Being a parent is a full-time job. Dedicating as much time as possible to your little one is part of instilling them with a sense of trust and security. These fundamental characteristics will manifest during a child’s early years and will impact the rest of their lives. Knowing that parenting plays such an essential role in your child’s development is a lot of pressure, but it’s also a gift. You can take control and teach your child all you know about living a healthy, happy life. Your wisdom, combined with the right parenting tools, will set your child off on the right path. Here are four parenting tips every new mom needs to nurture their chi

Follow Your Own Rules

Your mother, your grandmother, and your neighbor all want to give you their two cents on how to be a good mom. Although you’re doing this for the first time, don’t assume there is only one way to mother. You know your child best, and you also possess your own intuition on what your baby needs. Take the advice you receive with a grain of salt, and brush past any disapproval others express about your mothering style. You need to trust yourself to build confidence as a mother. Follow your own parenting rules.

Make Things Simpler

You don’t have to forego screen time just because someone else told you it was poor parenting. You know the benefits of reading to your child, but you also know what is best for you and your baby. Make things easier for yourself by finding ways to benefit yourself and your baby simultaneously. For example, check out bamboo diapers for a natural alternative to traditional disposable diapers. Your baby will be less likely to develop a rash, and you’ll save money without needing to buy diaper cream or diaper genies. You can also find ways to take small breaks throughout the day while still caring for your baby. Find a baby playlist or show that holds their attention while you catch your breath.

Read About Parenting

Your intuition will serve you well, but you can always learn more about parenting. If you have aspirations for your child but don’t know where to begin, seek out knowledge from parenting books. If you suspect your child is musical, you might wonder how early kids can start learning to play the piano. You might also wonder how to accident-proof your home for increased child safety. Maybe you want to know how to help your child stop thumb sucking. These are the kinds of questions to search for and read about in parenting books. You’re bound to have a handful of questions as you go through the journey of motherhood, and there are no stupid questions. Read, read, read!

Give Yourself Permission to Fail

As you and your baby get to know each other, there will be times you’ll make mistakes. Your intentions are in the right place, so don’t get caught up in any mishaps along the way. As your child grows, their needs will change, and once again, you will have to adjust to these learning curves until you get your groove back. Expect to fail, but also expect to succeed. You are always doing your best, and if you give yourself permission to fail, you’ll be less stressed when mistakes happen.

The Bottom Line

Being a good mom takes the right combination of self-trust, ambition, and humility. Motherhood can seem overwhelming, but remember, as long as you’re there for your child when they need you, they’ll think you’re the best mom in the whole world.