New Parents

You can be more confident as a new parent if you know where to go for support. The Defense Department offers a variety of programs and services for new and expecting parents, including:

As a new parent, there are basic ways to keep your baby safe: making sure your baby is always supervised, using extra caution at bath time, creating a safe sleep area by removing all soft objects and loose bedding from the crib, and protecting your child from all medications and other hazards. Check out other ways to keep your baby safe in the following articles:

• How Military Parents Can Create Safe Sleeping Environments for Infants
• Keeping Your Children Safe

Parenting takes patience, especially when your child is misbehaving. That’s when you’ll need to take deep breaths and put a positive discipline strategy to work. Misbehavior and boundary testing are a natural part of growing up. By using positive discipline, you can keep your children safe, help them learn valuable skills for life and teach them to keep cool under pressure. Check out the following articles for tips on disciplining your child, potty training, coping with a crying baby and more:

• Tips for Disciplining Your Child
• How to Create and Maintain Routines

Did you know talking to your children from the get-go is one of the most important parts of parenting? The way your child communicates will change a lot between birth and the age of 5, and children sometimes have a language of their own. Knowing what to expect helps you to understand and respond to your child in meaningful ways.

While the “baby blues” are common for many women after giving birth, some women face a more prolonged and serious period of depression. If your feelings of sadness or anxiety do not go away, you may be suffering from postpartum depression. Reach out to a Military and Family Life Counselor if you have questions or need support.