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If you’re a first-time parent, or about to be, welcome to the sleepless club of parenthood! No one can really prepare you for everything that it entails to be a parent. I am going to give you some parenting tips surviving the first few months with a newborn. So many decisions to make while you are pregnant then figuring everything out once the baby arrives.
I spent time reading about pregnancy and what to expect when I was pregnant. I did some research on preparing for labor and delivery and buying all the ‘stuff’, but when it came to learn what to do with a newborn well, I wasn’t as prepared as I could have been.
I think because as women we expect our natural instincts to kick in and know everything. Well that is not always the case for every new mom. Sometimes we forget that we are new to parenthood and our babies are new to being outside our womb.
By the end of this post you should know a little more; tips and info on how to survive the newborn phase.
Some of these I only learned after each child, being a 3x veteran mom I hope to give some comfort with these suggestions.
You Don’t Have to Exclusively Breastfeed, You Can Pump.
You will hear people say all the time, breast is best or don’t give a bottle because it causes nipple confusion. Well I am here to tell you that as a mom sometimes you need a break. If you exclusive breastfeeding and never pump to give baby a bottle you will never get a break for more than 2-3 hours.
I would say it’s ok to bottle feed your baby. The advantage is that someone else can feed the baby. The way to ensure that there is not nipple bottle confusion is to pace feed the baby a bottle. Pace feeding is a great way to introduce the bottle because it allows the baby to receive the milk at the same rate it would be if coming from the breast.
Regardless if you use pumped breastmilk or formula taking advantage of the baby taking a bottle early on will help if your planning to return to work.
Just remember your breast milk supply is established based on the baby’s need. So, if you don’t nurse consistently it could decrease your supply. The more you nurse the more your body knows that it needs to produce milk. If baby is getting a bottle you should then pump so there is no impact on your milk production.
Keep Baby Clothes Simple
There should be a class offered on how to get a newborn dressed. I was so scared of hurting the baby because I was trying to get the clothes over her head quick enough or move her arm in the sleeves without any discomfort. Dressing babies seriously takes practice. You will get lots of practice since they go through 10-12 diapers a day as a newborn.
Let’s talk about outfits. With my first I had so many clothes she didn’t hardly ever have to wear the same cloths for the first 18 months of her life. Now by my third I am all about the minimalist theory less is best. My newborn lives in one-piece outfits or all matching clothes.
You can go with either neutral tops with pattern bottoms or pattern tops and all neutral bottoms. You will thank me later after you have done a few loads of laundry. 2-piece outfits are good as long as they match all the other clothes in your baby’s closet.
If you want your girl to be super girlie you can just use accessories, bows and hats make any outfit look adorable.
Zip up sleepers are a must use at nighttime. Trying to button a baby in the middle of the night baby screaming and you can’t find the button. You don’t want to turn the light on. Save yourself the frustration and save the button jammies for daytime.
Buy the onesies with the hand covers. Save your money on the mittens they fall off anyways.
Onesie have the two section on each side of the shoulder for a reason. The large opening at the top is not only to easily get baby’s head through, it’s so you can take it off by pulling it down. This avoids getting an explosive poop that’s escaped out the back of the diaper, from coming anywhere near baby’s face when undressing.
Have a Diaper Caddy
Keep all your baby changing items in a small caddy. You can take this all over the house if needed, upstairs/downstairs. If you like to go to the changing table each time to change the baby, then by all means do so. However sometimes you can’t get to their fast enough or you can’t leave your other children unattended. Having a diaper caddy is nice when you’re in a pinch and baby needs changed.
Some items I keep in mine:
Changing pad (when you change baby you don’t get anything on the bed/couch/floor)
Baby Wipes
Diapers
Diaper Rash Cream
Q-Tips
Teething Gel
Baby Hairbrush
Nail Clippers
Burp Cloth
Babywear
Finding the right babywearing carrier is key. Being able to be mobile with the baby sometimes is a necessity. These are the best thing invented. You still are holding baby close to you and providing the comfort to your baby.
There are so many options out there for baby carriers. I love the baby k’tan for newborns. It is a soft structured baby carrier that is perfect for the little ones.
For older babies I love my Tula.
You can ask other mom’s which carrier they prefer and why.
With my first baby I tried probably five different ones out until I found the the ones I loved.
You can also check out local babywearing groups. Some have the option for you to borrow a carrier and see how you like it. There are also stores that you can go to and try different carriers on to see which one best fits you and baby.
Learn Babies Different Cries
In the beginning when you hear your baby cry it is heartbreaking, no one wants to hear their baby cry. You won’t know what to do, you’re still getting to know your new bundle of joy.
Then after a few weeks or months you will begin to recognize your babies cries and what they mean. You will know if baby is hungry, sleepy, needs their diaper changed or just wants some mommy snuggles.
You need to watch your baby to learn what he or she needs.
When you listen to these cries you will soon be able to know the difference between a certain cry and know what baby need.
Don’t Forget to Burp Baby
Babies digestive systems are underdeveloped and they’re not very good at passing gas without help.
Burp baby halfway during a feed and after a feed. Don’t lay baby down until there has been a good number of burps.
Rub baby’s back firmly in a circular movement.
Try a Haakaa
A Haakaa is a milk collector that allows you to collect excess milk leaking out the opposite breast you are nursing on. You can build up a decent stash of milk every time you feed baby.
You just squeeze the air out of it and let it suck to your free breast.
Once your milk starts to flow the Haakaa both collects the milk and keeps it flowing.
It beats having to pump after nursing.
I love this thing; I wish I knew it with baby number 1 and 2.
Final Thoughts…
The first few weeks as a new mom will feel overwhelming. Your baby will be small and fragile. You will be tired and sleep deprived.
Time goes by so fast so cherish each moment, snuggle as much as you can and take in the new baby scent.
If your feeling unsure of what you’re doing asks for help, there are many women who have been through what your going through with a newborn. Many veteran mom’s love to help because they know and can relate to what your experiencing.