8 Tips for New Moms: Surviving the First Weeks


The first few weeks at home with a newborn baby can be a physical, emotional, and mental roller coaster. Here are our uncut, unfiltered tips for new moms on how to get through those first few weeks with their newborns.

1. Seek Assistance

I wish they had told me to get off my buttocks and do the dishes or let them take a shower when I visited friends with newborns before I had kids! I had no idea that this would be the best use of my time in town. Don't be afraid to ask for help from friends and family—they want to help, but they don't always know what you need.


Also, if you need to vent, get breastfeeding advice, or get some sleep, talk to a professional! Therapists, baby nurses, nannies, lactation consultants, and postpartum doulas can all help, and hiring any of these people says nothing about your ability to mother.

2. Establish a Routine

Babies develop routines at a young age, so pay attention to your baby's cues and cries and begin establishing that routine. It can help you know what to expect, though your baby may not always stick to the schedule! Some mothers prefer the Eat, Sleep, Play or Eat, Sleep, Play routines.


Maybe you'll make your own. (Veteran advice for new mothers: use an app! I kept track of my son's feedings, sleep, and tummy/reading time on my phone, and it was a lightbulb moment when I noticed patterns.) 

3. Take a walk, take a shower, drink some coffee, and check your email.

Finding 40 minutes a day (10 for a walk, 10 for a shower, 10 for coffee, and 10 for email) will help you feel more like yourself and less like "Mom." Of course, you can spend your minutes however you want—even if I wasn't going anywhere, I took 10 minutes to do my makeup! If you're alone, but the baby in a Boppy lounger or a rocker (within sight) and take that shower.

5. Baby Wear

This new mom advice isn't for everyone, moms and babies alike, but wearing your newborn can be a great hack for both of you. I wore my son from the time he was a few days old, and the skin-to-skin contact strengthened our bond and nursing relationship.


It was also a sure-fire way to put him to sleep! I'd walk and bounce around for a few minutes after he was snuggled in, and he'd be out. I could go shopping, eat lunch (with two hands! ), and then go out to dinner with my partner.

6. Take Good Care of Your Breasts

You're probably going to try breastfeeding, even if it's just for the first few days or weeks at home. The sucking motion of your baby is not a joke (if your partner doesn't believe you, tell them to put a—clean!—finger in the baby's mouth). If you can't get a good latch, it can lead to cracked, bleeding, or even blistered nipples.


After each feed, gently wash your nipples and apply a cool washcloth to them. Then apply a salve to aid in their healing. Massage your breasts and use warm compresses to help unclog your ducts.

7. Concentrate on You and Your Family

My close friend and I were both expecting at the same time, and we were constantly comparing notes. So, naturally, when our children arrived, we did the same. However, comparing notes can sometimes feel like you're "losing." For example, if your baby isn't gaining weight as quickly as yours, or if your friend is successfully breastfeeding while you aren't, or even if your friend's husband changes more diapers than yours!


I promise you that whatever you're doing is fantastic. Every family's journey is unique, so focus on what is best for you.

8. Keep in mind that every stage is a stage (temporary!)

Your newborn will not be a nearly blind, wobbly-headed eating machine who needs to be fed every two hours for the rest of his or her life. And you won't be a grumpy woman who is barred from exercising for the rest of her life. That's how it felt to me!


But a friend gave me some great advice for new mothers everywhere: if I just kept reminding myself that each stage would pass, that there was a light at the end of the tunnel, it would help me get through each one. Yes, it did.


Related:  10 Tips to Teach Your Child to Save Money

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