Hints and tips for a new mum?

skintchick

I'm doing a baby shower for a friend, and asked all the ladies coming to give me some hints and tips for her, ranging from serious to amusing. Only one of them has replied! :mad:

So can the MSE people help me out?

I want to write them on index cards I bought in pastel colours, so she can browse through them and keep handy those ones she finds most useful/amusing.

Can you give me your tips for a new mum please? She is expecting after years of trying and a missed miscarriage so I really want the shower to be special for her.

I need to do it asap as the shower is Saturday and I am moving house on Thursday and won;t have internet access after Wednesday night! :eek:

Thanks in advance. :A

DON79

I think the biggest hint I should have taken is to "sleep when the baby sleeps". Sounds simple but you really should not let yourself get caught up in the housework that needs done or other things that seem to be crying out to get done... get family or friends to do these things and let them know up front that you will need support the first few days whilst you recover/establish breastfeeding (if you plan on breastfeeding that is.... its something I never managed to establish successfully) . Ideally do nothing except eat/sleep and feed your baby.........

pinknfluffy0

Its the only time people will be happy to clean the kitchen floor for you, when people ask what thye can do to help have a mental list.

LilacPixie

Don't compare you baby to others. they all develop at different rates and its so easy to get stressed out when Jane from the office says her 5 month old can count to 100 and yours hasn't even mastered rolling over.

If you Mum or MIL or helpful friend is over don't feel embarassed to ask them to peg out the washing, fling a load on or do the dishes. housework should be abandoned as much as possible. If they ask 'anyting i can do?' you say yes please.

If you plan to breast feed, its hard, you and the baby are learning so there is bound to me some little slip ups. stick with it and some lanoshol (sp)? nipple cream is magic.

Babies bounce as my OH discovered when he lifted out 5 day old daughters car seat up with her in it without fastening her in or locking the handle. Once small sleeping baby went flop out onto the carpet from abut 5ft high right in front of my dad. Not a good way to impress your father in law and convince him his precious little girl and her children are safe with you :~)

mandi

Enjoy your baby while she/hes young , they grow up far to quickly

emmaanddave

Tell your friend not to worry about the housework! That comes secondary to having a new born. Also routine, get baby into one sooner rather than later. Shop online, especially groceries and then she can just pop out for milk and a loaf if needed etc.

If you have enough friends to participate why nor get them to have a day where they make a hot meal for the new parents and take it round to them. that way they have a proper meal they can heat up when they are ready and for the first few days/week they don't have to worry about cooking meals. We had that done 3 weeks for us as we had twins and it was such a blessing not having to worry about cooking a meal etc.

pinknfluffy0

Accept your house will be messy, relax and enjoy baby.

Get lots of dvds or record stuff on sky, if you are breast feeding there is going to be a lot of sitting around feeding, get comfy and enjoy.

If bfing evey time you sit down make sure you have drink and food with you

emsywoo123

emmaanddave wrote: »

If you have enough friends to participate why nor get them to have a day where they make a hot meal for the new parents and take it round to them. that way they have a proper meal they can heat up when they are ready and for the first few days/week they don't have to worry about cooking meals. We had that done 3 weeks for us as we had twins and it was such a blessing not having to worry about cooking a meal etc.

Following on from this, cook and freeze portions of spag bol and other meals ready to just ping in the microwave.........
I've [STRIKE]told[/STRIKE] asked my mum to do this for me this time, as I have DD who is 7 and am doing it alone so any preparation like this makes all the difference!

mookiandco

Sing the same song every night. I did right from the start (hush little darling dont say a word mummy's going to buy you a mocking bird....) and now she recognises it as her sleeping song. It instantly calms her and she cuddles in for a sleep in the daytime or drifts off to sleep quickly in bed at night. The last words I say to her before I leave her bedroom are always 'mummy loves you'. It's a nice end to the day!

SwipernoSwiping

1. Bulk freeze meals before baby arrives, batches of cooked potatoes & veg, Spag-bol, Pasta sauces. Easy to reheat, cheaper than buying mircowave meals, very filling.
2. mantra "this to shall pass" - no matter how strange, alone, isolated one gets, the first 6-8 weeks do fly by.
3. A problem shared... don't be to shy to ask the midwife / health visitor about anything. If its worrying you it's not stupid!
4. Ask visitors to help with ironing, laundry, shopping. Ask UNWANTED visitors to clean the toilet...
5. There is no such thing as a Super Mum. Perfect Mum, Yummy Mummy, Earth Mother. But @insert name@ is the best mum she can be.
6.Night feeds and nappy changes: Get a Tv and DVD/Sky set up in the bedroom.. change and feed by the glow of the tv - put the sound on low. Watch the film instead of the clock, ( do not watch big brother re-runs- they will be asleep, very frustrating! ) and you'll find that the day time/night time routine is quickly established.

Theres a few to start with if I remember more I'll return!

Tigsteroonie

I'd echo the tip about ignoring a messy house. Every day with your baby is precious, don't waste that time worrying about housekeeping. Mess will still be there a day later, but you only see a "first smile" once.

Online shopping was invented for times like this.

You don't have to be Wonderwoman. All your baby needs is a good Mum.

Bedtime routines help establish good bedtimes.

Breastfeeding may not work for you and/or your baby. You're not a failure if it doesn't.