There are so many unknowns in parenting. My goal with this blog is to hopefully simplify motherhood for you. Part of the way I do that is by collecting input from lots of other moms in one place to provide you good, solid advice.
When you read that other moms are going through the same problems as you, it creates a sense of community.
When your struggles are the same as other moms, it’s comforting to know that it’s not just you!
First-time parents struggle with confidence that they are doing it right, so here are some thoughts from other moms just like you on how to take care of your new baby!
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The Best Baby Tips for New Parents
What is so hard about modern parenting?
One of the main problems with modern parenting is the overabundance of information.
Many things about motherhood are just not “common sense” because they just aren’t talked about until it happens. This leads you to scour the internet for answers to both basic and sometimes super obscure baby questions (it’s okay, I did it too).
The second problem with parenting is the lack of true villages. Families are isolated in their castles with little to no support from family or friends during the day-to-day hard moments.
Yes, many moms get support the first week or two after the baby is born. But it can take MONTHS before mom is feeling herself again, and yet, she will be expected to be doing it all, all by herself as her husband returns to work.
Why does overwhelm and burnout happen to new moms?
- You are sleep exhausted so things are just harder.
- Everything is new, so it seems like you constantly don’t know.
- There are conflicting opinions on every topic.
- No one situation is the same.
- You have to do it alone because of a family situation or husband working.
- Hormones. Need I say more?
- You try to do too much.
These are really only a few of the reasons. But it’s completely normal and approriate to feel burnout as a new mom. But I want to help you as much as possible!
I don’t want this for you, sweet friend, which is why I’m writing these tips for you!
Related Posts: You might like posts for Overcoming Mom Burn Out
15 Best Baby Tips for New Parents
I gathered together some of the sweetest mom blogger friends to provide you the best baby tips to survive as a new mom!
Tip 1: Don’t jump at every noise
When you’re a new mom, it’s hard to distinguish the different noises your baby makes at first and fear might cause you to jump at every little sound in the beginning. But, Mylee recommends you give your baby a minute or two to maybe resettle into sleep. Learn to identify your baby’s different sounds – they are trying to communicate with you as soon as they come out of the womb!
“You may hear lots of groans or cries, and these are perfectly normal. It is important to remember this and try not to respond to every noise. If you hear them, wait a minute or two and see if they settle back to sleep.”
– Mylee, Little Big Dreamers
Tip 2: Slow exercise helps with the baby blues
Even though you won’t have much time as a new mom, just getting moving can be helpful. Put the baby in a stroller for fresh air and a short walk outside. Just remember – take it slow!
“Research has shown that walking can be really beneficial to help with depression. You could even set your self a little challenge everyday by doing more steps that the previous. Most phones these days can track your steps for you.”
– Julie, Mummy It’s OK
Tip 3: Spend quality time with your husband
After your baby, both you and your husband will want to spend a lot of time with that squishy one! But, it’s also appropriate to spend quality one-on-one time with each other.
The good thing is, when the baby is little, it’s easy to bring them along to restaurants or outings because they sleep all the time! So you get the benefit of one-on-one without paying for a babysitter! Here are my tips for breastfeeding in public.
Just good luck not talking about your baby at dinner 😉
“Don’t compromise on you and your husband’s quality time. Plan a dinner out – it’s ok if the baby comes along, he has to get used to it, plan short trips – just make sure you have all baby necessities handy while traveling.”
– Shamanth, Mrs. Lil Mum
Tip 4: Prioritize naps for the baby (science says it’s important)
After you’ve gotten past the 4-month mark, you’ll start to see a more regular nap routine. My first two babies took 3 naps a day until about 6-7 months. They then transitioned to 2 naps per day for as long as possible (about 18 months for us).
With Little Three I do struggle with being home for nap time sometimes. But, I strive to make naptime a priority when I can!
“There is more REM sleep in the morning nap, which helps with brain maturation and mental and emotional restoration. There is more deep sleep in the afternoon nap, which makes it more restful and physically restorative.”
– Mylee, Little Big Dreamers
Tip 5: Take an online breastfeeding class
When you’re super busy, it’s hard to find time to take a prenatal class much less a breastfeeding class. But thankfully, there are brilliant labor and delivery nurses and certified lactations specialists who teach these classes online. The other benefit to an online class (other than being able to sit in your jammies and do them), and you have lifetime access.
So, when mommy brain kicks in, and you can’t remember what you’re supposed to do to prevent clogged ducts and mastitis, you can reference the course. I recommend this Online Prenatal Course for Busy Couples (use code SIMPLYMOM10 for 10% off) from Pulling Curls and this Ultimate Course to Breastfeeding from Stacey at Milkology.
“I remember discussing mastitis during the breastfeeding class but not clogged ducts. Of course, mommy brain could be to blame!”
– Keyona, It’s A Baby
Tip 6: Remember that vaginal delivery and C-Sections are both hard
Whether you choose a natural birth or a scheduled C-section, both are hard. And the road to recovery after 9 months pregnant will be slow going. But there are specific things you can do if you’re recovering from a C-section. I don’t often write about healing from C-sections because I don’t have that experience to speak from. That’s why I wanted to include some tips to recover from a C-section from a mama who has done both.
“With that said I feel confident saying the following C-sections are NOT an easy way out! I would have my son’s birth (which wasn’t a picnic either) 100 times over before opting into a c-section again because the healing after the fact was more difficult than I had expected.”
– Justina, Knot to Nest
Tip 7: Don’t over commit
I’ve got FOMO bad so this one was a hard one for me. With each baby, we’ve found a new rhythm to life that takes into account our family priorities, sleep cycles and lots and lots of grace.
“If you were the type of person who committed themselves to coordinating all the parties for your friends or managing all the volunteer events for your local non-profit, be prepared to scale back a bit after the baby is born.”
– Joyce, Celebrate Moms Forever
Tip 8: Come up with a sleeping situation that works for you
Every family is different. From a bassinet to a pack’n’play to co-sleeping, do what works for you! There are pros and cons to each choice you make. Your pediatrician is often a good resource to answer this question!
“From co-sleeping to putting the baby in a different room, you simply have to do what’s best for you.”
– Brenda, Paper Heart Family
Tip 9: Give yourself grace when it comes to breastfeeding
I loved this tip from Brenda at Paper Heart Family! There are many common and normal reasons to have pain while breastfeeding. But, there are also common and natural ways to relieve breastfeeding pain too.
Don’t automatically assume that YOU are doing something wrong, but rather seek help and advice from others about how to help with the issues you’re experiencing. Here are some breastfeeding tips for new moms.
“Because you, new mama, don’t need any more stress in your life. You are doing the very best that you can and giving your baby the best possible start in life, and even if pain from breastfeeding isn’t “normal”, I guarantee it’s incredibly common.”
– Brenda, Paper Heart Family
Tip 10: Take a shower with your baby
Not the normal advice you give moms, but I love this unique tip! If your baby doesn’t like bath time, another option is to take a shower with your baby to get them used to the water! I have several friends that swear by this.
“Since switching from baths to showers with our little girl, she is not upset or afraid of the water anymore and can actually enjoy shower-time!”
– Kai, Kai Hernandez
Tip 11: If something isn’t working for you, don’t be afraid to change it
I feel like motherhood is a daily exercise in humbleness. There are so many expectations and hopes that simply do not come into existence.
For many women, from the not-so-perfect labor to the postpartum struggles, our expectations are rocked – but not in a good way. This includes your breastfeeding expectations as well! If all the pain and struggles with breastfeeding are just too much. don’t be afraid to change it simply because you were hoping for something different.
This might make all the difference.
“I learned about the unrealistic expectations I had about breastfeeding and the harsh realities that ensued.”<– But then she felt massive relief when she changed what she was doing – read more below!
– Nicole, Resting Mom Face
Tip 12: Be prepared for gross stuff
I think I knew the poopy diapers would be gross but no one warned me about all the snot! If your baby has a stuffy nose due to a cold or allergies, in order to get a good night’s sleep, you need to clear it out before you lay them down!
We have loved the combination of saline spray and the Nosefrida, just like Ana below! But oh man, it is so stinkin’ gross.
“When my baby was very little we used a regular bulb suction when he had a runny nose but it never worked very well. I had to do it over and over and of course my baby got frustrated so the result wasn’t very good. So I went and bought the Nosefrida nasal aspirator one day when my baby was dealing with a bad runny nose.”
– Ana, Swedish Mom Life
Tip 13: Take a sitz bath
You’re right, this isn’t actually a baby tip but a mommy tip. But here’s the thing, if you’re not taken care of, how are you going to take care of that sweet little one? Postpartum stiz baths sound pretty awesome and McKinzie shares about how to take one and all its benefits on Today Mommy!
“In order to ease the pain and recover quickly, a postpartum sitz bath is a great thing to have.”
– McKinzie, Today Mommy
Tip 14: Nurse often to increase milk supply
Stacey talks about dealing with the issue of increasing milk supply in this class. But I’ve found that nursing often really did increase my milk supply! McKinzie found the same thing and also other tips to increase milk supply in her post below!
“Since supply and demand is the essence of breastfeeding, it is important to nurse often if you are aiming to increase your milk supply.”
– McKinzie, Today Mommy
Tip 15: Don’t stress about having to slow down
One of the hardest things for me as a breastfeeding mom (or a new mom period) was the need to slow down, sit down, and “do nothing.” Whether I was breastfeeding or waiting around for nap time to end, it just seemed like such an inconvenience!
This was especially true when the babies were cluster feeding… ah man! That seemed like the worst! But I love the perspective from Brenda at Paper Heart Family. She embraced the 4-hour feeding frenzy as a chance to catch up on Netflix and let her body relax. It’s just a season, mama, you got this!
“The good thing is that I didn’t stress about it, I just let it happen. I used that 4 hour period to read or watch TV.”
– Brenda, Paper Heart Family
The Last Thing You Need to Know about Being a New Mom
The last thing I want to leave you with is this. If you’re being intentional about your motherhood and the choices you make, then you’re doing a great job, mama! That is half the battle! Don’t worry about what others are doing and you’ll do okay.
