Best Tips for New Moms

First time mom? Follow these proven and trusted tips for a kick start of motherhood.

Being a new mom is a wonderful experience, but it can also be overwhelming. As a new mom, you are faced with numerous challenges that affect your schedule, your health and your mentality. You have to learn new things, and deal with more advice than most can bear. You want to enjoy this exciting new situation, but you feel like you constantly have to think about what you are doing and make sure you are not making terrible mistakes.

Here are the best tips for new moms to help you cope with this new period of your life:

Get advice and do research

As a new mom, you have to learn about many new things – breastfeeding, diet, physical issues, how to put the baby to sleep, etc. Do not be afraid to say “I don’t know” and to ask for advice. Contact your doctor, get advice from a friend, or get some books and research the subjects you are not sure about.

Trust your instincts

When you are not sure what to do, when you get conflicting advice from different people – remember that your natural motherly instincts are there for you. Each baby is different and each mom is different; the “right thing to do” depends on countless individual and often unexpected factors. Your general research is important, but in times of uncertainty, your instincts may come in handy.

Sleep!

After giving birth, your body will still be full of hormones and adrenalin, meaning you will be very tired. During the first few months of your motherhood, you will not only want to sleep a lot, you will also need to. A particularly good time to catch up on some shut eye is when your new baby is asleep. Friends and family tend to sometimes forget how tired you are, so if you feel like sleeping, don’t let an endless flux of visitors stampede towards you. Ask them politely to be patient and to check with you first before coming to visit.

Stay calm and try to smile

Motherhood is a lot of work and can be stressful and frustrating. If you find yourself in need of some fresh air, ask your husband or relatives for help, so that you can take a breather. Try to avoid being nervous around your newborn, as nervousness might affect him negatively.

Shopping

New parents have a strong tendency to go on shopping sprees and buy as many toys, clothes, and other products for their baby as they can. Your excitement is a positive thing, but do not let it empty your wallet. Make a list of the essential items your baby needs, and try to avoid deviating from it too often. Ask friends and family with children if they have hand-me-down baby clothes and toys.

Involve your significant other

Like every new mom, you are going to want to focus entirely on your baby. When you do that, make sure your husband is fully involved. If he appears to be distant, encourage him to connect with his baby and spend as much time with the baby as possible. Once you adjust to your new role as a mom, don’t forget to set aside some alone time with your husband. Having a child does not mean the romance has to die. Ask a relative or friend you trust to watch the baby and have a nice, romantic evening to yourselves.

Make the most of every moment!

Your baby will not be a baby forever. Take as many pictures of your little one as you can, play with him and care for him as much as possible. You will be surprised at how fast his babyhood will end, so cherish every single moment of it.