Everyone always has lots of advice for new parents - particularly before the baby is born I've found! I'm no exception. I think it's because we learn so much, especially the first time, but most people only get to apply that knowledge a handful of times, so we're desperate to pass that hard-earned knowledge on.
However, if I were to distill everything I've learned and read and experienced and talked to others about into one single piece of advice for new parents it would be...
TO JOIN A MOMS GROUP.
Or a dads group. Or a parents group. Or a "May Babies" group or playgroup or a support group or a discussion group or whatever it is called, but do it! Find a group for new parents with babies born around the time yours was and try it out. And if you don't like it, try another group. At least try it.
Seriously, my moms group has been the Best Thing Ever. A lot of people don't have such a thing, and I really don't know how they manage. I guess it's not for everyone, but for me, especially in the first few months, it was so incredibly helpful to meet and hang out with other mothers who were going through the same kinds of things I was. Yes, advice from more experienced parents is really helpful, but getting together with people who are "in the trenches" like you are gives a different kind of comfort. And then it becomes so fun to see all the babies grow and change!
Probably I was lucky to find a really great group. We stopped getting together quite as regularly once people started going back to work, often part time but on different schedules. However, there's a core group of us who still get together when we can, with whoever is around, and I still love it. Nowadays it's not so much for support and more for fun, but we still exchange information and share experiences and it continues to be something I'm really glad I have.
One of the reasons I liked the idea of Baby Basics NYC was because they provide the same kind of community and support that I was able to get for myself from my moms group and other events and resources that don't cost much, but if you're struggling to afford diapers, you certainly aren't going to spend your money on. The people who most need that support are not those who can afford it. And of course, no one should have to worry about being able to afford enough diapers.
If you haven't already, please make a donation to this organization, whether or not you enter the giveaway. And if you are planning on entering the giveaway, don't forget, tomorrow is the last day that you can!
nyc baby, child and family photographer alethea cheng fitzpatrick is based in brooklyn and specializes in contemporary, natural light portraiture. view her portfolio of babies, children or families or send her an e-mail here!
Friday, August 6, 2010 at 10:46PM 
nyc baby, child and family photographer & architect alethea cheng fitzpatrick is based in brooklyn. she specializes in baby photography as interior design & interior design for babies. view her portfolio of babies, children or families or send her an e-mail here!
