5 classic mistakes new parents make and how to avoid them

No matter how great a parent you are, it's inevitable that you will make some mistakes along the way.

No one is perfect and sometimes making mistakes is what helps us learn to be better parents. However, there are some common parenting mistakes that new parents tend to make that can be avoided if you are aware of them.

Raising a baby is a new and foreign endeavour. That's why we panic when babies do something seemingly strange. One big mistakes that parents make is overreacting. If your baby spits up, vomits or cries all night, it's a good idea to just keep an eye on him or her to see if there is really a reason to worry, or, if they are just doing what babies do.

• Babies can pick up on anxiety and become anxious themselves. You don't want to pass off negative energy.

With a new baby in the house, chances are you're not getting as much sleep as you used to and your days are feeling a little frazzled and chaotic.

• Many new moms don't even realize that they become super reclusive in the early months of raising a baby because it can seem like too much effort to shower, do your hair or even put on presentable clothes. But both you and your baby can benefit from getting some fresh air and sunshine!
• Even a walk around the block can help to lift your spirits and give your baby a little more exposure to the world.

Babies should sleep as long as they need to. Even if your baby is breastfeeding, if they are able to sleep through the night, there is no need to wake them for a feed.

• Both you and your baby could benefit from getting a little more continuous shut-eye, so take advantage of it.

Spit up and vomit can be easily confused: they can both fly forcefully across the room!

• Spit up usually occurs during or just after feeding and is perfectly harmless.
• Vomiting, on the other hand, can be a sign of a serious virus — if the baby is vomiting every 30 or 45 minutes, you should consult your doctor.

Your baby needs a lot of attention but so does your relationship! New parents have to make sure they focus on each other, too.

• It's important for your whole family that you carve out time for each other and find ways to have fun and relax together.