Did your sister give birth for the first time or your cousin for the third time? This is an exciting time for them and for you. I get it, you are dying to visit and snuggle with the new baby. You want to see how mom is doing and you want to help! There are so many helpful things you can do when visiting a new mom and her baby.
Sometimes the excitement of visiting a new mom can make you forget that mom is tired, overwhelmed and in need of rest. It’s okay to go and visit her but it’s even better if you know some of the things you can do to help her while you’re there.
Don’t go without a game plan or your hands empty, pick up a cute care gift basket for her or her baby. Take her favorite food to eat or just be there to listen. I have a large extended family and so they would always visit me the minute that I got home from the hospital. Most didn’t call in advance but they did help me when they were there.
cute mom basket ideas:
From my sisters, mom, aunts, grandmothers and cousins, they would cook, clean and help care of my baby. They did it all and I was so grateful for each one of them. They helped me out tremendously because they didn’t go there to only see my newborn baby, they also went there to help me.
I hope that before you visit a new mom, you can apply some of these tips and make her feel loved and special.
8 helpful things you can do when visiting a new mom
This post contains affiliate links, thank you for your support.You can read more about it here.
1.Call in advance
When baby and mom are home from the hospital, they have to both get used to their new lives. Mom has to get used to having a newborn to take care of and figuring out an effective routine. Baby has to get used to the outside world and everything that it comes with
Calling in advance to let the new mom in your life know that you’re going to visit will help her tremendously. She will probably want to freshen up a bit, tidy the house as best and she can and make sure the baby is fed and content before you arrive.
Giving a new mom a heads up instead of just showing up to her house (even though my family is known to not call in advanced) will be very much appreciated.
New mommy books:
2. Take food
Another way to help a new mom when visiting her is to take her food! You can prepare a quick and easy freezer meal that it’s easy to warm up in the oven. Food is always welcomed with open arms in any home with a new mama and her new baby.
Making the new mom her favorite comfort food is a great way to make her feel special and loved. No women who has ever given birth will ever tell you that they love cooking right after getting home from the hospital. Do her a favor and take her some delicious food. Bonus if you make a couple of dishes for her to warm up throughout the week 🙂
P.S: Gift the new mama in your life this amazing Postpartum handbook! It Prepares you for what to expect after childbirth. Gives you actionable tips to help you manage pain and promote recovery. And Is a one stop shop for everything you need to know about the 4th trimester
3. Help care for the baby
I loved that every time I would have visitors over, they would immediately take on mommy duties. They didn’t let me do anything, except feed my baby and even that sometimes I wouldn’t do ( I bottle fed all three of my children).
So, when you are visiting a new mom, make sure to help her out with the baby. You can help by changing the baby’s dirty diapers, feeding or burping the baby.
This First Time Mom guide will help mama thrive on her first year of being a mom. Less tears and more smiles. Literally every new mom obstacles, answered in this guide!
4. Allow her to take a bath or nap
What’s a bath anyway when there’s a newborn to take care of ? That’s why it would be so nice to allow a new mom to take a bath while you’re taking care of the baby. If she’s feeling a little tired, offer to care for the baby while she takes a power nap. My family was so helpful that I couldn’t thank them enough. They would sometimes beg me to take a nap, I’m not even kidding.
Allowing a new mom to get some rest or even freshen up a bit while you’re there will show her that you didn’t only go visit to sit and gush about the baby, but that you also went there to help.
Read this next:
14 EXCELLENT WAYS TO FEEL MORE LIKE YOURSELF AFTER HAVING A BABY
17 REALLY HELPFUL TIPS FOR FIRST TIME MOMS WITH A NEWBORN (SURVIVAL GUIDE)
5. Don’t visit if you’re sick
Please, do not visit a new mom and her baby if you’re feeling under the weather. It is not polite and you can definitely transmit your cold or flu to the mom and baby. Do not feel bad if you can’t visit right away, simply call or send a text informing her that as soon as you feel better you will go visit. I’m sure she will understand and thank you for not visiting her while being sick.
Cool new mama journals:
6. Give her a gift basket
I love gift baskets because it’s a personal well thought gift that you can put together for someone special in your life. I’m sure any mom will love a cute practical gift basket like this one. You can add anything that you may find helpful for mom and baby. Decorate it and BAM! A thoughtful gesture for mom to enjoy.
Other baby gift baskets:
7. Have fun Conversations
When I had visitors over my house after giving birth I was always happy to talk to them. I loved sharing my birth stories and listening to theirs as well. I also loved talking about other things, like any gossip in the family, haha!. Listening to a new mom is a great way to show support.
New moms will always be happy to have a conversation with you because it’s a great way to distract her mind and make her feel more like herself again.
Read this next:
15 HELPFUL AND EASY WAYS TO BOND WITH YOUR NEWBORN BABY
10 THINGS YOU CAN EXPECT THE FIRST NIGHT HOME WITH YOUR NEWBORN BABY
8. Give her words of encouragement
Words of encouragement is well needed when visiting a new mom and her baby. Even if she might not express it or even think she needs one. Trust me, it’s a good feeling when someone can relate and tells you ” you’re doing a great job” or ” don’t worry you will get the hang of things, we’ve all been there”.
Reassuring a new mom that even though it may seem like she can’t keep it together or may be struggling with her baby’s sleeping schedule, everything she is going through is part of being a mom. You can remind her that she will figure out what works for her and her baby in time and that by making mistakes is how she will learn. Encourage her and tell her that she will be the best mom she can be.
Read this next:
10 FUN AND BEST GIFT IDEAS FOR NEW MOMS
30 NEW MOM TIPS FOR THE FIRST 30 DAYS HOME WITH A NEWBORN
Quick recap:
Visiting a new mom and her baby is an exciting event. You want to see how mom is doing and you can’t wait to carry the baby. I get it, I’m totally like that too, I want to rush and visit my family members or friends who have giving birth. One thing that you can do when visiting a new mom is to show her that you are there to help and also to gush on her new baby, of course!
Some helpful things that you can do when visiting a new mom and her baby is to give her the chance to take a much needed nap or a quick shower. You can also take her one of your delicious recipes that are freezer friendly, this way she can just place it in the oven when she and her family are ready to eat it. I loved when my mom and aunts would cook for me, I felt very well taken care of.
Adjusting to a new life with a new baby whether it’s the first, second or third is always overwhelming. Moms need help and you can definitely provide her with that. You can help her by calling in advance and letting her know you are going to visit. Another way you can help is by giving her a fun gift basket with essentials that she’s going to need.
I hope you can surprise the new mom in your life with some of these tip!
