If you're a new mum, you'll know there are plenty of challenges to face day-in, day-out after your first bundle of joy joins the family! Here, ChannelMum lets readers in on their best advice for new parents...
Parenting on Female First
1. KINDNESS - You need to be kind to yourself. It takes time to slip into this new role of mum and there is no handbook. Be kind and patient and accept that you won't always get it right first time.
2. POWER NAPS - Sleep when the baby sleeps is something new mums will hear a lot. It's true. Power naps are everything, even a very short 30 minute nap will do you the power of good. Take them when you can, your body will thank you.
3. EVERYTHING TO HAND - Make sure you have everything you need to hand when you sit down to feed your baby - because once you're trapped under a sleeping/feeding baby and something is out of reach the frustration you'll be so annoyed! TV remote, mobile phone, house phone, large drink of water - check!
4. ACCEPTING OF OFFERS OF HELP - People will ask you what they can do to help so take them up on their offer and give them a job. Before people arrive, think what job you could do with some help with and be ready to ask. Little tasks like washing up, folding washing, emptying the dishwasher, peeling potatoes or taking the baby so you can shower or nap are all good things for people to help with.
5. FEWER VISITORS - There are two types of visitors, those who want to help (see above) and those who want to be waited on hand and foot with endless cups of tea and slices of cake whilst you're juggling a new baby. Don't feel bad about banning the second kind of visitor or giving them jobs if it's impossible to ban them!
6. TO KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE OK - There will be tears. The baby's and yours. Know that it's going to be ok, maybe not today but sometime soon. Grab a tissue and mop your tears. Mostly the tears dry up soon but if they don't tell your partner, your health visitor and your GP how you are really feeling so you get help.
7. TO KNOW THE NEW MUM SECRET - The new mum secret is that we're all just doing our best, that there is no such thing as a perfect mum and that we're all just doing our best and that is absolutely good enough.
Tagged in Parenting