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The first few weeks at home with your newborn baby can be a roller coaster—physically, emotionally, and mentally. And of course, you’re being shown parenting advice, hacks, and parenting tips for first time moms. All you must be hearing every day is- get enough sleep, take rest, drink water, and whatnot!
But not many people tell you about breastfeeding and postpartum healing. And most importantly, how important it is to give some time to yourself and do what you love. Here’s a list of top 11 tips and some advice for new moms to make motherhood in the first few weeks easy and get you, new moms, a little relaxed.
Top 11 Parenting Tips For First Time Mom
The first few days in the hospital were just fine. Timely sleep, ample rest, and nurses at your service. But reality hits the moment you get home. There’s laundry, shopping, cooking, tidying up the house, cooking, everything that was going on, PLUS a baby. Your life’s about to change and so is your sleeping pattern. So how do new moms get their job done?
1. Get Your New Mom Kit Ready
Being a first-time mom isn’t easy. Also, a little early preparation helps. Knowing breastfeeding positions isn’t enough preparation. There are a lot of other essentials that need to be taken care of such as baby clothes and essentials, along with self-care essentials.
If you’re breastfeeding your baby, make sure you have the supplies ready. Pacifiers, breast pump, nursing pillow, and nursing bras, breast pads, and nipple cream- you’re gonna need these. Also, don’t forget the clothes for your baby- onesies, sleepers, socks, pants, baby mittens, and most importantly, laundry detergent for infants.
2. Listen to all advice but do what works for you
You must’ve gotten thousands of ideas, hacks, thoughts, and advice as a new mom. You might receive some of the best advice, and some just won’t make sense to you. But it’s okay. No one knows your baby better than you. Find something that suits you and your baby. You might feel a little lost for the first few weeks but, eventually, do what’s best for you.
3. The lack of sleep may seem like the end of the world
Babies sleep for like 20 hours a day for the first few weeks. That should give new moms enough time to get everything done and get some rest of their own, right? WRONG! They indeed sleep a lot, but they also wake up every 2 to 3 hours. So, even if you can get 8 hours of sleep, you’ll have to wake up every 2 hours at night, which means, you’re never really entering the R.E.M cycle.
The good thing is, it’ll only happen for the first few weeks- which is, no doubt, exhausting. But in only a few weeks to a month or two before your baby starts sleeping for 4-5 hour chunks and then longer
4. It's okay to be messy
Some days you’ll feel like a supermom- doing laundry, keeping the house squeaky clean, making dinner, all this along with feeding your baby. But some days you don’t even want to get out of bed, and just so you know, you’re still a supermom. You are doing a super hard job, and you are rocking it. So if you have a day where you don’t get everything done and just want to order pizza, it’s okay.
5. Write it all down
Well, this might be one of the best tips for first-time moms. To-do lists, doctor’s appointments, the grocery shopping list, the vaccination date, questions for the doctor- there’s gonna be so much to remember. Write them down- either digitally or on a notepad, so that you have everything you need just when you need it.
6. Shop online
From diapers to baby-proofing items, you can get everything online. Apart from baby items, you can also go grocery shopping online. Won’t it just feel great to have all your grocery essentials and jumbo packs of diapers delivered to your door?
7. Take care of yourself
Do not forget your own needs. No, it doesn’t make you a bad mommy. If you love to do yoga, then have yoga sessions every day. If you need a bubble bath, go ahead. Or if you enjoy baking, bake a nice little cake for yourself and your family.
Apart from that, make sure you eat healthily, get exercise, and fresh air, and spend time with your family and friends. Putting your baby first doesn’t mean putting yourself last.
8. Find yourself a hobby
Motherhood is beyond amazing but if you don’t have a hobby then you are going to get burned out pretty soon. For some it can be gardening, it may be baking, some may like blogging, whereas some enjoy it. It’s good to have something to do for your sanity, and we can’t stress enough how helpful it is to have a hobby a job, or something that you truly love to do. And if you haven’t figured out what your “thing” is, we strongly suggest figuring out what that is, even if it takes a while.
9. Love your body
You might’ve heard or read tips for first-time moms where they’ve asked you to exercise to get back in shape, get rid of your stretch marks, and overhang stomach, and magically expect you to become a fitness guru come, first-time mom. Well, there’s no hard and fast rule that you HAVE to achieve that (unless you really want to, because that’s perfectly fine as well). But not every mom is the same.
There was a human baby inside of you for nine months and you’ve just given birth to your tiny bundle of joy! Of course, you’re gonna have stretch marks, flabby loose skin, and many other postpartum signs. But be patient, and be grateful for what your amazing body has done. The right diet and exercise can help you get rid of your stomach overhang.
10. Build a routine
Babies can develop routines pretty early. Their cues and cries can help you build a routine. Even though your little one won’t always follow the schedule, you can at least guess what to expect! Even if you have just a tiny bit of control over what can be a chaotic situation, it’s a huge win.
11. Ask for help
If you’re thinking- I’m on maternity leave, and it’s my first baby, I can handle this- do not forget what your body has been going through for the last nine months. Growing a baby inside you for 9 months and then giving birth, even though you’ve had a normal healthy delivery- can make you feel like you’ve been hit by a semi-truck.
Some days it’ll be difficult to walk, and some days it’ll be difficult to do the laundry. It’s okay to ask for help. If you need someone to hold the baby so you can take a shower or sit at the table and eat, then ask! Ask your partner for help, or call over some family members and friends. This will not only get you some help but also help feel much better.
You are a first-time mom, and it isn’t something that people are pros at overnight (or even after a few years).
Final Takeaway Advice For New Moms
Hope these tips work like great advice for first-time moms and will be helpful for you. Whatever is your way, just remember that you’re doing a great job. Pregnancy, giving birth, and postpartum- none of it is easy, but it’s all worth it. There might be days when there are things all around the house, but remember to take a break and breathe at times. It’s okay to be messy and to feel like this. You’re doing the best mama, and you deserve the best!
Parenting Tips For First Time Moms FAQs
1. What do first-time moms need ?
2. What is the best way to be a first-time mom ?
3. What first-time moms should know about pregnancy ?
4. How many hours of sleep should a new mom get ?
5. Do mothers need a break ?
Dr. Abby Morris
As a postpartum doula, Abby helps birth givers navigate parenthood in their postpartum period by providing infant and maternal care. She is also a sleep consultant for families who struggle with all thing sleep from newborn to toddlers.
