*This is a collaborative post.
Ah, parenthood. There’s nothing like it and there is nothing out there that will make you feel as fulfilled as being a parent does. You will enter an entirely new world when you have a child or two, and you can bet that it’s a world that you will expect to feel amazing throughout. Unfortunately, it’s not all booties and baby hats, beautiful prams and excitement. All of that is correct – but there is another side to parenthood and that is surviving a newborn baby.
When you have a new baby come into your life, you’re going to have a huge adjustment period to consider. You might have considered what it would be like to have a baby in the house, but it’s being with the baby that you might not have considered. You might not picture yourself pacing around the house through the night with a squalling baby on your shoulder. You may not consider the depth of exhaustion you’re about to experience. It’s not the same as pulling a study all nighter or working yourself into the ground. It’s entirely different, and you need the best survival tips for new parents to help you to navigate this entirely new life. You’re going to need help, and both you and your partner need to get ready for such a huge change. Let’s look at some tips to help!
Build a village
Parenting is hard enough but doing it alone is not the one! You need to think about who is there to support you. From your parents to his parents, your extended families and friends, you need to think about who will support you through this process. It’s not going to be easy and you need people to remind you that you’re still a person, too. You have to remember that this village is going to be a huge support system for you – and so building it early in your pregnancy solidifies who will be there for you when the nights get too much!
Prioritize rest
I am not going to tell you to sleep when the baby sleeps because it’s not practical advice. If you want to get a shower, or have a hot meal, or even just watch a TV show when the baby is sleeping, you should do it. You won’t always benefit from sleeping when the baby sleeps, so just prioritize rest. It doesn’t matter if you are going to just splay out on the sofa; let your body recharge when you can!
Give yourself some grace
One of the hardest things to do is be okay with your body or your feelings. You need to give yourself a break because you took nine months to have a full body change – it’s not going to be overnight that your body or your feelings are normal. However, you should absolutely make sure that you are leaning on your support systems when you can, so that you can feel secure about yourself. You have to be kind to yourself so that you are doing everything possible to feel good once you have a baby.
Maintain a balance
You need to have enough water to be hydrated, food to keep your energy up and you need to – when you are comfortable – move your body. Get out for fresh air and a walk if you can, and make sure that you are balancing all of this to give yourself plenty of energy. You have to be as rested as possible to keep your energy up! You have a baby, so you need to make sure that you feel as human as possible.
Take time for you
You have a partner or at least a friend, so that means that you can take a moment to relieve yourself of the baby on you and have your hands free. Make sure that you keep up with painting your nails and read a book. You need to breathe and remember that you are a human being and you are more than a parent. It’s nice to have time for you!
Be as informed as possible
You need to think about what you want to do as a parent, but you will be faced with a ton of misinformation. Crying it out? Doesn’t work – just teaches your baby you’re not coming. Feeding solid food for four months? Unnecessary unless recommended by a pediatric dietician. Not sure about breastfeeding? Get a lactation specialist to help. There are the right people out there, but you need to find them and lean on them!
Be prepared
Get the car capsule installed early and understand rear-facing. Politely turn down the sleep nests because they are only okay to use during supervised sleep. You have to think about safety and ensure that everything that you do is because you want your newborn to be as happy and healthy as possible. It may feel impossible at times, but this is your life now and your baby is relying on you and your village to ensure that they are safe.
Learn to be flexible
You’re going to find that rigid routines only work for some of the time when you have a baby. Yes, stick to their nap and sleep cues, learn their hungry cries and ensure that you have everything that you need to make life with a baby as easy as possible.
Pack emergency bags
In the car, in the office, in the upstairs and the downstairs areas of the house – you need emergency bags for nappies and clothes, muslin cloths, extra socks and blankets. You cannot have too many of these baby emergency bags and you can ensure that you are ready for anything. You have this, but only if you do your research and you reach out to the right people. Having a new baby isn’t easy, but it can be made much easier when you are as informed as possible. Take your time and enjoy these moments – newborns are a peach compared to toddlers!
