Allow me to begin by wishing you a very happy New Year and good luck for a successful and fun-filled 2023.

This month, I want to look at new beginnings and talk to those families that are experiencing parenthood for the first time in the aftermath of living through a pandemic, and the changes that have ultimately taken place over the last couple of years.

My research tells me that anxiety amongst new parents is so much higher than usual and mental health has taken a dip over the last few years. We are seeing a rise in over-anxious mums and dads who are struggling to manage their feelings, know what is right or wrong, and feel like they are constantly living on a knife’s edge of concern for their babies’ and toddlers’ health and wellbeing.

Grab a cuppa and take a breath

To that end I wanted to put on my ‘kindly aunt’ hat and offer for you to sit down, grab a cuppa and take a breath. Allow me to remind you of a few things to help you gain a little perspective and hopefully boost your confidence.

Firstly, kids are ridiculously resilient and can deal with way more than we realise. If their primary needs are met, such as food, water, clothing, sleep, shelter and love, they’ll be on the right track to a healthy and happy childhood.

The innate security that comes from being loved and cared for supports the growing infant into feeling safe, developing trust and learning slowly to regulate their own nervous system. So if you are meeting feeding needs, keeping baby warm and dry, have a settled place for them to sleep, and you are responsive to your baby’s needs, you can rest assured you are doing fine.

The next level of this care is to make sure you are able to smile and laugh every day, by actively seeking out joyful moments which add to your day. Whether that is the soft sweet moments of feeding your baby, giggling at playtime or enjoying seeing your baby meet new people and observing the wonders around them as you go on adventures out into the world.

You will face so many challenges

Parenthood, especially the first year, is a hard gig, and you will face so many challenges – from loss of sleep to a change of identity as you shift from being a whole person into a small human’s parent. Remembering what makes you smile, enjoying the company of family and friends, and treating yourself with the utmost respect at all times, will all go some way to smoothing the road ahead.

This year, it will be different and I know you are going to have an amazing year. Just take it easy, ok? And remember – you are doing an amazing job, every day. Happy New Year, let’s make it a good one!