Favorite (and maybe controversial?) New Mom Tips:

My son is 11 weeks old now and I feel like he and I are both completely different people than we were 11 weeks ago.  He can, of course, hold up his head, look all around, smile, laugh, blow bubbles, play etc and I am finally feeling like I have this Mommy thing down (well sort of).  Below are some of the best tips and advice that I have received and followed along the way.

1. Accept all offers for help:  We do not have to be super Moms from day one.  Our bodies are healing, we aren’t sleeping and we have a new tiny creature to care for.  Let your family and friends shower you with food, cleaning, dog walking or whatever else they might offer to do around your house.
2. Sleep when the baby sleeps:  A 15 minute afternoon nap can rejuvenate me like nothing else.  The laundry can wait!
3. Don’t pay attention to other babies that are the same age as yours:  All babies develop and grow at different rates.  My baby eats, grows, sleeps, poops and smiles at different rate than others.  Why put undue stress on yourself for absolutely no reason?
4. Make breastfeeding work for you:  We all know that breast milk is best for baby- however; being the sole source of food for a newborn is stressful.  Start pumping early and let others feed your baby a bottle once a good latch is established.   Pump a bottle and go- I am not a “stay at home for the first 3 months” kind of gal and I love the flexibility that pumping allows. Some Moms prefer breast only and that’s great too.  Again, make it work for YOU!
5. Give your baby a pacifier if he or she will take it:  I was terrified that I would end up with a 5 year old with a binky- but it can be a lifesaver during the early days.  Now we use the paci just at night time and it does the trick every time.
6. Let them sleep in the swing sometimes:  If your baby will sleep in his or her crib then a nap in a swing or bouncy seat now and then is not going to hurt his or her sleep habits.  Mom can easily watch him and get some stuff done.
7. There is NO ONE RIGHT way to do anything:  Allow yourself to figure out the best way for you and your baby to eat, sleep, and diaper change.  Everyone has an opinion but they are not your baby’s Mommy.

 What’s your best advice for New Moms?