6 Tips To Beat Parenting Stress!

When you’re expecting your baby, a common comment from anyone you meet will be that a baby will completely turn your world upside down. You might have been incredulous at the time, but once your newborn arrives, you realize that it isn’t far from the truth. A newborn brings in happiness and excitement for the parents and family. Let’s say it also has some worries and stress associated. Your daily routine changes drastically, and everything involves this tiny being, So, how do you adjust and adapt? Read on to find out how you can deal with the change and the stress associated with it.

How Will My Life Change With A Newborn?

The emotions and experiences that come with becoming a parent can be overwhelming. Here are some practical ways in which your life changes-

1. Routine: If you’re a stickler for routine and the predictable, be prepared for that to be turned upside down. Babies are unpredictable, and planning is done around their schedule
2. Anxiety and stress: You find that you’re constantly stressed about things that need doing for the baby. You’re also constantly worried about her safety
3. Marriage: It is natural for your relationship with your partner to change when a baby arrives. With the baby needing all the care and attention, you may find that you have barely a minute to make conversation with your partner
4. Relationship with friends and family: You might find that your relationship with your parents, changes now that you’re a parent, and you might experience new-found respect for the bond. With the daily challenges of new parenting, it’s possible that you don’t have the time and mind space to keep in touch with friends and family

How Do I Deal With Parenting Stress?

While your life will never be the same, and on some days you feel like the stress is too much, here are some tips to help you beat it:

1. Self-Care: It is common for new parents to neglect themselves. A little care will go a long way in helping you feel better-
   • Have a healthy diet,and drink plenty of water through the day to stay hydrated
   • Reduce the consumption of caffeine
   • Nap when your baby naps. It’s easier said than done, and most of us want to finish chores when the baby sleeps. But try and get at least a half an hour’s power nap. This will help you regain the energy you need to take care of your baby and yourself through the day
2. Establish hygiene rules: With the arrival of your new born, it’s quite natural that friends and relatives would visit you frequently. And it is also natural for you, as a parent, to stress about hygiene and the baby’s wellbeing. Prepare visitors for a limited interaction time with baby. Make sure that visitors have sanitized their hands before holding the baby. If you have a nanny for baby care, insist on proper hygiene at all times
3. Travel care: Are you planning to travel with your baby? Budget enough time for packing the supplies for your baby such as diapers, food, clothes, necessary medicines, bottle sterilizer, her toys and more. Planning ahead will help minimize stress during travel. Also, please find a more detailed account on these here
4. A break from daily routine: Plan your day’s routine ahead so that you have some leeway
   • Store used clothes in a laundry bag and wash on a pre-scheduled day as per your routine. Try to wash them every 3-4 days instead of washing daily
   • Cook simple meals with a few fresh ingredients. You can cut and freeze vegetables. If you wish, you can freeze batches of meals, too
5. Take a refreshing walk: If you find yourself getting frustrated with the unforgivingly hectic routine, take a walk outside with your baby if the weather permits it. In case of bad weather, you can take a stroll indoors with your baby in a stroller and with some music playing
6. Prioritize your marriage: It is easy to let your marriage take a backseat, what with the little one needing you always. However, don’t let your partner feel like you’ve forgotten your marriage. It takes conscious effort from both people to keep the relationship going.

   Parenting is hugely challenging. And there are days when you feel like you just don’t have your best game. That’s when you need to take a deep breath and take a step back and do something for yourself. This won’t just recharge your batteries, but will also make parenting enjoyable.

   What do you do to beat parenting stress? Tell us in the comments section!

   • If you can arrange baby care, step out for a Friday night dinner date to rekindle the love and friendship. Even if you can’t, have a nice evening at home when your baby naps
   • Surprise your partner with little gestures like notes in the lunch bag, or sweet texts during the day
   • Communicate constantly. Not talking about what both of you are going through, puts a huge stress on the relationship
   • Nurture other relationships:Although your baby needs all your love and attention, you need to take care of your other relationships too-
     • If you have an elder sibling, create some time when it’s just you and her. This could be when the baby sleeps or when someone else is taking care of the baby
     • Make some time for your close friends. Even when it’s a challenge to beat the traffic and meet, pick up the phone and chat away like old times.
   • Learn the art of asking for help: If you are in a joint family, this is the time to seek help from family members. If they can take care of your baby for a few hours, it can ease off your stress. You can plan a movie or can have a date with your partner. Or you can take that much needed nap. So, it's time to learn the art of seeking help from family members