The First Child

How to complete The First Child

A newborn's first year is the hardest stress test most couples ever face: sleep deprivation, scrambled roles, and almost no time alone together. Coming through it as partners rather than just co-parents means protecting the relationship while keeping a tiny human alive.

1. Divide night feeds and diaper duty explicitly so neither of you silently burns out.
2. Protect even 20 minutes a day to connect as a couple, not just trade logistics.
3. Schedule outside help on purpose: family, a night nurse, friends dropping off food.
4. Keep one shared calendar for appointments, feeds, and sleep so it doesn't all live in one person's head.
5. Name resentment the moment it shows up instead of keeping a silent scorecard.

Tips

• Drop the bar on housekeeping for the first few months; done beats perfect.
• A standing weekly check-in catches problems before they harden.
• Trade off sleep-in mornings so each of you banks real, uninterrupted rest.

What counts as done

The baby's first year is behind you and you're still operating as a couple, not two exhausted roommates running shifts.