Useful Parenting Tips For First-Time Mothers

Nobody told you that becoming a parent would bring a load of overwhelming moments and joys. So parents, and especially first-time mothers, are often looking for answers to many questions and apprehensions. As a mother, you go through all the stages of pregnancy, labor, and delivery with a brave face, but it often feels like the most challenging task to take care of that little bundle of joy snuggling in your arms. In this guide, we have some valuable tips to make the exciting parenting ride more enjoyable. 

It Is Okay to Seek Help

We are often so independent that asking for help seems to be counterintuitive to us, even when needed. But you should consider getting some help during the time right after delivery because that is when you would be most overwhelmed with everything. You can connect with health consultants, lactation experts, or other healthcare providers. It is also a good idea to stay in touch with the local hospital and seek advice from the nurses on burping the baby, holding, and doing other routine tasks for your baby. 

The help requirement won’t be limited to professional consultation merely because the biggest challenge is combating fatigue and overcoming the accompanying body aches during these days. Hiring a doula or a baby nurse should give you enough rest to catch up on your strength. You may seek a referral from people you know or the local hospital. 

Often families are eager to help around during these days, and it is okay to accept the help graciously. But if you feel uncomfortable and want to impose boundaries, that should be alright as well. 

The Fear of Handling a Baby

If you are having excessive anxiety and are constantly combating the worrisome thoughts about handling your baby inappropriately, you should know that many struggle with these things. These fears about handling the newborn properly are neither uncommon nor wrong because you should exercise a lot of caution while caring for a newborn baby. But once you know what to look for, you can just be careful about those factors, and everything gets easier as the days go by. 

The first thing that you should be attentive towards is sanitized hands. You have to ensure that while touching your baby, your hands are not full of germs. Newborn’s immune system is not strong enough to defend their bodies yet. So, as a parent and a mother, you have to make sure that you are correctly sanitizing your hands before you handle your baby. 

Another essential thing to remember is to avoid shaking the baby as it may lead to internal bleeding and may sometimes be fatal. You should also properly support the neck and head of your baby whenever you carry them in an upright manner. The bottom line is to handle your newborn gently because, at this age, your baby is not ready for a rough play. 

How to Bond With and Soothe Your Baby

When it comes to bonding, it is equally pleasurable for the baby and parent. Bonding is an emotional and physical experience that creates a strong connection between the baby and parents. This is very important because a secure attachment to parents ensures healthy psychological growth and affects various other important milestones for a baby. It is essential to offer a conducive and thriving environment to your child by loving him/her unconditionally. 

You can bond with your baby by holding him/her close to you, gently stroking the cheeks, or having skin-to-skin contact would do wonders, especially if you are nursing. It is also great to read or sing to your baby because babies adore sounds and often are very responsive to them. 

Now that you have the basics of bonding with your baby, you should also know that soothing is a whole different task. Moreover, the gurus at Simply Mumma share that the one sure thing that works with most of the babies is swaddling during the initial weeks. You tuck the arms close to their body and wrap around a soft cloth nicely to keep the baby warm and comfy. You would be surprised at how peacefully your newborn would nap while being swaddled like that. 

Handling the Diaper Riddle

Well, it is indeed a riddle because you have to figure out the schedule for your baby. Some mothers prefer cloth wraps, and others go for disposable diapers. But whichever choice you have made for your baby, you should research it properly. You would want to avoid a rash around the diaper area because that is painful for the newborn. While changing the diaper, keep all the supplies nearby, like a diaper, rash cream or ointment, and wipes (you may also wash the diaper area with lukewarm water or wet cotton balls). 

It’s essential to take extra care of the diaper routine because leaving your baby in a dirty diaper for long hours can be very uncomfortable for him/her, and you risk a nasty rash. Many parents often overlook that it is equally important to let the baby go without diapers sometimes. Giving them some diaper-free time would be a considerable comfort and favor to your baby. 

The Sleeping Overhaul

If you were expecting that your newborn would sleep through the night peacefully, you are in for a disappointment. But it is by design because newborns sleep in small chunks of 2 to 4 hours and wake up now and then for more food! So, you can hope to catch up on your regular sleep schedule of up to 8 hours of sleep at night once your baby is about 3 to 5 months old. 

You may do a few things to keep your baby cozy and tucked in nicely for sleep, like keeping a warm and comfortable environment. You should always keep the babies on their backs to minimize the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Make sure that the lights are out, even if your baby is wide awake. This would signal the child that it is time to sleep, and you can hope for the magic to happen eventually. However, sleep schedules vary greatly and adjust gradually. 

These are just a few tips to help you tiptoe through the parenting adventure. As a new mother, you may feel overwhelmed by all that cuteness and the fact that days and nights seem to merge, and it’s hard to keep track of time. We hope that the tips above ease the challenges for you, and rest assured that it’s only going to get better every day, so meanwhile, try to enjoy the ride.