First time parenting mistakes are bound to happen. You live and learn then try not to make the same mistakes again. Our lives would be so much easier if we got a user manual when our children are born.
As parents, we make a lot of mistakes. Some mistakes are worse than others. Here are some of the first-time parenting mistakes I made that you can avoid.
7 First Time Parenting Mistakes
1. Forgetting the Diaper Bag
You’ll only forget your diaper bag once. Being away from home without a diaper or a change of clothes is the worst. Especially when you have a newborn that is prone to blowouts!
After I had my daughter I went to visit my co-workers and to show off my bundle of joy. It felt good getting out of the house and actually talking to people. All the ladies were taking turns holding my newborn when one of them held up a dirty hand.
My little one had a blowout and there I was with no way of changing her clothes. Being the new mom that I was I didn’t know the importance of having a diaper bag with me at all times!
Luckily, I had an extra diaper but no extra clothes. It was the middle of January so that didn’t help matters. I did have a receiving blanket so I wrapped her up in that and prayed that she would be warm enough until we got home.
2. Changing Your Son’s Diaper Too Slowly
If you have a son, you will most likely get peed on once or twice. Taking too long to change your son’s diaper is a disaster waiting to happen.
This happened to me the first time I changed my son’s diaper. I didn’t have a new diaper ready to go when I took his used one off. While searching for the diaper a golden shower started spraying up.
This taught me to have everything ready the next time he needed his diaper changed. For extra coverage when changing a diaper try these Tee N Toss Tee Tee Turtle cups. I found the cups helpful to contain the spray.
Once you experience getting peed on you’ll only let it happen once. After it happens you’ll become a master at keeping the baby’s lower body covered for all but a brief moment.
3. Not Closing the Child Gate
You will only forget to close the baby gate once when you have a baby on the move. Once your baby starts crawling you will learn to keep baby gates closed at all times.
Early one morning my spouse came back from getting us coffee. I put my 6-month-old down on the floor and grabbed the cup. Not thinking about how she now crawls and doesn’t stay put, I left the room.
I assumed my spouse would watch our precious little one. But he was completely oblivious and left the room as well.
With no one watching her, my curious little one decided to crawl on over to the top of the stairs. Fortunately, our cat was there and stopped my little one from breaking her neck. Because she stayed with the cat instead of continuing to fall down the stairs.
I learned my lesson. The baby gate must be closed at all times!
4. Wearing White around a Toddler
We all know of the fashion faux pas of not wearing white after Labor Day. Well, this rule also applies when you become a parent. Ever notice that parents do not wear white? There’s a reason for this.
We have all made the mistake of wearing white around a toddler. You’ll never be able to wear that white piece of clothing in public again due to the massive stains it now has.
5. Not Taking Plenty of Bathroom Breaks on a Road Trip
Words no parent wants to hear when there is no gas station in sight are “I have to pee” or even worse “I have to poo.” If you have a newly potty-trained child in the car with you, they have not yet learned to wait when they feel the urge to go.
I had to learn the hard way that letting them wear pull-ups on a long road trip is ok. Also, to make sure to stop at a bathroom often.
Another good idea when on a road trip with little ones is to bring a potty with you. Keeping a potty with a lid in the back for emergencies will change the way you travel.
Your road trip will be less stressful when the next gas station is in 50 miles and your little one has to go right now!
6. Giving your toddler a plastic grocery bag
Did you know the warning on plastic bags to keep them out of the reach of children is there for a reason? One day I had one in my hand and little one wanted to see it. I gave it to her thinking that she is not actually going to put it over her head.
Guess what she did with it? She started putting it over her head! I stopped her before she could but I did not think that was the first thing she would have done with it!
So warning labels are there to help you protect your little one from harming themselves. Who knew!
7. Leaving a Loud Talking Toy on the Floor After Bedtime
Finally, your little one has fallen asleep after a long bedtime battle. You are creeping across the room so you don’t wake them. Then, when you’re almost to the door, you trip on something.
Out of nowhere, you hear a loud voice exclaim, “Do you want to build a snowman?” Nothing brings panic to a parent like a talking toy threatening to wake your sleeping little one.
Before bedtime,
Parenting Mistakes Happen
There are thousands of mistakes parents can make. All mistakes are best avoided and there are some that are worse than others. Most likely you’ll only make these mistakes once and you will never make them again.
I hoped you enjoyed reading about the mistakes I have made. Have you made any of these mistakes? What are some mistakes you have made? Let me know in the comments!
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