Being a parent is one of the most fulfilling but also the hardest jobs anyone faces. This is a job where you’re responsible for bringing life to the earth, nurturing and caring for them, teaching them right from wrong and moulding them into a good person.

And if you’re a first-time parent, don’t worry! This journey should be a learning curve for you too. Being a parent will make you learn SO MUCH about yourself, your partner, others and even of course your child.

But of course, knowing things beforehand is ideal for first-time parents. This will give you an idea of what to expect, and what to prepare for and overall give you the guidance you need to navigate through this new chapter of your life!

So to help you out, here are 8 things every first-time parent should know and have! Check the list out below:

1 – Prioritize parental care

If you’ve just found out you’re with a child, instantly start your parental care journey. Parental care means the care you put into yourself before the baby comes, that benefits your child and also yourself in terms of health in all aspects.

What you can do in this phase is to do everything with that intention in mind. So get regular check-ups, change your diet and eat healthier, avoid extraneous activities, get your daily dose of vitamins and nutrients, keep yourself moderately active and anything your doctor says is “okay” and “not okay.”

2 – Educate yourself! 

You being here right now is a sign that you’re practising this–educating yourself! This is an ideal characteristic all parents should have. It’s being open to new ideas, being teachable and overall accepting any knowledge and help you can for the betterment of your child.

What you can do in this step is to take parenting classes (online or face-to-face), read more parenting books, join support groups, read more articles about parenting and even talk and hang out with other parents and get insights.

Educating yourself can help you prepare yourself for childbirth, infant care, parenting techniques and so much more.

3 – Prepare for childbirth a month before your due date

Childbirth is one of the most memorable experiences every parent faces. So to help your labour process flow as smoothly as possible, consider prepping ahead of time. A great way to start prepping is by creating a birth plan. Your birth plan should consist of every preference you have for your delivery.

4 – Baby gear you’ll be needing

Before the baby comes it’s ideal to already have essential baby care items on hand. So be mindful of things you think your baby will need. And of course, this can vary depending on your baby’s health, situations and so on.

But common baby gear most parents need in their homes are diapers, a crib, a baby car seat, baby clothes, feeding supplies, cleaning supplies and so on.

5 – Consider a good pediatrician 

A good pedia will make such a huge difference when it comes to your baby’s health. So for this step, consider scouting for a good pediatrician near you. Look for a pediatrician before you give birth so you’ll already have someone to run to when you need help or have questions about your baby’s health.

So if you have any medical or health issues and concerns, stay off Google and head over to your pediatrician. This is to ensure you’re getting more accurate information about your child’s health and wellness.

6 – Always consider your child’s mental health

These days, mental health is something not people pay close attention to. And when attention is given it’s always when things are already doing pretty bad. So as a good parent, always consider checking up on your child’s mental health.

A great way to ensure your child’s mental state is in tip-top shape is by considering getting child psychology courses. There are tons of courses you can take and are now even available online! An example would be child anxiety courses online, child behavioural courses online and many more.

7 – Vaccinations and immunizations

You must continuously follow your baby’s recommended immunisation regimen and be knowledgeable about it. In order to protect your kid against a variety of potentially serious and life-threatening diseases and to ensure their long-term health and well-being, vaccinations are essential.

Consult with your paediatrician or other healthcare professional often to make sure your kid gets the proper vaccinations on time and builds a defence against many diseases that may otherwise pose serious hazards to their health.