New motherhood is certainly demanding, but when it comes to prioritizing self-care, you want to make sure you’re looking after yourself so that you can be present for your baby’s needs. For any new mom, trying to balance that demand from your baby and for your own sanity and self is hard. However, it is something that’s achievable. With that in mind, here are nine essential tips for new moms, whether it’s tackling sleep or embracing a bit of self-care where possible.
Try to sleep when your baby sleeps – or get an early night
You’ve heard the phrase, ‘sleep when your baby sleeps’, right? Well, the reality of doing that is very few and far between. Being overstimulated or needing to address 4,395 other things around the home instead of napping is why a lot of new moms simply don’t sleep when the baby sleeps. The anxiety of falling asleep when your baby is asleep, too, is what can stop a lot of moms from sleeping for fear of missing their cries for milk or cuddles.
However, if you’re able to, it’s good to try and nap when they nap. If that’s not possible, then get an early night. Even if you know your baby is going to wake up multiple times between you going to sleep early and getting up in the morning, it’s better to have gotten a bit of extra sleep by hitting the hay earlier on.
Do some gentle exercise where you can fit it in
When it comes to tips for new moms, gentle exercise should be something you try to fit in as and where possible. There will be some days when you’re too exhausted to even think about getting up from the couch, let alone getting on a treadmill or lifting weights. However, when you do have those days where there’s a little bit more energy in the tank, do some gentle exercise. Don’t start doing HIIT workouts or bootcamp-style exercise. A quick 30-minute walk around your local area is good enough.
Join a mom group for community support
One of the most challenging things you can encounter when it comes to being a new mom is the loneliness that comes with it. As a mom, you may struggle with being alone, even though you’re with your baby for a lot of that time. Your baby can’t talk to you or give you the same sort of support a fellow adult or mom could.
That’s why joining a mom group can be really helpful for that community support. With that being said, think about joining a group in your local area or chatting to a one online. There are plenty of community support networks out there, whether you want to meet up with them or not.
Self-care is nourishment for your body and mind – it’s not selfish!
When handling a newborn, you want to be in the best place possible, both in body and mind. It’s not selfish to want some self-care; it’s vital nourishment that your body needs. Self-care is definitely something that we could all do more of, especially when you’re trying to improve your mental health and give your body a well-deserved rest.
Nourishment is something that can come in all forms, and that’s why what you consider a form of self-care might look completely different from another mom. Ultimately, you want to be doing something that is going to nourish and help your body and mind be the best they can be.
Be kind to yourself
This is one of the hardest yet most important tips for new moms. Being kind to yourself is something that is important to do because a lot of the challenges that come with being a parent for the first time are questioning everything you’re doing. You’ll most likely be critiquing yourself at every turn, too. With that in mind, try to be kinder to yourself, especially on the days when day-to-day life gets hard and you feel like everything is going wrong. Try to be kinder to yourself and turn that negative mindset or commentary that’s going on in your head into something more positive.
Eat well and don’t feel guilty for snacking
Eating well is a good way of nourishing your body physically, but also mentally. After all, food should be enjoyed in all of its interactions, whether visually or through taste and smell. As a new mom, you’ll be burning a lot of energy and brain power, which is why you shouldn’t feel guilty for snacking or perhaps eating more than you usually would. It can be hard to be a mom or parent, especially when it’s your first time, so be a bit more lenient on yourself when it comes to eating, and in moderation.
Get outdoors when you’re feeling trapped in the house
When you’re feeling trapped in the home, it can feel like everything is getting on top of you, and there’s a simple solution to that problem: get outdoors! Getting outside helps you to connect with nature and to nourish your body with what it likely needs the most after being stuck inside for days, fresh air and sunlight.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
There might be occasions where you’re feeling extremely overwhelmed and you need help or just a shoulder to cry on. It’s important that you’re never afraid of asking for help. It takes a village to raise a baby, and for some people, that village might not be as available as you thought it would be. Therefore heed these tips for new moms, if you need to speak to someone professionally about how you’re feeling, don’t be fearful of reaching out.
Take it a day at a time
Every day will come with its new challenges and stressors. It’s therefore important that you’re taking it every day, a day at a time. There’s no point in fretting about the future or having regrets about the past day or what happened the other week. Just take it a day at a time and be proud of yourself for carrying on. These essential tips for new moms will hopefully help you get through the newborn stage and beyond.
