Hints and tips for a new mum?

Savvy_Sue

Feed the crabby.

This applies to all ages.

esio_trot

SkintBrideToBe wrote: »

My top tip is new mummy should never wear black LOL baby always chooses to throw up on u whenever u wear black, and bright white vomit isnt a good look LOL

on that note - ready made Aptamil cartons don't stain when baby sicks up, weird but true! Found out last week when wearing all black.

Biggest one from me is "don't feel guilty". Whether it's for breast feeding not working out, for needing time to yourself, for asking people to do things for you, not being wonder woman, etc etc. My baby is 6 weeks old and it took until this week for me to be able to deal with the guilt about all of the above things - it's really not worth spending your days in tears for, baby won't blame you.

Bronnie

All babies are different, so don't worry if your baby's not doing what someone else's is. If things don't go by the book, throw away the book! It's not your fault!

Trust your instincts, even with your first baby. Babies are more resilient than you might imagine! A crying baby ignored for a few minutes while you dry yourself after a shower won't necessarily grow up to be damaged for life!

ENJOY your baby.......said nostalgically 25 years on. Aww! And count your blessings there is now 24 hour a day TV for those sleepless nights/early mornings!!

Savvy_Sue

Get 'the rules' laid down while you're still bigger than they are.

Seriously. I was holding a baby yesterday, the youngest of 6, I'd taken round a 'goody bag' and the older ones were very keen to investigate its contents. Nope, not until tea was eaten, chores were done (taking dishes to kitchen, filling dishwasher, putting recycling out, toys put away) and all were in their nightclothes. That was just the way it was going to be! I was seriously impressed, and wondered where I'd gone wrong.

Ah, that would be in not getting the rules laid down while I was still bigger than them ... :rotfl:

SDG31000

The best bit of advice I ever got was to do the one thing that made me feel in control. In my case I did the laundry as I decided that we could live on ready meals, use disposable plates and that the hoovering could wait, but we all needed clean clothes. Especially after having a baby with colic that could cover a double bed in sick when he threw up......Happy days LOL

Also, have dummies, infacol, nappy rash cream and stuff for formula feeding in the house before the baby arrives. Even if you have no plans to use any of them. Having had to find an all night chemist as my son refused to breast feed, I am speaking with the voice of experience.

The best of luck to your friend

gratefulforhelp_2

mookiandco wrote: »

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!

This made me cry.

shellieholly wrote: »

4. Ask visitors to help with ironing, laundry, shopping. Ask UNWANTED visitors to clean the toilet...
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

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.

Brilliant.

So overwhelmed by how clever and funny these posts are. What a wealth of wisdom and experience.

Two insignificant things to add,

1. If you are a makeup wearer, keep some downstairs so you can slap a bit on just before going out.
2. Muslins are great for not getting thrown up on. Baby always pukes on mummy. Fact.
3. Don't get hung up on baby manuals - baby is unlikely to have read it - or those infuriating people who say "is he sleeping through the night yet?" at 4 weeks.
Just say "yeah and splitting the atom"

eta oops that's three!

Kelinik

'Keep calm and carry on'

applies as much to coping with my 10 year old as my 4 month old and I'm sure will be even more apt when I have teenagers in a few short years time!

LydiaSophia

Do whatever it takes to get you through the day (stay in your PJ's, stay in bed, live on biscuits and dairy milk, feed baby laying down, etc etc) and DON'T feel guilty about it!

That made me laugh- I am 30 weeks pregnant with my first and I will be showing this to my husband! x x

Evansangel

1.Dont feel embarrased to to make weird noises to keep baby happy when out in public.
Who cares if everyone stares, they aren't getting beautiful smiles and giggles from your baby

2. Muslin squares are your friend, i even use them as tea towels when mine are in the wash



3. Write down everything you need to do on a calender, im always forgetting to pay my credit card now i have a baby to occupy my mind.

Chakani

Buy a couple of pairs of pretty (and comfy) pyjamas and a nice dressing gown for when you come home from hospital, and wear them round the house. Mum in pyjamas needs looking after, mum in jeans is obviously fine and coping, and people will expect her to do more. My mother in law told me this, and she is so right.