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Welcome to parenting. If you are (or are about to be) a new parent,
congratulations! Congrats on the new baby, and also to you on planning and
learning to be the best parent you can be. Raising a baby isn't always easy,
and you may feel like there's so much to learn. You may even feel you're not
ready, especially if you're younger, not married, and/or don't have much
money. Still, you should know that there's lots of help for new parents, and
much of the best help is free of cost. As you learn more, and get help when
you need it, you'll be doing so much to help give your baby a great start.
Parenting as a couple. If you are a couple with a baby, you're already
doing a good thing for your child by both staying involved. In fact, studies
show that both you and your baby are likely to have a happier, healthier, and
even wealthier life if you can stay together as a family. Still, good as it is in
the long run, parenting as a couple has challenges, too. Parenting, especially
when the baby is young and seems to need so much, can be a real strain on
romance, and can make it harder to feel close and solve problems.
Meeting the challenge. Nobody’s born knowing how to care for a baby, but
we can learn. And nobody’s born knowing how to build a strong and happy
life as a couple, but we can learn that, too. As for practical stuff -- paying the
bills, finding a job, and finding an affordable home -- these are all things that
people can and do work toward, building a better life. By reading, learning,
and maybe checking out some of the groups that can help, you're already on
the road to helping your baby and your family life.
Getting help and support. The five purple buttons on the upper left of this
page will take you pages where you can start getting useful info, and links
to groups that can help. These pages are adapted from our 10 Great Ways...
series of handbooks for parents, which you can see by clicking here.
congratulations! Congrats on the new baby, and also to you on planning and
learning to be the best parent you can be. Raising a baby isn't always easy,
and you may feel like there's so much to learn. You may even feel you're not
ready, especially if you're younger, not married, and/or don't have much
money. Still, you should know that there's lots of help for new parents, and
much of the best help is free of cost. As you learn more, and get help when
you need it, you'll be doing so much to help give your baby a great start.
Parenting as a couple. If you are a couple with a baby, you're already
doing a good thing for your child by both staying involved. In fact, studies
show that both you and your baby are likely to have a happier, healthier, and
even wealthier life if you can stay together as a family. Still, good as it is in
the long run, parenting as a couple has challenges, too. Parenting, especially
when the baby is young and seems to need so much, can be a real strain on
romance, and can make it harder to feel close and solve problems.
Meeting the challenge. Nobody’s born knowing how to care for a baby, but
we can learn. And nobody’s born knowing how to build a strong and happy
life as a couple, but we can learn that, too. As for practical stuff -- paying the
bills, finding a job, and finding an affordable home -- these are all things that
people can and do work toward, building a better life. By reading, learning,
and maybe checking out some of the groups that can help, you're already on
the road to helping your baby and your family life.
Getting help and support. The five purple buttons on the upper left of this
page will take you pages where you can start getting useful info, and links
to groups that can help. These pages are adapted from our 10 Great Ways...
series of handbooks for parents, which you can see by clicking here.
Help for families
Strengthening Young Families