Expecting a baby or welcoming a new child into your family is an exciting time that can be filled with joy as you embark on this journey. It may also be a time filled with some anxiety or uncertainty. You may be juggling many competing priorities that involve meeting the demands of military life, as well as working and taking care of toddlers or other children, while also trying to take care of yourself.
The New Parent Support Program — which offers parenting education and support — can help you navigate this transition and find a balance between competing life demands and welcoming your new child successfully. It is a free, voluntary program staffed with home visitation professionals that is designed to help families thrive.
NPSP helps military parents and caregivers provide a nurturing environment for their children. Parenthood is like any other job and has its challenges — there’s a lot of learning at first, regardless of whether this is your first child or your fourth. The more support and guidance you receive, the more confident you are likely to feel in carrying out the important role you have as a parent and caregiver.
The program offers support and guidance by helping parents:
- Build strong, healthy bonds with their infants and toddlers, which will lay the foundation for their social and emotional development.
- Manage the demands of parenting, especially when they are impacted by deployments and the many other challenges military life can bring.
- Remain flexible and responsive when navigating daily life or balancing the needs of more than one child.
- Build a strong support network through connections to other parents and local resources.
- Respond to infant and toddler behavior sensitively and be attuned to their developmental needs.
- Find services in their community when they need them.