Being a parent has become the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done. I mean the minute my son gripped my finger in the delivery room, my life gained new purpose. Having a baby comes with late-night wake-ups, lots of diapers, and the need for round-the-clock attention.

Although we went through most of the newborn phase under the supervision of my in-laws, when we moved into our apartment at Camden Greenville in Dallas, TX, the thought of bothering our neighbors with the noise gave me anxiety. Obviously, that’s no way to live, so here’s what we did!

Control the Controllable

Your baby is going to cry – it’s a baby. Honestly, the most important thing is tending to the needs of my little human, and that cry of his is the only tool he has to communicate that he needs us. My wife and I keep a log in a shared note, which helps us know what is likely the reason for his call for help. There are some apps out there that were suggested to us but, the shared note accomplished the same goal without spamming our emails with junk mail.

Photo courtesy of Camden Greenville in Dallas, Texas

Baby Proofing

This February, my son turned one year old, and he is already walking and chasing our poor little Aussie doodle around our townhome at Camden Greenville. Once the initial excitement of him walking and crawling around wore off, we realized he could start really getting into stuff. Here are a few items we’ve worked on to keep things safe for baby:

- Outlet Covers - Cabinet locks - Rubber bumpers for sharp edges

Read more apartment babyproofing tips here.

Busy Babies are Happy Babies

The more toys and activities my son has, the less likely he is to be upset. This also gives you time to take care of household chores outside of nap time. Here are some items that helped me parent hands-free.

- High Chairs

Once your little one can hold a bottle by themselves, you can set them in their high chair with a 6 to 8--oz bottle and turn on some Gracie’s Corner. That should preoccupy them long enough for you to tidy up the kitchen, or make the bed. You’re not going to build Rome in that short of time, but you can declutter your mind by getting something done.

- Walkers

When your baby has finished that bottle and the effects of the tv fades, the walker is a great way for some controlled play time and get those little legs working!

- Play Pen

The play pen has been a godsend. We loaded it up with some toys and gadgets and let our little one go to town. It’s great to sit in there with them from time to time so they don’t see it as a timeout space but a play space. But this is great if you are cooking if you can keep an eye on your little one, obviously.

Take Care of Yourself

You can’t pour from an empty cup. Obviously, things change with a child and you should expect priorities and schedules to change. I have had to adjust my hobbies such as going to the gym, pick up basketball or playing golf to fit my new life.

- Shorter Workouts

You may not have the bandwidth to do 45 minutes on the Stairmaster, then a 30-minute weight session, and hit the sauna. However, you can get a good sweat in while doing a 15-minute full-body workout in your apartment community Fitness Center! It’s nearby enough to get it done and home quickly, but also gets you and your baby out of the apartment for a bit.

- Meditation

It’s okay to be flustered; it happens. I like to get five, maybe ten minutes of meditation at the beginning and end of every day to allow myself to feel what I feel so that I can serve my son with a clear mind. If you need to clear your mind mid-day, I have learned that if I take three big breaths, it helps to calm me down.

So much joy comes with watching your child grow and develop, and it also comes with a lot of work that, if it is your first time, can be overwhelming. None of the YouTube videos or classes fully prepare you for the journey. You are doing such a great job, and your child is lucky to have a parent who cares so deeply for them. Keep up the good work, and know you are not alone.