As a new parent, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of caring for your baby, trying to get some sleep, and maybe squeezing in a shower occasionally. It’s essential, though, that these new parents retain time and space for their community.
This social support is not only beneficial to their mental health, but it can also help them become even better parents in the process. In particular, there are a few especially impactful benefits of new parents having a loving community.
Fellow parents provide expert insights.
Imagine, for a moment, that your home has extremely dry air come winter. In an attempt to restore moisture, you decide to invest in a humidifier, including one in the nursery. However, like with other products for your baby’s room, you want to ensure you’re getting the best product for your baby’s health and comfort.
In these moments, you’ll have no better resource than your fellow parents. No one has more authentic insight into how a product works for a baby than those who’ve used it in that exact context. In this case, you can ask around for the best baby humidifier on the market and have a gentle mist preventing congestion and discomfort in little to no time, with the peace of mind that you’ll be making the right choice.
Your community can maintain your sense of self.
Another risk that many new parents encounter is that of making parenthood their entire identity. Without question, the birth of a child marks a significant change, and you might not have time for every hobby and interest you did before the baby came. Still, it’s important to prioritize your own passions, too.
That might be connecting with fellow foodies on the best recipe sharing apps on the web or catching up with friends at your weekly book club. It doesn’t have to be a big time commitment on your part, but it’s important that you maintain connections that see you as more than a parent, even if you might feel like that’s encompassed your life entirely.
Outside perspectives can remind you of your worth.
Even if parenting is taking up your every waking moment, it can still feel as though you’re failing as a new parent. The support of your community is absolutely crucial in this regard—the people who love you will be the first ones to remind you that you’re a great person and an even better parent.
In some cases, that same need may be fulfilled by a mental health professional, like in the case of postpartum depression. In a case this severe, your therapist or psychiatrist can not only help you remember your worth, but they can also get you back on track to feeling better overall.
Everyone needs a break sometimes.
In the earliest days of parenting, you might be tempted to handle anything and everything on your own. This is a one-way road to burnout, though. Not only can this unwavering vigilance worsen the symptoms of sleep deprivation and stress, but it can also lead to more severe issues if left unchecked. Your community can lend a hand, whether that’s through watching your bundle of joy so you can take a shower or taking over for an evening so you and your partner can actually leave the house.
The first days and months following your baby’s birth can be stressful, especially if this is your first child. A strong support system, though, can help you get through this phase as painlessly as possible. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child—and your personal village can help you thrive while doing just that.