Motherhood is a beautiful journey, yet not so easy to get hold of. When moms give birth, they come across hormones going up and down, postpartum depression, and baby blues.
No matter how you feel emotionally and physically, you have to make it easy for you to take care of a baby and your whole family.
Tips for new moms to make motherhood easy
Motherhood is all about sleepless nights, no shower for days, and sometimes, you cannot even take a pee in peace. You might forget drinking water and the taste of your last meal.
Life seems to be a roller coaster for a short while, your challenges of being a parent are different for every stage so try to keep it easy on yourself. Being a parent is hard, but it shifts your perspective to life altogether and it’s all worth it in the end.
Here are some helpful tips for moms dealing with newborns’ cries, toddlers’ tantrums, or ongoing pregnancy issues to make their motherhood journey easier.
1. DO NOT STRESS
Stress and motherhood go hand-in-hand. Stress is inevitable when you are a parent. But the biggest challenge is how you manage your stress and anxiety with everything else after becoming a mother.
Every mother experiences some tangible and non-tangible burdens. You may find yourself stressing about the baby not latching, or him waking up too often at night and whatnot.
Having said that, these kinds of stressors would do no harm. The best way you can fight such triggers is by educating yourself on what to expect when you become a mom. There is no rule fit for all; every mom has a different parenting experience because not all babies are the same.
Moreover, try to find various groups of moms with similar struggles. Facebook support groups are great in that context and they will never let you feel that you are alone in any of your challenges.
If you are a brand new mom, things will take time to get sane.
Related: 9 best tips for moms to stay organized.
2. Try to connect with your baby
Well, bonding with your baby may sound cheesy, but that’s the most important thing to remember. Try to establish a connection with your baby right from the beginning, and try to take care of your baby all by yourself. Accept help for house chores or catching up on your sleep debts – remember, you have the innate sense of understanding your child better than anybody else.
Breastfeeding is the best way to bond with your baby; you will be able to understand your child’s needs and triggers right from the beginning, and you can get your answer to all whys and hows eventually.
Just try to be with them and use your energy to understand what they are trying to convey. Crying is the one way they talk or communicate. So, BEAR WITH IT for a couple of months.
3. Try minimalism
Your hands might be full at this point to even think about decluttering, but that’s the best you can give yourself. Stuffing your home with more and more things would increase your stress, you have to maintain and clean up more often, along with taking care of the baby.
If you are pregnant, you should plan what you are going to use with the baby and the rest, just put it on halt. Keep what you need, as in like, REALLY NEED.
- Discard what you do not need.
- Store what you are going to use in the future.
- Sell stuff that could make you money.
- Donate if you do not want to use something and it could be beneficial to someone else.
The more you have, the more you have to clean up. Get rid of anything you do not need or whatever causes more stress. Make your space as calm and minimal as much as you possibly can.
Do not get too much baby stuff all at once – more stuff means more clutter and more stress of cleaning up. Embrace the chaos with a minimalistic approach. Buy less to avoid clutter everywhere.
12 things you need to do before the baby arrives.
Remember, you have your post-delivery essentials as well, so make sure you have them all nicely organized.
4. Invest in pieces that bring you some kind of mental peace
When you feel stressed out, watch a movie, or listen to some motivational podcasts to distract your mind from worries. Put baby in a stroller or lay her in a bassinet and go for a run around the block.
Wear your baby or put the baby in a stroller; whatever gets you a sense of mental peace.
Best tips when you are going out with a newborn.
5. Try to Manage your sleep
Getting 4 to 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep is like a dream when you become a mom. Sleep deprivation makes your mind stay awake, and you feel exhausted and frustrated all the time. That’s no fun at all.
Invest in your sleep quality by getting this sound machine, even if you are room sharing or co-sleeping with your baby(kids). I would 100% recommend using the sound machine, as for me, it is a game-changer. We take it everywhere we travel – it’s portable, light-weight and very affordable.
Do not worry if you think you are not going to wake up to baby cries. Trust me, you will!
Having said that, using a sound machine will help your child sleep better, especially if he is a light sleeper. Nevertheless, your sleep quality will improve significantly- you may notice yourself feeling fresh even if you have slept for just 2 hours.
Learn 13 more tips on how new moms can manage sleep deprivation.
6. Accept help or ask for it
Another biggest favor you would do to yourself as a mom is to accept help for house chores, cooking meals, groceries, or even catching up on sleep. Believe it or not, you feel lucky if you have help from family and friends.
If you do not have anyone around to offer help, you can hire someone. Chores can wait if you cannot afford to pay.
7. Unwind whenever you can
Take time to unwind; even if that is 5 minutes for yourself. Experts advise sleeping when your baby sleeps. This is a perfect idea when you are sleep deprived, especially for the first 6 weeks when you are likely to get into postpartum depression or have negative thoughts about hurting yourself or the baby.
However, you still need to focus on the baby, even if you are emotionally and physically exhausted. You are not too much sleep-deprived, rather you feel more rusted on a mental level. Take some time to unwind at night. When your baby sleeps, you have some golden time to enjoy for yourself only.
Take a walk alone for 5 minutes alone if you can have someone watch your baby. Otherwise, you can always take your baby along. Sit in a car, put on loud music, relax and come back. You do not have to leave your driveway to get a few moments for yourself.
8. Go for a Walk and try to stay active
Healthy eating and an active lifestyle, along with breastfeeding, would help to lose all that post-baby weight. Either you have C-section delivery or vaginal delivery, the best approach is staying active to heal better and faster.
Here is the healthy diet your body needs after having a baby.
9. Eat healthily and do not forget taking your daily multivitamins
New moms hardly get time to eat healthy, as they are busy adjusting to the baby’s schedule. However, eating healthy food would keep you energized, whether you are breastfeeding or not.
Read more about foods that increase milk supply for breastfeeding moms.
Moreover, do not skip taking your vitamins every day because YOU NEED them. Lack of nutrition could be one of the causes of postpartum depression and baby blues.
Read more
Related: How new moms can improve their mental help with the right nutrition.
10. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER
Water helps regulate our body’s functions. Keep a water bottle with you all the time that reminds you to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Buy a water bottle with a timer on
11. Build a routine right from the beginning
Babies love routine and so do your other family members. Try to establish a rock-solid routine for your baby; however, you may have to keep bedtime, bathtime, feeding times, and playtime a little flexible for newborns. As your child grows, he would be on a proper schedule; you can have ample time to figure some side hustles or work-from-home options.
12. Be ready for sick days
Babies tend to get sick during the first year after birth. Having a medicine kit ready for babies beforehand would save you sanity when the baby gets sick.
Find out what you need in a medicine kit for sick days or everyday discomforts.
13. Buy self care products
Nursing bras don’t have to be ugly. Buy some cool nursing bras, pretty-looking outfits (that don’t have to be fancy), dry shampoo if you can’t shower for days, and massage your skin with organic oils, as hormones can make your skin dry.
Applying grapeseed oil on your body after a bath, along with your moisturizing lotion, actually helps with skin texture and suppleness. You can find grapeseed oil in the baking section of your grocery store. It has absolutely no smell or stickiness; indeed an amazing product to try.
14. Do not waste money on fancy clothing
When your baby is small, you hardly get a chance to wear fancy clothing- thanks to breastfeeding and post-baby weight. Try not to buy too many expensive clothes that might go to waste.
Related: Best tips for expectant parents to save money.
15. Try to keep things easy on you
Use paper plates and disposable cutlery, so you don’t have to worry about loading the dishwasher. Order food if you can’t cook with a fussy baby.
On regular days, instant pot and air fryer are your best friends. The best part of using smart products for cooking is that you don’t have to stand next to them, stirring the pot. Set the timer, and your meal is ready.
Are you struggling with an insufficient milk supply? Here is how you can improve the low milk supply overnight.
Still not sure if you want to breastfeed – check out this European organic formula suitable for your baby.
