Being a Parent

For many people, being a parent is one of the most challenging, but also most rewarding, parts of their lives. You can help yourself transition into that family by planning for a pregnancy when you and your partner feel ready for one. This will also help you have a healthy pregnancy and baby. If you are currently using birth control and would like to try and conceive a baby, visit your doctor or clinician at least three months before trying. Your healthcare professional will get you started on prenatal vitamins and folic acid (Iowa Department of Public Health Promoting).

When your baby arrives, it may seem scary and you might feel like you don’t know what to do, especially with your first child. This is normal and you will soon see that a lot of parenting is just learning as you go. Everybody chooses a different style of parenting that fits with their lives. Often, parents choose to raise their children similar to the way they were raised. Grandparents can have a huge influence as well, depending on how involved they are in their grandchildren’s lives. Ultimately, most parents have the goal that their children will grow up to be healthy, educated, responsible adults.

Children take a lot of time and energy and it is common for parents to feel frustrated and overwhelmed. If there is another adult in you and your child’s life, take turns getting away for a while if you need some time to yourself to get refreshed. It is important to remember to take care of yourself so you can be the best parent you can be.

Health of Your Children

Nutrition plays a big role in the first stages of your child’s life. Adequate vitamins and minerals should be part of your child’s diet throughout their life. As a mother, breastfeeding your newborn, especially during the first few weeks of life, is beneficial to you and your baby. Electric pumps are available through the WIC program and are helpful in producing milk to store for a later time. Breast milk has the right amount of nutrients that a baby needs and is easier for the baby to digest than formula. It also can help your baby fight off certain infections and illnesses. Another benefit of breast milk is that it is free and takes less time to prepare than a bottle. You won’t have to worry about making bottles ahead of time, and more and more public places are creating comfortable areas for mothers to breastfeed privately. The US Surgeon General recommends breastfeeding your baby the first 6 months of life, and introduce solid food after the baby is 6 months old, continuing with breast milk

Vaccinations for your children are also important to their health for the rest of their lives. When your baby is born, your doctor will keep you up to date with the different vaccines (shots) your baby needs. When it comes time to sign the child up for school, another round of vaccines will be required. It is a good idea to keep a record of these for yourself so you know where your child stands in the schedule of shots they need. Some of these vaccines are done in one shot, while others may require more. One of these is the tetanus, commonly called the "booster" shot. This needs to be repeated every 10 years to keep the vaccine current in your body. Your family healthcare provider or nurse should be able to give you a schedule of which vaccines your children need and when and also will be able to explain the immunizations thoroughly.

Parenting Tips

Familydoctor.org lists the following as important tips for good parenting

• Show your love Every day, tell your children: "I love you. You’re special to me." Give lots of hugs and kisses.
• Listen when your children talk Listening to your children tells them that you think they’re important and that you’re interested in what they have to say.
• Make your children feel safe Comfort them when they’re scared. Show them you’ve taken steps to protect them.
• Provide order in their lives Keep a regular schedule of meals, naps and bedtimes. If you have to change the schedule, tell them about the changes ahead of time.
• Praise your children When your children learn something new or behave well, tell them you’re proud of them
• Criticize the behavior, not the child When your child makes a mistake, don’t say, "You were bad." Instead, explain what the child did wrong. For example, say: "Running into the street without looking isn’t safe." Then tell the child what to do instead: "First, look both ways for cars."
• Be consistent Your rules don’t have to be the same ones other parents have, but they do need to be clear and consistent. (Consistent means the rules are the same all the time.) If two parents are raising a child, both need to use the same rules. Also, make sure baby-sitters and relatives know (and follow) your family rules.
• Spend time with your children Do things together, such as reading, walking, playing and cleaning house. What children want most is your attention. Bad behavior is usually an attempt to get your attention.

If you feel you need extra help or more tips on parenting, check with your local hospitals or schools. Some of these places offer parenting classes and these classes can be a great way to meet other parents and share ideas. Also, your family doctor is a good person to go to for help with potty training ideas, eating problems, bedtime issues, etc. They understand that parenting is a tough job and are usually more than willing to help you through some of these things.