-one ever said parenting was an easy job, so there’s no pressure to be perfect. Children forgive easily, too, so don’t worry if you think everything you do is wrong.
Remember, it’s a steep learning curve for everyone, but in the end, all babies need is routine and love – the rest will take care of itself.