Tips and hacks for the new mom

Being a new mom is always hard. As I said in my previous post, every day comes with a new learning experience with the baby. It’s doesn’t matter if it’s your first baby or second, all kiddos are different, and you have to learn and adjust with each one. 

In the haze of pregnancy bliss, you didn’t remember anyone telling you how exhausting those few months can be. But parenthood is a fun one. I’m grateful for all the ups and downs. 

When it comes to mom life, I am always looking for ways to make my job easier. 

To adjust your life with your baby I want to share some hacks which I learn from my daily life and some which I read. 

•   Zipper Pajamas for baby:  

 

There’s nothing worse than trying to button your baby back up and sometimes you just can’t figure out the darn buttons because it’s 2 am, you’re exhausted, and it’s dark. Save yourself a headache and get back to sleep faster by investing in a cute pair of jammies that zips up instead.

•  Eat and snack well and stay hydrated:

Keeping easy-to-grab snacks close by along with a large water bottle is going to give your tired body the fuel you need to make it through the day.

•  Swaddling:

I am not someone who can swaddle very well. I study the nurses at the hospital while they do it, and I just have come to the conclusion that it is a talent I will never have. My husband did it very well. So it was his daily duty. Remember, swaddling makes sleeping changes so much easier.

•  Use pacifiers to help with medicine taking:

For those babies that don’t want to take medicine, use pacifiers. The pacifiers with the hollow opening fit a medicine dropper perfectly.

•  Coconut Oil:

 Use coconut oil to moisturize cradle cap and use a baby comb to gently remove the flaking skin.

• Diaper:

Make sure that your new diaper is open and ready, as well as wipes standing by BEFORE you open the dirty diaper. 

• Baby clothes:

Roll baby clothes instead of folding them to better fit in drawers. You can fit so many more in there and they’re easier to find. Also, don’t buy too much baby clothes. Trust me, babies grow up too fast.  

• Nail cutting:

Don’t try to cut your baby’s nails. Use a nail file instead. No risk of cutting his little fingers this way. The best time to do it is when he’s sleeping or when he’s eating. 

• Keep extra clothes (for you and baby) and diapers and wipes in the car:

No matter how prepared you are, there will be times when your diaper bag doesn’t have what you need. Always keep a bunch of diapers and wipes in the car and clothes for you and baby there too.

• Try to get baby used to an early bedtime:

While many newborns prefer a later bedtime before too long they will be more likely to go to sleep early (around 7). Take advantage of this! Getting your baby down early means more time for you, and more time for you to connect with your husband, because it’s probably not happening too much during the day.

• Get outside:

Getting a little fresh air each and everyday will break up your day and help you to relax and rejuvenate. It will be helpful for your baby too, especially during the evening witching hours.

• Discuss with your partner ahead of time to figure out a game plan:

Having an open discussion with your partner is a must in order to prepare for baby’s arrival. When you are not the primary caregiver,  it can be difficult to know just how much time and energy a newborn can require. Keep your marriage strong after baby. Because to be truthful, bringing a baby into a relationship can quickly turn your relationship upside down. 

• Get baby on a good sleep schedule/”train” baby to sleep more than 2 hours:

I am a strong believer, however, that there are many things that you can do to help your newborn sleep better and longer through the night. Some of my favorite tips for getting your baby to sleep longer are swaddling, cluster feeding and avoiding over tiredness.

• Sleep sacks - use them:

don’t be afraid to use sleeping tools for your baby! These tools were developed to help your baby feel secure and comfortable – so use them to your advantage. 

• Bedtime routine:

Start implementing a bedtime routine from the beginning. Babies thrive off of routines. It helps them know what to expect so that they know they are safe. Having a routine in place will also help your baby learn to self-soothe faster and easier. Trust me, you want this. It doesn’t matter what your routine is so as long as you stick with it.

• Dream Feed:

A dream feed is a nursing session right before you get ready to go to bed. Many babies, including Parth, would feed without ever fully waking up.  I could nurse him and lay him right back down with no issue at all.  It allows you to fill up their bellies right before you go to sleep in the hopes that it might gain you a few extra hours of rest before your baby is hungry again.  In my opinion, this newborn hack is definitely worth a try. 

These tips and tricks are just a few ways to make your life as a mom easier so that you can spend more time playing with your baby and less time doing, well, anything else. 

Are there other newborn tips that I forgot to mention? Let me know in the comments below!