The birth of a baby has completely changed your life, and your head is spinning from the incredible amount of different things to do, problems, and fears. Probably, you’ve already read dozens of helpful books, surfed the Internet, and asked your doctor a million questions. Caring for a baby is not just a diaper change or manipulations performed on a little person. It is full-fledged communication with your child and the only way to give him or her love. It is a whole culture and a particular style of parenthood.
First of all, it is essential to create a positive attitude. No doubt, you can become a happy mom who takes a lot of things easily, without losing focus and responsibility, and do not feel on their shoulders a crippling burden. Motherhood will bring you many surprises, and we have prepared some helpful tips for new moms to help you face these surprises with no stress.
Breastfeeding or formula feeding: both options work well
No one will argue that breast milk is the best food for a baby. The WHO recommends breastfeeding for up to 2 years. Indeed, women do not always have the opportunity to breastfeed. Here is what the pediatricians advise at the initial and most important stage for successful breastfeeding:
- It is in the first month that lactation is established. As customary, feeding your baby on demand is essential, not by the hour.
- It is not advisable to give water to newborns (unless there are particular indications). Mom’s milk has enough water to meet your baby’s needs. And watering can cause problems with lactation, as the baby will eat less milk.
- For the same reason, it is not recommended to overuse a pacifier and use a bottle in the first month.
- Remember that weight gain over a month is the main factor that tells you whether your baby has enough milk.
If a mother cannot breastfeed her newborn baby, formula feeding can help. It is important to choose a quality formula that is suitable for your baby. Be sure to consult your pediatrician. Choose formulas from well-known and well-tested brands that have worked well. If you are wondering where you can find all quality formulas in one place, please make sure to visit The Milky Box. The best option is an organic formula. It is as close as possible to the composition of breast milk and is easier to digest. Look at the labeling by age and pay attention to the expiration date. As for introducing the formula milk, all recommendations are detailed in the instructions, so follow them.
Develop a connection
Be responsive to your child’s needs, and don’t forget that their emotional needs for comfort and closeness are just as important as their physical ones. Your child will not want to be away from you for long, including at nighttime. It can be exhausting, but it doesn’t last forever. And if you can meet the baby’s emotional needs now, you’ll have fewer problems later.
Trust your maternal instincts and intuition
After all, nature has arranged that a woman has exceptional sensitivity and insight about her child. So, after communicating with your baby, you will become the main expert in his or her needs, desires, and preferences.
Schedule
Make a convenient daily routine that considers your baby’s biorhythms and needs. Include items such as bathing, massage, and walks, and then write everything else. Planning meal times, bathing times, trips, and sleeping times makes life easier, especially when tired. For example, before bathing your baby, make sure you have everything you’ll need, for example, prepared in advance. This approach will allow you to plan things and find time for yourself and your partner.
Closer to Mommy
In the first days and months of his life, your baby needs to feel that you are close to him. For you as a mother, this contact is also quite important. Thanks to body contact, the newborn will feel his or her mother’s smell and her body’s warmth, which will give him a sense of security and relieve him from unnecessary anxiety.
Self-Care
Self-care should be a mother’s priority. It is the key to mom’s resourcefulness. Start the day with yourself, get up in the morning, even if it’s half an hour earlier than your baby, and devote them to yourself. And also, spoil yourself with your favorite activities and rituals: a cup of coffee, a manicure, a walk with your friends, or yoga can do wonders. Every mom has something that energizes, inspires, and motivates her. Be your most beautiful first and foremost for yourself, dress up in dresses, do your makeup, and let motherhood only make you prettier.
Take time for your friends and hobbies
Do not forget about your friends, going to the movies and other pleasant hobbies. To avoid becoming a housekeeper and not get depressed, communicate with interesting people, sign up for foreign language courses, go to museums – in short, do what you enjoy.
Time management is no less critical for moms than for anyone else. A proper daily schedule allows you to focus not only on the problems and needs of the child but also on household chores and relaxation.
Don’t try to be a supermom
Do not demand too much from yourself because you are not a superhero. Raising children – is a long and thorny road, and if you do not have time for something, the child will not love you less. A healthy and rested mother can give her child much more than a tired, sleep-deprived, and irritable woman. Make your life easier: use modern gadgets that allow you to do household chores and look after your child at the same time.
Stay calm and positive
A calm mom is a calm baby. Be less nervous because your baby feels everything and gets upset with you. Save your baby’s nerves and your own.
Enjoy the time
Enjoy the moments you spend with your children because there will come a time when they will grow up, and you will want to experience those moments of happiness when they were just babies again. Bravely put aside everything unnecessary and enjoy the beautiful infancy period – this is a real luxury in a modern woman’s life.
