I have been a mom of two for almost two years and a mom for almost five years. While I am not a NEW mom per-say, I feel I can speak to how it feels to be a new mom. I wanted to share some new mom survival tips I have had to embrace and come to terms with. I think as moms we feel like asking for help is something we just can’t do. I am here to tell you, you MUST!
New Mom Survival Tips
Ask For Help: This is something I had the hardest time doing when I had my first baby. I felt like I could do it all and that’s a great way to burn yourself out. It’s OK to ask for help. If people OFFER help, take it. If someone wants to come over and let you shower, or run an errand, take them up on it. On the flip side if you have a friend or family member who has recently had a baby offer help!
Utilize Naps: This may mean taking a nap yourself, or a shower, or eating lunch, or reheating your coffee for the 4th time and just sitting in silence. For me, it depended on the day and the nap. When my kids took multiple naps I would use one to focus on house stuff and one to focus on work. Now Charlotte is home 2 days during the week and at school 3 days during the week so the days she is home I will focus on work.
Do Something For YOU each day: I remember when I was first pregnant someone saying “oh you’ll never shower every day.” I thought that was absurd! I can assure you in almost 3 years of being a mom I have showered at least once a day! I also did face masks, read, ate meals, worked out, etc. You can do things for yourself each day. You just have to decide what and when. Hence the whole thing about utilizing naps.
Put your health first: I’m sure you’ve heard that you can’t pour from an empty cup. This couldn’t be more true. You can’t. Make sure you are sleeping (when you can), eating right, exercising, taking your vitamins, drinking water. Do things to ensure your health because the last thing a new mama or any mama needs is to get sick!
Find time for your spouse: This is probably the hardest thing for me. At the end of the day we are both exhausted, and basically fall into bed and go to sleep. But find the time. Even if it’s 10-15 minutes to sit and talk or have a glass of wine together. Marriage has to come first!
If you are a new mama or a seasoned mama I would love to know what some of your new mom survival tips are. What helps you? Tell us below!
This post was originally published in 2020 but has been updated for 2021.
Ugh, I am so bad about asking for help, too! I did pretty well with the transition into motherhood with my first. But an emergency cesarean had me needing so much more help when my second was born! I also never went a day without a shower. Some days it wouldn’t happen until after the kids were in bed, but it still happened! After bedtime is my time for myself and for my husband.
Oh, yes, NAPS! I never had the blessing of two kiddos napping at the same time – by the time my 2nd was on anything close to a schedule, my 2yo had given up naps for good (!) – but I LOVED napping along with Baby for many months, because squeezing in a nap was something I could do for ME that helped me get through the day!
Asking for help is such a big one for me! I always thought it was best to suffer in silence. Not only was it causing huge problems for me, but it was keeping others from being involved in taking care of my kids. Now I ask for help, and my family gets to spend time with the kids.
Hello Neely! Your blog is like a treasure of helpful tips for moms. Thanks for writing about new mom survival tips in a very brief manner in your blog. Keep posting.
I am not a new Mum but I do agree with a lot of what you said. I also admit it was quite easy for me as I only had one kid and although for 3 weeks at a time I was doing it by myself, the other 3 weeks my husband was at home full time which was awesome. The one thing I will say is this, have a shower every day! Even if you don’t have time to do your hair or make up, just shower, put on clean pjs and brush your teeth. It will make you feel 100% better. My child was the worst napper but she loved being in her pram/buggy (stroller?) so I would put her in that and try and walk 5km each day with her. She would quite often nap there, I got exercise and fresh air and we would both be happier for it! Thats my 2 tips!!
It is so, so important for new parents – especially moms – to realize that they can ask for help! For some reason, there seems to be some kind of myth that moms should never have help, and it’s just wrong!
These are all great advice for new moms. Asking for help is important as well as taking care of oneself. When my wife was a new mom, I made sure that she got plenty of rest.
I love these… Moms are unsung heroes.. With all their sacrifices.. They really deserve the best. I also agree with putting moms health first.. They need to have rest and listen to their body. Thank you for sharing this..salute to all the mommies out there..
Becoming a new mom can be tough to manage the other parts of your life on hold. However, it is important to have balance, yes your new baby is now your entire world, but don’t put everything else on the back burner.
I’ve never had a baby and I don’t know if I ever will, but I think anyone who embarks on this journey is due commendation. It’s not easy, and I can see that from the side lines. This is such a helpful post.
Good things to keep in mind! I see how mothers can feel selfish for not putting themselves first, but moms are the tree of life for babies, so they need to be holistically healthy and happy!
You can’t make it if you don’t your health first. Really good tips for moms. I always say “You need to be in good shape and healthy to take care of the kid/baby good”
I have a newborn and I feel like I have no time for anything but to do whatever she needs. You’re so right about doing something for myself every day – at least for a little sanity!
Great tips! Seems like you’re coping well and trooping on! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Ugh, I am so bad about asking for help, too! I did pretty well with the transition into motherhood with my first. But an emergency cesarean had me needing so much more help when my second was born! I also never went a day without a shower. Some days it wouldn’t happen until after the kids were in bed, but it still happened! After bedtime is my time for myself and for my husband.
It is amazing what you go through as a new mom and how fast you learn and adapt, wow!!! Great tips.
These are all great tips to help new moms. I am sharing it with my sister-in-law.
My sister gave birth last 2 months ago and I will share this mom survival tips to her thanks to this!
Oh, yes, NAPS! I never had the blessing of two kiddos napping at the same time – by the time my 2nd was on anything close to a schedule, my 2yo had given up naps for good (!) – but I LOVED napping along with Baby for many months, because squeezing in a nap was something I could do for ME that helped me get through the day!
These are great tips! It must be particularly hard to be a new Mom right now!!
Asking for help is such a big one for me! I always thought it was best to suffer in silence. Not only was it causing huge problems for me, but it was keeping others from being involved in taking care of my kids. Now I ask for help, and my family gets to spend time with the kids.
Great tips for new moms!
Hello Neely! Your blog is like a treasure of helpful tips for moms. Thanks for writing about new mom survival tips in a very brief manner in your blog. Keep posting.
I am not a new Mum but I do agree with a lot of what you said. I also admit it was quite easy for me as I only had one kid and although for 3 weeks at a time I was doing it by myself, the other 3 weeks my husband was at home full time which was awesome. The one thing I will say is this, have a shower every day! Even if you don’t have time to do your hair or make up, just shower, put on clean pjs and brush your teeth. It will make you feel 100% better. My child was the worst napper but she loved being in her pram/buggy (stroller?) so I would put her in that and try and walk 5km each day with her. She would quite often nap there, I got exercise and fresh air and we would both be happier for it! Thats my 2 tips!!
These are great tips whether you’re a new mom or dad. I think it’s important that parents remember to take care of themselves.
It is so, so important for new parents – especially moms – to realize that they can ask for help! For some reason, there seems to be some kind of myth that moms should never have help, and it’s just wrong!
great tips for new moms. it can be a shock to your sleep schedule to have a newborn in the house. sleeping when the baby sleeps is a must!
These are all great advice for new moms. Asking for help is important as well as taking care of oneself. When my wife was a new mom, I made sure that she got plenty of rest.
I have talked to a lot of moms, and most of them find the last tip to be really hard.
I love these… Moms are unsung heroes.. With all their sacrifices.. They really deserve the best. I also agree with putting moms health first.. They need to have rest and listen to their body. Thank you for sharing this..salute to all the mommies out there..
These are all so important for any new mom to read and really take in. It’s so easy for new moms to lose themselves and completely burn out.
Becoming a new mom can be tough to manage the other parts of your life on hold. However, it is important to have balance, yes your new baby is now your entire world, but don’t put everything else on the back burner.
I’ll have to share this with my friend! I’m child-free but my good friend just had a newborn and she would totally appreciate this post!
I’ve never had a baby and I don’t know if I ever will, but I think anyone who embarks on this journey is due commendation. It’s not easy, and I can see that from the side lines. This is such a helpful post.
Good things to keep in mind! I see how mothers can feel selfish for not putting themselves first, but moms are the tree of life for babies, so they need to be holistically healthy and happy!
Great tips. We need to practice self-care, couple-care and other such things to be at our best.
You can’t make it if you don’t your health first. Really good tips for moms. I always say “You need to be in good shape and healthy to take care of the kid/baby good”
Fransic – https://www.whiskingwolf.com/
Being a new mom can come as a shock. It is good to learn some tips for survival.
This is such a great hacks for new moms. Very realistic and thanks for sharing your experience. It’s so comprehensive!
These are indeed very important points especially for mothers who are struggling physically, mentally and emotionally. Gotta share this.
I have a newborn and I feel like I have no time for anything but to do whatever she needs. You’re so right about doing something for myself every day – at least for a little sanity!
What an inspiring post! Forwarding this to all my friends with babies.
Very useful tips for new mom. Thanks for sharing with us.
Definitely agree with putting yourself first! Being a new mom is SO tough, but if you don’t take care of yourself no one else will!