Five Practical Tips for New Moms (beyond "sleep when the baby sleeps")

Becoming a mom for the first time was the most exciting, terrifying, and pivotal moments of my life. In times of doubt or confusion, I found that hearing real experiences from other new moms helped me the most. That was the inspiration behind my podcast, The Sleep Sessions, where each weekly episode features a different mom sharing her postpartum experience and tips for adapting to life and sleep after a new baby. Since my daughter's birth, I started putting together a lengthy list of the best advice I've received from other moms on my podcast, as well as things I've personally learned along the way. Today I'm sharing my top five favorites with you. 

1. Even the rubber gloves

If you give birth in a hospital, take everything that isn't nailed down in the recovery room (except the linens, they don't let you take those). You pay for it all and it's your right to claim it. This is one of my favorite pieces of advice I've gotten. The bucket the nurse uses to give the baby their first bath doubles as a great bin for containing dirty bottles in the sink before you get around to washing them. The fine-tooth comb they brush their hair with is perfect for removing cradle cap. And lastly, take the boxes of rubber gloves because you never know when you'll need them. This seemed really odd to me when I first heard it but guess who is fully stocked on gloves during this pandemic? Me! 

2. Take a shower

I'll never forget how amazing that first shower felt after giving birth. I felt like a completely new woman. It's easy to forget to shower after coming home with your new baby - there is so much to do and you barely get 5 minutes for yourself throughout the day. Prioritize taking a shower. You'll feel more awake, refreshed, and clear headed.

3. Get out of the house

From birth until about the time they turn 3-4 weeks old, babies are typically very sleepy and snooze pretty much around the clock. If you're feeling physically up for it, this is a great time to get out of the house. Put baby in the stroller and go for a walk with your dog, enjoy a happy hour with your partner, go to a barbecue...do whatever makes you happy. It does wonders for your mental state. 

4. Understand wake times

At three or four weeks, babies start to wake up and become more alert. It's important to understand that a baby of this age should only be awake for approximately 45-60 minutes at a time. If your newborn is staying awake for longer than this and is often fussy, it's probably because they're overtired. A lot of moms say "but that's how long it takes me to feed the baby! Does that mean I just feed them and put them back to sleep?" YES. But don't worry, the recommended wake windows  increase as they grow. There is a Facebook group that I joined called "Respectful Sleep Training/Learning" and they have a file all about wake times. It was so helpful in the first few months with my daughter and continues to be today. 

5. Trust your gut 

This is my all time favorite advice. If something seems wrong, it probably is. Maternal instinct is a real thing and you know your baby better than anyone else. This came into play for me many times throughout my journey and hasn't failed me yet. Remember, there's no better mama for this baby than you. 

You can listen to The Sleep Sessions on all major podcast platforms and follow along on Instagram at @thesleepsessions. 

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You can also read our interview with Dara here.