Hey mama! Wondering how to get through the first month with your newborn? I hear ya! When I first brought my first born baby home, I was scared and excited at the same time. I obviously didn’t know what to expect and I can tell you I was a little naive. That’s why I’m sharing new mom tips with newborn, so you can be prepared.
Being a new mom is hard and that’s because everything is new. You have to figure out a good routine for you and your baby, your relationship with your spouse might get tested and your patience may run low. #newmomlife
The good news is that you will eventually figure it out. You will get into the groove of things and finally enjoy a nice routine. Your baby is your priority right now, I know. But do not forget about yourself.
I’m going to share with you 30 new mom tips for the first 30 days home with baby. So you can get through it with ease, happiness and confidence!
New mom words of encouragement
- You are not alone
- Take it day by day
- You will get through this
- Enjoy the newborn baby stage it goes by fast!
- You are doing great
- Don’t obsess about being perfect
- You got this!
- You were born to be a mother
- Do what’s best for you and your baby
- Love yourself, be proud of the mom that you are, enjoy these precious moments
How can I be a good first time mom?
I think you already are! But here are a few more things to do in order to feel like you’re a good first time mom:
- Ask for help
- Take care of yourself, physically and mentally
- Find what works for you
- Write things down
- Pray
- Sleep when baby sleeps
- Kiss and cuddle with your baby
- Don’t stress over the small stuff
30 New mom tips for the first 30 days home with a newborn
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
1.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 stress 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 stress and you’ll have a realistic expectation of what it is to be a mom.
Get educated on newborn basics! It will help you have more confident in taking care of your newborn baby. This newborn basics class is great for first time moms. With detailed information and step by step guides! Like changing diaper, taking baby a bath, feeding, tummy time and more! Check it out here!
2.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 baby is crucial. Your body is still recovering from childbirth and you need to help it heal properly.
Check out the Postpartum cure, if you want to nourish your body, so you can heal quickly, produce a healthy milk supply and lose the baby weight.
3. Have a routine for your baby
Best first time mom tips with newborn is to create an effective routine for your baby from the start. It will give you peace and less stress. Your baby will find comfort in knowing what to expect next. Win win situation here.
I had a routine for all three of my kids. It works wonders and they slept through the night at 2 months old. Having a routine for your baby will help you get through the first 30 days home with your newborn.
You can check out my book The First Time Mom Guide, where I show you step by step how I created a routine for my newborn twins! Also, how to get things done with a newborn baby.
4. 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 exhaustion!
Try this baby sleeping guide! It’s a straight forward Step-by-Step Sleep Training Guide to Help Your Baby Sleep through the Night! Doesn’t hurt to try!
5. 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 stressed, anxiety increases, and they are just more tired and miserable. 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!
Read “How not to lose yourself in motherhood” ebook! It’s all about finding your identity after becoming a mom. How ro find joy in motherhood and it also includes self care ideas!
6. Have a postpartum care basket
I think having a postpartum care basket is great idea because it helps you keep organized on your health. This is another excellent new mom tips with newborn baby. Because it reminds you that you need to take time to take care of yourself and your body. You have to let your body heal from childbirth and taking it easy is a must.
Here’s what to put in your postpartum care basket:
7. Baby blues
It’s totally normal to be hormonal and have all these different feelings after giving birth. It’s also common to cry a lot during the first couple of days with a newborn. Baby blues usually goes away within a week or two after birth.
If the feeling of sadness, anger, guilt, hopelessness, mood swings do not go away. You need to seek help! Here is a great article to further learn more about postpartum depression and how to get help!
Read this next:
15 REALISTIC TIPS TO HELP YOU SURVIVE THE FIRST WEEK WITH A NEWBORN
5 IMPORTANT SIGNS AND CUES THAT YOUR BABY IS DEFINITELY HUNGRY
8. Take a breastfeeding class
If you’re planning on breastfeeding and want to have an amazing experience. You need to get educated on it. Taking an online class is great because you can do it from your home. If you’re already breastfeeding and are struggling, you need to seek help. If you take a breastfeeding class and get the help that you need, you’ll have a higher success rate of rocking your breastfeeding journey! I recommend this online breastfeeding class!
10. Make healthy choices
Childbirth definitely takes a toll on you, I’ve been there twice! One from vaginal birth and a C-section birth. So, I know how hard it is to recover from both types of births. That’s why it’s so important for you to make healthy postpartum choices. It’s going to make you feel good, heal properly and be in a better mood.
Here’s what to do:
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- exercise (after doctor gives you the okay to do so)
- Make sure to sleep as much as you can
- Take probiotics
Read this next:
17 REALLY HELPFUL TIPS FOR FIRST TIME MOMS WITH A NEWBORN (SURVIVAL GUIDE)
5 IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO TO TREAT YOUR BABY’S DIAPER RASH QUICK
11. Invest in Baby monitor
Let me just say how much I loved my baby monitor as a new mom and a second time around mom. It’s just the best thing ever. It really gives you peace of mind because you’re watching your baby sleep while you get things done around the house.
Here are a few good options for you:
12. How to soothe your fussy baby
Learn how to soothe your fussy baby early on. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than having a fussy baby and you not knowing what the heck to do! It happened to me and I literally cried because my first born was crying so much. She had gas build up and I tried everything and nothing helped. Until my hubby and I were taking her to the hospital in our car and she burped and fell asleep. Back home it was.
Now here are a few tips on how to soothe your fussy baby:
- Try swaddling baby
- burp baby
- shushing sounds while rocking baby back and forth
- pacifier
- warm bath
Read this next:
10 EASY WAYS TO SOOTHE YOUR FUSSY BABY WHEN NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK
THE ULTIMATE BABY TUMMY TIME SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR NEW MOMS (TIPS AND PRODUCTS TO USE!)
13. Get dad involved
Do not forget about daddy because he also wants to join in on the baby fun. Also, ask dad to help you with the baby, so you can take a bath, cook or sleep. A great tip is to let him be, let him find his groove as a new dad and embrace it.
Here’s how dad can help:
- Changing baby diaper
- help during bathtime
- cuddling
- feed baby
- taking time off from work
14. Don’t listen to every advice given to you
Honestly mama, you are going to get a lot of unwanted advice from people you know and from strangers. This begins when you’re pregnant and continues throughout your motherhood journey. Oh yes, the joy! ha! Anyways a good advice I’m going to give you is to not listen to every single advice given to you. That’s it! Make your own decisions and take the advice that most resonates with you.
15. Diaper bag essentials
When you’re a new mom, you are going to go out with your baby, a lot. Either to doctor’s appointments or to family gathering. So much fun right? With that, you need a good diaper bag to travel with baby and put all of your baby’s essentials in.
Great diaper bag options:
Here are your diaper bag essentials:
- baby diapers
- baby wipes
- extra clothes
- formula or breastmilk (bottle feeding)
- baby bottle
- baby toys
- diaper rash cream
- burp cloths
- diaper changing mat
- blanket
16. Umbilical cord care
When you bring home baby from the hospital, your baby is going to have his/her umbilical cord intact. The umbilical cord usually falls off by itself within the 2 to 4 week mark. So in the meantime, you need to know the basics of taking care of your baby with umbilical cord on.
- Keep it dry
- Do not remove it yourself
- Let it heal naturally
- Put comfortable clothes (not tight)
Read the full article on how to care for your baby’s umbilical cord.
17. Know why babies cry
Newborn babies cry a lot and that’s because it’s their only way to communicate with you. That’s why it’s important to know the common reasons why your baby is crying.
Reasons babies cry:
- Hungry
- Tired/sleepy
- Needs a diaper change
- Has a diaper rash
- Gassy
- Constipated
Read this next:
8 COMMON REASONS WHY YOUR BABY IS CRYING
5 THINGS YOU MUST DO THE MINUTE BABY FALLS OFF THE BED
18. Take a break
Take a break mama. You don’t have to do it all because you can’t. It’s okay to say “no” to things, to not cook for the day and instead order in and to have a messy home. Tomorrow is a better and new day. Take a break when you need to. Listen to your body.
19. Stop the comparison game
You don’t know how many moms compare themselves to other moms. Yes, including myself girl! It’s so toxic and so unnecessary. Comparing yourself to others is only going to make you feel more guilt, feel bad about yourself, you are going to feel like you’re doing something wrong. This has to stop.
Every mom is going through their own struggles, most moms go through the same struggles. Sleep deprivation, having a hard time breastfeeding, baby is not sleeping through the night. I can go on and on. Stop comparing yourself to other moms and start living your own mom life.
20. Have a diaper basket
I had a diaper basket with all three of my kids (including twins) and I loved it. Having a diaper basket is so convenient and so helpful in keeping baby things in one place. It’s easy to find and easy to travel around the house with. This is what you are going to need:
- A basket
- diapers
- wipes
- diaper rash cream
- lotion
21. Go out with baby
Do you know that you can go out with baby right away? Yep just make sure you take precaution. Know the weather outside to make sure baby is properly dressed and such. Going out for walks can help your mood and it’s always nice to take fresh air and get out of the house for a little bit.
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
22. Plan meals in advance
Having meals ready to put in the oven is literally a life saver for first time moms. You’re too busy taking care of your newborn baby that you will not have time for anything else. Try freezer meals and plan meals in advance. I was lucky to have my mom and family members visit me and cook for me while I recovered from childbirth. I know many moms do not have this luxury.
These freezer meals books are going to help:
23. It’s okay to cry
Girl, it’s totally okay to cry. I did and I still do and my kids are 10 and 6 years old. Motherhood is hard and it does not come with a manual. So, you know what? If you feel like crying, cry! Let it out and you will see how much better you’ll feel!
If you want to rock your first year of motherhood, check out my e-book The First Time Mom Guide!
24. Don’t stress over a messy home
Honestly do not stress about your home being messy. Take it a day at a time. Clean one room at a time and when you feel like you have the energy for it. If you have visitors come over, do a quick surface cleaning. Let them help you clean your home if they offer you to do so.
25. Trust your mama instincts
Believe in yourself as a mom and trust your mommy instincts. If you feel that something is wrong with your baby, trust your feelings. Maybe baby is not eating as much as before, your baby is not as active, your baby is crying too often. Trust your instincts and take your baby to the doctor.
26. Have a pack n play
Another new mom product to have is a pack n play because it’s life! ha! You can keep baby in there while you do other things around the house. It’s great to entertain baby in and to keep baby busy. The best part about it is that your baby can grow in it!
Here are great options:
27. Take pictures
Don’t forget to take pictures of your baby, yourself and your family as a unit. It’s so much fun to look at it later on and cherish those moments. Sometimes we may forget to capture precious moments because we’re too busy trying to survive the new mom life chaos! Capture every moment that you can because it will be a great memory to look at later on in life.
28. Date night
Do not forget about your spouse mama! Keep the spark and love alive because once baby is here, you’re relationship might get put on the back burner. You do not want this to happen, trust me! It’s important to care and nourish your relationship, keep it fun, go on date nights whenever you can! If you’re looking for a straight and real new mom tip, this is it!
29. Do things your own way
I can’t stress this enough. Do not try to make others happy even if it’s your own mother. You are your own person and you make your own decisions. Yes, of course listen to those most important to you, but don’t try to do exactly what they say if you do not agree with it. You will find your own parenting style, embrace it and run with it.
30. Take things one day at a time
Remember that this season of life shall pass too. Take it one day at a time. Enjoy and cherish these moments even if it’s the hardest and stressful time of being a mom. You are doing a great job, you will get through this and you will thrive as a first time mom!
Being a new mom is amazing and it’s also hard because everything is new to you. Taking care of a newborn baby can be a little scary because you are diving head first into the unknown. But, you will get through it and you will find joy in it!
I hope you find this 30 New mom tips with newborn helpful and useful.
