Stressing about how to handle life with a newborn as a new mom? The unknown of having a newborn can be enough to make anyone feel a little anxious. I’ve created a new mom tips checklist to survive life with a newborn. Think of this as a first-time mom survival guide to help you survive the newborn stage.
After just having your baby it can be hard to fathom that things get any easier. Will your baby stop cluster feeding? How to survive newborn witching hour? Will you ever sleep through the night again? These are not the blissful newborn days you see plastered all over social media. This is HARD.
Surviving the newborn stage is about knowing what to expect. Know that this won’t last forever!
There’s nothing you can do to automatically make life easy again. There are things you can do to help you survive the newborn stage. Check out the list of tips to survive the newborn stage below.
DISCLAIMER: This is not medical advice. This is what helped me survive the newborn stage with my babies. This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Reach out to your healthcare provider for medical advice.
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Tips to Survive the Newborn Stage
I am officially 8 weeks postpartum with my third baby. These are the new mom tips and tricks that allowed me to survive the first eight weeks with my newborn.
Limit Visitors
When you are newly postpartum trying to recover and learn to breastfeed it’s okay to limit your visitors. You need to be able to learn how to be a mom and recover in peace and not feel like you need to host people constantly. It’s okay to tell your friends and family you will notify them when they can visit and not just drop by.
Understand That No is a Full Sentence
You don’t have to justify your boundaries or explain what you want. When you say “no” that’s it, your friends and family should accept it. Don’t feel guilty for saying no. (Even if you are telling someone they can’t hold your baby right now).
Accept Help
If friends or family offer to do your laundry, clean the house, watch your toddlers, etc accept the help!! If you’re comfortable with it and someone offers to hold the baby so you can get a nap, accept the help! You should be focused on recovering and taking care of yourself and the baby, not everything else.
Accept Meals from Friends and Family
Allow friends and family to drop food off for you so you don’t have to cook! Even if you made freezer meals while pregnant, this will allow those meals to last longer. And a lot of people aren’t sure how best to help so bringing meals is what they want to do.
Utilize Your Partner for Help
Don’t try to do everything on your own. Use your partner for help with the baby and around the house. He’s a great resource to hold the baby so you can shower or get some sleep.
Don’t Put Pressure on Yourself to Bounce Back
Bouncing back shouldn’t even be a thing. You just had a baby and went through childbirth. You’re a completely new person now! You should focus on healing and learning your new life not trying to bounce back to society standards. You’re beautiful postpartum because of the miracle of having a child and being a mom!
Make Mom Friends
I know this can be tough, but when you’re cleared to drive going out to mom groups can be beneficial. It will get you out of the house and you’ll get adult interaction. It’s always nice to have someone going through something similar to talk with. The only way I’ve been able to survive the newborn stage with my kids is because I’ve had mom friends to lean on. There’s just something about having friends who understand completely what you’re going through.
Go Outside
Get outside every day even if it’s just sitting on your front porch rocking your baby. Sunshine will do wonders for both you and your baby. Be careful to keep the baby out of direct sunlight and in the shade to protect their skin.
Always Burp Your Baby
Gassy babies are no fun. When babies get gas trapped they will get fussy and cry because they’re in pain. A great way to try and combat too much trapped gas is burping the baby during and after every feeding. They may not burp at every feeding, but at least try.
Ask Questions
If you are worried about something then ask questions! Go see a doctor or lactation consultant for help and answers. You have motherly instincts even right after birth. No one knows your baby better than you. So if you get concerned then go to the doctor and if they brush you off go for a second opinion. You are the only person who can advocate for your baby right now. Don’t feel bad about doing it!
Take Pictures
You’ll want to remember this time even if your makeup isn’t done, your hair is greasy and you’re still in your pajamas. Take the pictures.
Feed Your Baby Every 2-3 Hours
Wake your baby to feed during the day every 2-3 hours. Most babies will only sleep one long stretch a day. If your baby sleeps 6 hours during the day they won’t sleep a long stretch at night.
Keep Everything You Need for Cluster Feeding in One Spot
Cluster feeding is a real thing. I always kept a spot stocked with everything I may need for a few hours of cluster feeding in one spot. I kept water, snacks, the TV remote, my phone, and phone charger next to my nursing chair.
Use a Birth Ball
Witching hour is not just a myth, it occurs most often in the afternoon/evening time frame. I found using a birth ball to bounce with my baby is beneficial to help with the witching hour. Also, a baby carrier was incredible during the witching hour. It kept the baby close and I was hands-free to do other things. These were the only two ways I was able to survive the newborn stage witching hour.
Take Care of Yourself
Take a nice long shower, do your hair and makeup, or take a 15-minute walk on your own. Doing what will make you feel good can help you feel better during the newborn haze. No, I did not need to put makeup on everyday but I felt so much better when I did a little BB cream and mascara. So be sure to take care of yourself mentally and physically so you can recover.
Don’t Stress About Having a Perfectly Clean House
It’s okay to have a “messy” house. You don’t have to get home and have a spotless house, swept and mopped floors every day, etc. You need to recover and focus on bonding with the baby. One day you will have a spotless house, don’t miss out on the sweet newborn snuggles right now. Also recovery takes up to 6 weeks sometimes longer so be sure to rest. And newborn snuggles on the couch are a great way to rest!
Work With Your Partner to Get Sleep
Take turns holding the baby with your partner so the other can sleep. In the beginning, newborns don’t like to sleep alone in their crib. Alternate hours at night so that you can get some sleep too. Even when your partner has to go to work, you can still alternate times to hold the baby if he/she won’t go to sleep in their crib. Your job of raising your sweet baby is just as important as your partner’s job out of the house. You don’t want to risk falling asleep with your baby.
Use a Velcro or Zip Up Swaddle
Even as a postpartum nurse swaddling a baby blanket at 3 am when you’re sleep-deprived is hard! (And I swaddle babies all day for a living). So get some that are easy to use when you’re running on an hour of sleep.
These are my two favorites:
Invest in a Good Baby Carrier
It’s important to get one you can use in the newborn stage. I’m a huge fan of wraps, my favorite being the baby ktan. It is a pre-wrapped carrier so you don’t have to do any wrapping or tying. Just slip it on like a T-shirt. A baby carrier gives you the freedom to do other things while carrying the baby.
Have Baby Essentials in Several Rooms
Place baby’s essentials throughout the whole house not just in the nursery. Newborns require a lot of diaper changes do you want to go upstairs to the nursery for every diaper change? And they spit up a lot! Do you want to have to go upstairs for a burp cloth or change of clothes multiple times a day? I recommend having a small area downstairs with stored essentials. We have a table in our living room with a drawer dedicated to newborn diapers, wipes, burp cloths, etc.
Pre-Pack Your Diaper Bag
Have your diaper bag prepacked with diapers, wipes, burp cloths, change of clothes for you and baby, snacks for you, nursing cover, etc. When you go out and use something come home immediately and replenish it that way your diaper bag is always ready to go. You don’t want to be in a rush and have to pack your diaper bag, you are more likely to forget something!
Keep Baby Essentials in the Car
Keep a bag (I like these) in the car with a change of clothes for the baby, a couple of diapers, a few wipes, and pacis. This is here just in case you find yourself out without a change of clothes or an extra diaper for your baby but you need one. This bag of essentials has saved my butt plenty of times!
Do Lots of Skin to Skin
The benefits of skin to skin don’t go away when you leave the hospital. It’s a great way to promote breastfeeding and bond with the baby. It can also help calm the baby down when they are upset. See my post on skin to skin here.
Label Your Breastmilk
If you collect your breastmilk either with a haakaa or a breast pump always label your milk. Label it with the date, amount, and baby’s name. If you’re placing milk in a storage bottle and the fridge use a dry-erase marker to write what date the milk was pumped. This can help you survive the newborn stage when you are sleep deprived and trying to make bottles for your baby.
Teach Your Baby Day Time and Night Time
Day time naps should not be in pitch black dark rooms. You should allow light and noise to occur during the day. At night time use the sound machine and have it dark to help with their circadian rhythm.
Track Your Feedings and Diaper Changes
I use the Huckleberry app so my husband can have it on his phone as well. You’ll want to feed your baby every 2-3 hours so that’ll help you keep track of when the baby ate last and what side. You’ll also be able to keep track of their diapers. The pediatrician will ask how often your baby is feeding and using the bathroom at your first couple of visits.
Don’t Stress About Daily Baths
Newborns only need a bath 1-3 times per week. You can use a wipe to wipe under their neck, etc. the rest of the time.
Join a Postpartum or Breastfeeding Support Group to Help Survive the Newborn Stage
The hospital I work at offers postpartum support groups for new moms up to the baby’s first birthday! Look into the hospital you are going to deliver at to see what they offer. I also go to Baby Cafe which is a breastfeeding support group. You can see if there’s one in your area by going to this website.
Have Postpartum Essentials on Each Floor of Your House
Have a peri bottle, pads, tucks, and dermoplast in one bathroom on each floor! That way if you are downstairs during the day you don’t have to go all the way upstairs to use the bathroom and perform pericare. This can be such a game changer as you are trying to recover and take care of your newborn.
Lay Baby Down Somewhere Safe if Needed
Know that it is okay to place your baby somewhere safe (in the crib, pack and play, or bassinet) and step out of the room if the baby is crying and you’re getting overwhelmed. You can take a 1-2 minute breather and re-collect yourself. It is never okay to shake your baby, harm your baby in any way, or leave your baby alone in the house for any amount of time. If you are overwhelmed and need assistance reach out to a support person for help with the baby so that you and the baby stay safe.
Don’t Play the Comparison Game
Don’t compare yourself to anyone else as a mom. Especially women you see on social media. Social media is where people show the good about their lives, not the bad! Don’t compare your motherhood journey to their highlight reel.
Have Somewhere Safe to Lay Your Baby on Each Floor
I have a pack-and-play on the first floor and my baby’s crib on the second floor. I’ve also got 2 toddlers so I have a baby playpen set up as a place for my baby to be able to lay on the floor safely without the risk of being stepped on, tripped over, or run over by excited toddlers. This is the playpen for my infant my toddlers have nicknamed “the baby jail.”
Utilize Grocery Pick Up
I know some people love being the one walking through the grocery store picking out their groceries. But when you’re postpartum with a newborn (and possibly older kids) doing a drive-up grocery order is a lifesaver! You don’t have to get the kids out of the car to go inside and you don’t even have to change out of your pajamas or spit up covered clothes.
Wrapping Up: Tips to Survive the Newborn Stage
These tips won’t make your life 100% easier again. Those first 8 weeks with your newborn can be hard and very emotional. Utilizing these tips can help make your weeks with a newborn more bearable and hopefully more enjoyable. Remember to give yourself grace and know that you are a great mom.
What did you do to survive the newborn stage as a new mom? Let me know in the comments below!
These are great tips for first time moms! I agree with a good baby carrier! It’s so useful for babies who won’t let go of you!
Agreed!! I couldn’t get anything done without a baby carrier. And it’s so beneficial to moms too, I love the cuddles and closeness!
Soon to be a first time mother. Great helping tips.
I’m glad you found these tips helpful!
Great post, will share with my daughter.
Thank you for sharing!
Excellent guide for mothers with newborn babies. And your best advice: don’t play the comparison game. I have seen so many mothers come undone with this. Thank you!
Yes!! And it is so easy to compare with social media. Everyone posts the best parts about their life, and we compare our worst parts to their best parts!
These tips are a lifesaver for new parents! The newborn stage can be overwhelming, but your advice is practical and reassuring. Thank you for sharing these invaluable insights!
Thank you! I’m glad to be able to share these insights with others.
I absolutely love this article because it captures the raw and real emotions that come with being a new mom, especially during those early days with a newborn. The way it acknowledges the anxieties and uncertainties that many new moms experience is incredibly relatable. It reminds me of when my kids were babies and I was navigating through the overwhelming unknowns of motherhood.
Thank you so much! These emotions are very real to me right now being in the midst of postpartum and having a newborn. I’m grateful to be able to share my insights with new moms!
The newborn stage is so, so challenging. Having a support network makes a huge difference. Saving this for my friend who is expecting. Thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing! I agree having a support network is critical, especially in the newborn days when you are so tired.
This post is a lifesaver for new moms like me! The newborn stage can be overwhelming, but having a survival guide like this is so reassuring. It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone in facing the challenges of sleepless nights and constant feeding. Thank you for sharing these practical tips to help navigate this journey with a newborn.
Thank you! I’m so happy that you found this post useful.
I wish I had found your article earlier. I loved my first baby so much, but I think I wasn’t prepared for the baby stage. I wish I had frozen more meals the first time.
Yes! The newborn stage can be so surprising!!