by When you are ᴘʀᴇɢɴᴀɴᴛ, even if ᴘʀᴇɢɴᴀɴᴛ for the second time around, you have these high expectations of what the first month with this newborn baby will be. You daydream about how this little bundle of joy will sleep after eating and lay there peacefully day in and day out. Sadly these daydreams are often disrupted once your newborn arrives and is brought home. Newborns are not easy to handle with lack of sleep and this guessing game of trying to figure out what they are crying for makes for an overtired parent and often times a lot of frustrated feelings. It’s perfectly acceptable to sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇ during the first 30 days of being a parent to a newborn, and it’s not uncommon to sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇ. Here are some useful tips to help you and your newborn during those first 30 days.
- Don’t strive to be perfect
If the first thing on your mind is to be a perfect mom, you’re going to fail. Big time! Do not sᴛʀᴇss over doing everything the “right” way and being the perfect mother because that does not exist. Instead strive to be a good mother and do what’s best for you and baby. You’ll have less sᴛʀᴇss and you’ll have a realistic expectation of what it is to be a mom.
- Getting Help From Your Partner
If you have a two-parent household, getting your partner involved can be a pain if they aren’t willing to share the load. It’s a good practice to share the mental load and allow time for bonding with the baby so both parents understand what helps their baby thrive.
- Sleep when you can
I was going to say “sleep when baby sleeps” but I think sleeping when you can sounds better and more realistic , ha! There is no doubt about it, sleeping and getting as much rest as you can the first 30 days home with a newborn is crucial. Your body is still recovering from childbirth and you need to help it heal properly.
- Get baby to sleep through the night
Start creating a sleep schedule for your newborn. For example, put your baby to sleep at the same time every night. This way, he starts to get sleepy and tired at the same time everyday. Sleep is so important not only for your baby but for you as well. The sooner baby sleeps through the night, the sooner you’ll sleep more hours. Which means less ᴇxʜᴀᴜsᴛɪᴏɴ!
- Figure out Routine
Your newborn baby will be happiest and easier to handle when their needs are met. While it will take a little bit of time to learn your newborn baby’s routine, figure it out as soon as possible and stick to it the best you can. Learning how often your newborn needs food, diaper changes and stimulation will assist in ensuring you are less sᴛʀᴇssᴇᴅ when raising a newborn in the first 30 days home.
- Make time for selfcare
As a new mom with a newborn, the last thing on your mind is taking some time for yourself. I mean, you are too busy taking care of your newborn and making sure your baby’s needs are met at all times. I don’t blame you.
One thing that I do notice is that when moms do not take time for themselves, they feel more sᴛʀᴇssᴇᴅ, anxiety increases, and they are just more tired and ᴍɪsᴇʀᴀʙʟᴇ. It becomes less of a joy to be a mother because you are not putting time to do things that makes you happy. Even taking a break helps with your well being. Being a mom becomes more joyful, you have more patience and you feel good!
