What are some Parenting tips for a new mom?

Becoming a parent is an incomparable experience. The excitement and the joy of watching your newborn grow up are unmatched by anything else. These uncharted waters also bring along a plethora of questions and doubts. First-time mothers often find themselves swinging between ecstasy and anxiety. 

Nowadays, there is no shortage of advice for a new mom. From the internet to every relative who visits you, everyone has some parenting tips to offer. Sometimes, the well-meaning pieces of advice for a new mom from different sources contradict each other and leaves you wondering which one to follow.

What’s the best Parenting advice? 

Every new mother or soon to be mother faces a similar set of emotions. Only those who have been in that position can offer the best advice. Here are some newborn tips for first-time parents from those who have trodden the path of motherhood before you.

Learn about breastfeeding

WHO advice for new moms is that babies must be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their life. Breast milk is the best food that your baby can get as it is optimised to meet their nutritional requirements.  It provides them with the necessary antibodies to ward off illnesses.

Breastfeeding is touted as the most natural thing a mother does her newborn. Because of this, the expectation is that breastfeeding is simple and requires no prior preparation. However, nothing could be further from the truth for many mothers. 

Many new mothers face issues such as low supply, breast engorgement, inverted nipples, and improper latching. If you do face trouble with breastfeeding, then you are not alone. Over 70% of women in India face some issues with breastfeeding.  

The best advice for new moms is that you should learn about breastfeeding before the baby arrives. Use online resources or take online classes to understand various breastfeeding positions and remedies to most common breastfeeding issues. Proper knowledge will equip you to face anything that comes to your way in your breastfeeding journey.

Read: Breastfeeding FAQs

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Irrespective of how much you prepare, a newborn can throw up a lot of surprises. Babies are just forming a routine in the first six to eight weeks. Your body has also been through a lot and needs time to recover. The good news is that there is no shortage of help in the Indian family.

All your relatives and friends want to help. All you need to do is ask. Often, new mothers feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness. If you ask an experienced mom, “What is your best advice for a soon-to-be first-time mother?” they will tell you not to be shy about asking for help. It is often a godsend. You will also find that many want to help if you just ask. 

Stay away from comparisons

Milestones are an important part of your baby’s development. They tell you how your baby is developing various skills. However, each child develops these skills at a different pace. 

Comparing your baby with other babies is the worst thing you can do to yourself and the baby. When you compare, you become anxious if your child hasn’t crossed a milestone that others have. You may end up pushing your baby to do something that they are not ready to do. 

Similarly, comparing yourself to other mothers is another rabbit hole that you do not want to enter. You may come across many moms on social media who seem to have everything under control and who seem perfect in every way. Keep in mind that you only see what they choose to show you, so you must avoid comparing yourself with others. 

Practice kangaroo care

Kangaroo care is essential to help you bond with the baby. A doctor’s advice to a new mom almost always includes performing kangaroo care daily.

It allows you to bond with your newborn and has a host of other benefits for you as well as the baby. It helps stabilise the baby’s weight, makes them feel safer, promotes neurodevelopment, and also helps you enhance your milk supply. 

Many first-time mothers often neglect kangaroo care. However, it has many proven benefits and should not be overlooked under any condition. This is a part of the most essential baby care tips for new moms.

Find a support group

A support system is vital for a new mother. Your family is an important aspect of your support system, but you need to find a group of other first time mothers who can become your tribe.

Such a group understands what exactly you are going through and provides valuable parenting tips for new moms. Having a support group also ensures that you never feel alone.

Always follow doctor’s advice

Following the doctor’s advice seems like the most obvious advice to a new mom. But every region in India has its traditions and home remedies for treating common ailments in newborns.

While these traditional wisdom work in many cases, they are not foolproof, and might even have an adverse impact on the newborns. Doctors in your hospital will be aware of these and may ask you to stay from them. The best advice for first-time moms is to follow your doctor’s advice, irrespective of pressure from family.

Sleep whenever you can

There is little that can prep you for the sleeplessness that becomes your permanent companion for a few months after the baby arrives. One of the most common newborn tips for first-time parents is to sleep when the baby sleeps.

This may seem hard to implement in real-life. Household chores and visitors for the new addition to the family will make it difficult for you to find proper time to sleep. However, you must try to get some shuteye at every possible instance. 

Never think that you can only sleep during the night. Squeeze in some naps during the day as well: even a small nap can leave you feeling refreshed.  

Read: Good Parenting tips by Dr Shreya Dubey

Enjoy this beautiful time

There is nothing that can compare to the feeling of holding your newborn in your arms and watching them grow up. It is a magical experience. One of the best positive parenting tips is to enjoy these moments to the fullest. If you are wondering what some of the best parenting tips for new moms are, then it is to be with your baby and take in every moment.

Read: What to expect when your baby is in the NICU

Visit our consultants at our Paediatric and Neonatology department for special Newborn care tips, clarifications and guidance.