First time mum

[ciniebuns]

im a first time mum, whats your best advice

Relax and try not to worry too much.

Hi @ciniebuns i'm a first time Mum too yay! My bubba girl is 11 weeks :)
The advice i always hear is enjoy every moment they grow up so fast x

Try to chill out and go with the flow, they change all the time. Learn about normal baby behaviour and development, especially around sleep. You don’t need to sleep train.

Routine! Start off right away with a bedtime routine, and after a few weeks of repeat repeat repeat your baby will recognise the bath/story/feed/put down and settle to sleep.

Don't get hung up on milestones- don't obsess about tummy time or this or that - there's a really wide timescale and just because your child walks a bit late/earlier doesn't mean anything.
When they get older: listen. Their thoughts and feelings are valid. Do not tease or humiliate them. Listen to what they are trying to tell you.

Don't forget to look after your own needs not just the baby's. Ask for help and support.

Enjoy the cuddles!

Five responses, and one says “chill out and go with the flow” and one says “routine!”

So that tells you everything you need to know about the advice new mums are given.

Funnily enough I was just talking to DP about advice when you're pregnant or a new parent etc

My only bit of advice would be that if you're in a relationship with the dad or whatever, I'd work as a team! A new baby is tiring and hard work and if you can work together you really will make your lives easier.

DP and I used to take 'shifts' when our son was born so the other one could get some good solid sleep!

Best advice is don't listen to advice!!!! You do you, you'll find your way

'Go with your child and your instincts'

Parenting is one of the most controversial topics there is....you will encounter many people full of judgement and opinion who think they know what is best or necessary for your child and you don't.

You will have to grow a thick skin and be able to assert yourself at times in order to make sure the needs of you and your child are properly met.

Remember....you can never 'love' a baby too much! Closeness is what they need xx

Offer both boobs at each feed, if you're breastfeeding.

If you've got a boy, penis points down in the nappy.

Get out the house every day - even if just for a short walk or trip to the supermarket.

Remember that everything bad is a phase - poor sleep, crying when being changed, hating the car seat etc. The bad things will pass but there will always be so much joy.

You will get loads of advice - often conflicting, sometimes unwelcome. Just make the best decision you can and go with it. You will get to know your child better than anyone else so trust your instincts.

Congratulations.

Don’t feel selfish about prioritising yourself sometimes. Happy mum, happy baby is so true and martyring yourself is so trained into women a lot of the time. Take breaks where you can and ask for all the help you need. See other mums and don’t pretend everything is fine when it’s not. I was generally suspicious of mums who said everything was great all the time and gravitated to the ones who shared the horrors (and joys) with me!!

Congratulations! I'm 18 weeks, I find out baby's sex start of january, i have no idea on what sex yet x

Thank you for all your advice ladies, its really reassuring to have these tips.

Go for a walk every day - It's good for baby and good for mental health

DO YOUR PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES

Lots of women give up breastfeeding after a week. If you decided to try it, give it at least two weeks before giving up. It gets a lot easier after that

Struggling to open the nappy sack? Touch a wet wipe first

Invest in a good sling. My son went from meltdown to sleeping in 5 minutes after going in

Wireless earphones!!! You'll be watching lots of tv as youhold a feeding/sleeping baby

Baby phases are over so quickly - you'll figure out how to handle this thing, and all of a sudden the issue is gone!

Please do not stress about routine. Newborn babies are not alarm clocks and aren’t hungry/upset at set times. Just go with flow and you’ll both naturally fall into a routine that suits you both most

hold your baby. Don’t buy into all these baby carriers, moving seat things. That’s what your arms are for and the only thing your baby wants is you. I promise you won’t regret it.

Ignore people who say you’ll ‘create’ a clingy baby if you ‘cuddle them too much’

go for a walk as much as possible as early as possible. Not only is it good for your mental health but it’ll help the baby love the buggy which will make your life easier in the long run

you will receive a lot of advice, most will be unwanted, just do what feels right for you and your baby

BE SELFISH!

personally with my next baby once we are home (I won’t have visitors in hospital) I also won’t have anybody round for at least 1 week/10 days… even longer until I feel comfortable. I remember sitting there whilst people came round and held my first born and hated every second.