Being a new parent and having a full-time career is no easy task. In this article, we give advice for new parents.

So, it’s your first child and it's a joyful period. However, juggling your parenting duties and career at the same time is challenging, emotionally and physically draining. 

The good news is that you can get through this and find a balance between your bundle of joy and work. 

As your maternal or paternal leave passes, it's perfectly normal for both of you to feel anxious and stressed about this new transition. For new parents, this stage is daunting. Whether you or your partner are working remotely or in an office, the guilt of not being able to take care of your newborn will still be there. 

It will get easier and you're not alone. Many other new parents are faced with the same struggles as you are. 

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Advice for new parents who are working

Here are some tips to help you with making your life easier and less stressful:

Find a reliable daycare provider or babysitter

While you're at work, you need to have peace of mind. The only way to achieve this is when you know your baby is in good hands. So, you can look for a reputable daycare in your area or you can find a full-time babysitter. Explore both these options until you figure out which one will be the best for your baby. 

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Delegate with your partner

Both of you are in this together. Therefore, the responsibilities should be split between you both. Here are some examples:

• Having a baby means endless sleepless nights. So, you can take turns, alternate the night duties, etc;
• Take turns to prepare meals. Perhaps, your partner takes care of breakfast and you handle dinner? You can plan and work this out;
• Share the household chores. Same as above, find a way to work this one out.

By helping each other out and working together, you'll see how much easier it will be for both of you. 

Prepare easy dinners

Let's face it, after a long day of work, no one really wants to spend hours slogging away in the kitchen. The truth is you can still have a healthy and nutritious meal without having to spend hours cooking. Look for quick recipes or you can buy dinner on days when you and your partner are really tired. 

Set a routine and stick to it

With a baby, it is difficult to set a routine. However, start taking the little steps. Go to bed early and take your baby with you. Eventually, your child will get used to it and set into this pattern. If you wake up early every morning you'll also have a head start to your day. 

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Have a backup plan

Things can go wrong. Therefore, always have a backup plan in place. Such as another babysitter, have precooked meals in your freezer, etc. Also, for mothers who are breastfeeding their babies, always ensure that you pump enough milk for the day. 

Take care of yourself

Taking care of yourself is essential. In order to care for your family, you need to start with yourself first. Try and prioritize mini-breaks, time for yourself, date nights with your partner, etc. 

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Conclusion

Being a new parent is difficult to deal with and it's even more challenging when both you and your partner have full-time jobs. To get parenting advice and tips on how to take care of yourself, you can read through parenting articles and see what others parents found helpful. If you feel you could benefit from professional help, you can book a session with one of our Online Parenting Coaches.