Whether you have a planned pregnancy or a happy little accident having kids is more high maintenance than you ever could have imaged. Sometimes lessons are learned during or after an experience. For many of us parents there are a few things we wish we would have known before having kids. LifeHacker.com has put together a few things you should know.
Making a baby isn't as easy as it sounds. For some people having a baby is a long trying experience. Of course, the act of making a baby is the fun part but just because you decide you want to have a baby doesn't mean it will happen on the first try.
For new parents the first few months can be torture. Sleeping, showering and even eating routines will be turned upside down once you have a newborn in the house. They become number one priority and your needs begin to sit on the back burner. Even after your kids start to sleep in their own room your sleep can still be broken due to nightmares, thunderstorms or monsters under the bed.
New parents love to have every gadget and toy to keep their little one busy. Playpens, bouncy chairs, play mats, hammocks and teething rings are all desired baby goods but in reality most of these items are not needed. Children do not need much to mentally stimulate them since the world is their playground. As many of us know, kids can get excited over a cardboard box using their imagination to create a new world inside.
When taking your child to the doctor there are many growth charts used to make sure your kid is on the road to developmental success. Parents are always concerned about where their child falls in comparison to other children's development milestones but it is important to remember we all develop at our our pace.
Take loads of photos! Time sure does fly by and it is nice to be able to look back at the growth of your child and family. Especially as one gets older and our memories fade pictures last forever.