

And sharing your memories of being a new parent–especially the not-so-perfect ones–will remind your child that you were once in their shoes, subtly suggesting that you can be called upon as a valuable source of wisdom.Ī post shared by Overjoyed Tip #2: Agree on the Length of Your Visits (and Keep the Dates Flexible)
Baby checklist for new parents how to#
As a result, you will better understand why they make certain decisions about how to raise their own child.

Once you have a better understanding of what your child values from their own childhood, you can get a better idea of the type of parent your child hopes to be. Those old memories build a kind of safety net for when the new baby comes,” she says. Tell them what you remember about their childhood. Find out what your child remembers about their own childhood. “Sit down with expecting parents and talk about how they grew up. Isay encourages grandparents-to-be to talk to their children about their family history-and about their hopes for their growing family’s future. Those old memories build a kind of safety net for when the new baby comes. Try this: Sit down with expecting parents and talk about how they grew up. Though it can be fun to talk about what will be on the baby’s registry and what color the nursery walls will be, the most important discussions you can have with your children before the baby arrives are those that will open the lines of communication. The same is true for grandparenting.” Top Tips for Becoming a Grandparent Tip #1: Open the Lines of Communication before the Baby Arrives Duke, member of the National Advisory Council for the Jewish Grandparents Network, professor of psychology at Emory University and proud grandfather of nine, says, “There is a saying that babies do not come with instruction manuals. Mom is left wondering why Grandma can make the baby stop crying and she can’t?” Isay says.ĭr. If the baby stops crying, that’s very nice for the baby and for Grandma. “Imagine that a baby is crying and Grandma offers to hold the baby. Even soothing a crying baby can inadvertently cause tension. Lack of sleep and anxiety about raising a baby the “right” way can send new parents spiraling. “When there’s a new baby in the house, the parents are completely on edge,” says Jane Isay, grandmother of four and author of Unconditional Love: A Guide to Navigating the Joys and Challenges of Being a Grandparent Today. Your desire to snuggle and spoil your grandchild may occasionally be at odds with your sleep-deprived child’s parenting plans. “That first moment…that first one was magical.”īecoming a grandparent certainly has its share of magical moments like this one, but it can also be a challenge to navigate your new role. “For me, it had been roughly 30 years since I held a newborn,” says Greg Kaiser. They wanted to support their daughter and begin bonding with their grandson as soon as possible.

When they discovered that their daughter Jacqui was pregnant with their first grandchild, Greg and Danielle Kaiser of London, Ontario planned to book plane tickets to Jacqui’s hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey as soon as labor began. What to Expect When Your Child Is Expecting

Growing into your new role as a grandparent may take some time, but being aware of some common boundaries for grandparents-and how to talk about them with your adult children-can deepen your bond with the new parent(s) and help establish a lifelong connection with your grandchild. This ideal state is achievable, though it requires communication, collaboration, understanding and a little bit of grace from everyone involved. In an ideal world, grandparents make life easier for the new family, and new parents experience a heightened level of appreciation for grandma as she takes on this new role. Many grandparents-especially grandmothers-play a crucial role in supporting families when a baby is born. Becoming a grandparent ranks near the top of the list of life’s most joyful moments.
