Nobody wants to believe they make mistakes when it comes to parenting, but the truth is, all parents mess up at some point. Being a parent is the hardest job in the world and you’ll never be 100% perfect at it. All you can do is try your best and strive to be the best parent you can be.
- Doing everything for your child
Babies and toddlers are pretty slow when it comes to getting jobs done. If you wait for them to do things by themselves, you could be waiting a long time. But, that time will be well spent. It’s important to provide you child with ample opportunity to develop new skills, build his confidence and explore. By hurrying your child and doing everything for him, you rob him of vital learning opportunities. Try to give your child the time and space to do things for himself.
- Avoiding risk
After nine months spent growing the world’s most perfect human, it’s understandable that you want to keep that human safe from harm. You can be forgiven for wanting that tiny human to stay firmly planted in your arms at all time. As your child grows and becomes mobile, however, it’s important to allow him to take risks. Don’t worry, not real risks like jumping out of moving planes or playing Russian roulette, just safe, calculated risks. For example, by climbing trees or exploring the play equipment at your local park, your child can take risks in a reasonably safe environment.
- Failing to model desired behaviour
It’s all very well to lecture your child on the behaviour you would like to see, but it’s much more important to model that behaviour yourself. Your child pays more attention to the things you do rather than the words you say. If you want your child to say please and thank you, make sure that you always use these words when speaking to your child.
- Not fitting the car seat properly
Car safety is so unbelievably important for your baby’s safety, and yet it is estimated that the majority of car seats are fitted incorrectly. If not fitted correctly, your baby’s car seat may not be safe in the event of an accident. Unlike toddler seats, infant car seats are regularly removed from the car. This means there is plenty of opportunities to install it incorrectly. Parental tiredness, being in a rush and complicated manufacturer’s instructions could also play a part in the high number of ill-fitted car seats. Make sure you know exactly how to fit your child’s car seat. Ask for demonstrations from the retailer or search online for instructional videos. Always make sure that your child’s car seat is securely and properly fitted in the car.
- Not trusting your instincts
You may be new to this whole parenting thing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t know what you’re doing. There’s nothing wrong with seeking out advice, reading parenting books and making sure that each decision is the right one. There is a lot to be said, however, for trusting your instincts. Remember, you are the world’s leading expert in your baby. You know him better than anyone else so trust yourself to make decisions about his care. You know what you’re doing, even if it doesn’t always seem that way.
How many of these mistakes have you made?
Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.