Becoming a mother is one of the most unique and life-changing experiences a woman can go through. However, it can also be quite overwhelming – especially if it is your first time.
There are many things to learn and do in those first 12 months! This blog post will outline 11 need-to-know tips for new mums to help make the first year a little bit easier. Keep reading to find out more!
Sleep when you Can
Sleep will be in short supply: For the first few months, newborns are not uncommon to wake up every couple of hours to feed. This can leave new mums feeling exhausted. Getting as much sleep as possible when the baby is sleeping is essential.
Dirty Nappies
The nappy changing routine will become second nature: New parents often worry about changing nappies, but it is not that complicated. The first few times may be a little awkward, but you will quickly get the hang of it.
Getting into a Routine
One of the most important things for a new mum is to get into a routine. Whether setting a regular bedtime or having specific times during the day to eat, it’s essential to find what works best for you and your baby and stick to it as much as possible. Routines help babies feel safe and secure, and they’ll be more likely to sleep through the night if they have a regular bedtime routine.
Feeding
If you’re breastfeeding, pumping, or bottle-feeding, you’ll also need to find a feeding schedule that works for you and your baby. It’s essential to stick to that schedule as much as possible, especially in the early months. Babies need to eat often and will let you know when they’re hungry.
It can be helpful to set up a “nursing station” where you can comfortably feed your baby. This might include a comfortable chair, a pillow, a water bottle, and a snack. Having everything you need in one place will make nursing or pumping more accessible and help you relax while you feed your baby.
Safe Sleeping Practices for your Baby
As a new mum, you want to do everything right for your baby. You read all the parenting books and scour the internet for advice, but sometimes it’s hard to know what’s best. When it comes to your baby’s sleep, you want to ensure you’re doing everything possible to keep them safe here are our tips for new mums:
Here are some Safe Sleep Practices for your Baby:
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep. This is the safest position for infants and reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
- Use a firm mattress in a crib that meets current safety standards. Make sure there are no gaps between the mattress and the crib’s sides.
- Remove pillows, quilts, comforters, toys, and loose bedding from your baby’s sleep area. These can increase the risk of Suffocation. Be sure to read more on When Can Your Baby Sleep With A Blanket
- Use a sleep sack or swaddle to keep your baby warm.
- Keep the room where your baby sleeps cool but not too cold.
- Make sure the room is well ventilated and smoke-free.
Following these safe sleep practices can help ensure your baby has a safe and healthy sleep environment.
Don’t Take Every Single Piece of Advice to Heart
“You’ll never sleep again.” “Breastfeeding is the hardest thing you’ll ever do.” New mums have likely heard these two phrases a million times before the baby even arrives. It’s tough to become a first-time parent without having all of the negativity thrown in your face, so try not to take every piece of advice to heart. Just because your sister-in-law co-sleeps with her baby and swears by it doesn’t mean you have to do the same thing. The same goes for breastfeeding – if it’s not working for you, don’t force yourself to keep trying. Do what works best for you and your family, and don’t worry about what anyone else says.
One of the best tips for new mums is to read, read, read. So much information can be beneficial, whether it’s books, articles, or even blogs like this one. Of course, you should always talk to your doctor before making any decisions, but doing your research is a great way to become more informed and make the best choices for you and your baby.
Growth Spurts and Sleep Regression
The first year of motherhood is full of surprises. When you think your baby’s sleep patterns are figured out, they go through a growth spurt or a phase of sleep regression. Growth spurts usually happen around seven to ten days after birth and again at three weeks, six weeks, three months, and six months. During a growth spurt, your baby will want to nurse more often and for extended periods.
This can throw off your sleep schedule, but remember that it is only temporary. Sleep regression usually occurs around four months, eight months, and at around one year old. As a result, your baby may wake up more often at night or take shorter naps during the day. This can be frustrating, but stick to your regular bedtime routine and be patient. It will eventually pass.
Bathtime
Newborns don’t need a bath every day, but every few days is good. You’ll want to use gentle, unscented baby soap and warm water. Support your baby’s head with one hand while you use the other to wash their body. When you’re finished, wrap your baby in a soft towel and snuggle them.
Bathtime also relaxes your baby to get them ready for bedtime. So, try to make it part of their bedtime routine.
Here are a few things you’ll need for bathtime:
-A clean diaper
-Unscented baby soap and washcloth
-Towel
-Baby lotion (optional)
If using a sink or small tub, fill it with a few inches of warm water. Test the water before putting your baby in to ensure it’s not too hot or cold.
Start by washing your baby’s face and hair. Use a wet washcloth or cotton ball to clean your baby’s face. Be careful not to get soap in their eyes. To wash your baby’s hair, pour a little water over their head and use your fingers to massage a small amount of baby shampoo into their scalp. Then, rinse the soap out with a cup of warm water.
Educational Playtime
One of the best things you can do for your child is to provide plenty of educational playtime opportunities. This doesn’t mean that every minute of their daily needs to be spent learning, but try to schedule some time each day for activities to help them learn and grow. There are tons of great toys and games out there that are fun and educational, so take advantage of them.
You can also help your child learn by reading to them often, singing songs together, or even just talking about the world around you.
Tummy Time
Tummy time is when you place your baby on their tummy while awake and supervised. Your baby needs to have this time every day to help them develop the muscles in their neck, back, and core. Start with a few minutes and gradually increase the time as your baby gets stronger.
Tummy doesn’t just help your baby’s muscle development; some studies have shown that it can also help their motor and social skills!
So how do you make tummy time fun?
There are a few things you can do:
– Get down on the floor with your baby and play with them, so they see it’s not so bad.
– Put a favorite toy out of reach, so they have to lift their head to get it.
– Put a mirror in front of them to see themselves and get entertained.
The most important thing is not to get discouraged if your baby cries during the tummy. It’s normal for them to not like it at first, but with a bit of patience and consistency, they will come to love it! Like everything else, being a parent takes time and patience
Learning Different Cries
One of the first things you’ll notice as a new mum is that your baby communicates with you mainly through crying. At first, it might seem like they’re always crying, but you’ll quickly learn to distinguish their different cries. For example, there will be a hunger cry, a cry for a wet or dirty diaper, a cry for fatigue, and so on. It might take a little time to learn, but you’ll get used to it eventually.
One thing that can be helpful is keeping a journal in the early days to keep track of when your baby eats, periods of sleep, and cries. This can help you start to see patterns and figure out what your baby needs.
So there you have it, mamas! The first year with your little one can be challenging, but it’s also an incredible time full of new experiences and lots of love. Just remember to take things one day at a time, ask for help when needed, and most importantly, enjoy this particular time with your baby.
# Tips For New Mums