Things I Learned Being A New Mom

We just approached the 2-month mark and I am absolutely loving motherhood. I have learned so much in these short 2 months and I wanted to share them to possibly help out other first-time moms. In case you missed my birth story, head over and give it a read!

Skip Newborn Sizes:

I made the mistake of stocking up on TONS of newborn stuff, Thomas only fit into it for less than a month and I was left with SO many outfits that he would never wear and I foolishly removed all the tags so I couldn’t return. My suggestion(depending on your baby’s size)…Skip newborns altogether or only purchase a handful of items.

Take Advantage of Gently Used Items:

Items like car seats aside(safety issues) I found that there was nothing wrong with gently used items. We opted for several gently used items such as a Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat and I received several bags of gently used clothes and blankets that I washed before using. This saved TONS of money and prevented gently used items from ending up in a landfill. We also have several thrift stores near me that will even give you credit for gently used children’s clothes.

The Real Must-Haves(in my opinion)

I received tons of items for my baby shower and also ended up purchasing several items over the last 2 months. Here are items I wished I received for my baby shower or had purchased much sooner.

• Pumping Bra: I really wish I caved and bought one much sooner. I bought one at Walmart after almost 2 frustrating months. It made pumping 100 times easier and I truly think I would have stuck with pumping more if I had purchased it earlier.
• Baby Bath Thermometer: I didn’t purchase one right off because I thought to myself, “How hard is it to make sure the temperature is okay?” turns out I was making his bath WAY too cold and that’s why he hated bath time.
• Bottle Rack, I foolishly didn’t listen to people about this one and thought I could just dry them with my dishes. The bottle rack in fact works 100 times better and ensures the bottles dry completely.
• Boppy Original Newborn Lounger: Someone purchased this off my baby registry and I used it multiple times a day. Thomas LOVES it and it was 100% worth the price.
• Skip The Bulb aspirator: I wish I had done this so much sooner! I recently purchased one of the tube aspirators and it’s not only cleaner but easier to use.

Avoid The Color White

This is actually A LOT harder than I expected, I don’t know WHOS smart idea it was to make the majority of baby stuff white….yes bleach does exist but I found that even with using bleach, any of his white burp cloths, clothes, and bedding were not so white after just a few weeks. They ended up taking on a tint that I just couldn’t get out.

Ask For Help

I have to say I am grateful to have a wonderful support system but I still got overwhelmed in the first few weeks. There is NO problem asking for help. I also developed a case of postpartum anxiety and wish I had not waited until my 6-week follow-up to get help. I assumed it was just first-time mom jitters but in fact, I was suffering from postpartum anxiety and needed an adjustment to my anxiety meds. Sometimes I just felt like I needed someone other than my husband or I to hold the baby and let me tell you, not a lot of people will turn down snuggling a cute baby.

Build A Routine

My husband and I have been doing this from pretty much day one. While it can be hard we slipped right back into the same routine when we got home. This helped our other children, as well as our pets, transition well and I have tried keeping Thomas on a routine since day one which includes bath time around a certain time, etc. He is mostly a cluster eater so a feeding routine was near impossibly but SOME routine will help everyone adjust better.

Invest In A Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker

I don’t think I’ve actually cooked once since having Thomas. I use my pressure cooker daily, even to make homemade dog food. You can freeze leftovers and pull them out as needed.

Check Discount Areas at Stores.

I am not sure if this is at ALL Walmarts but my local Walmart has a clearance baby section and it’s often well-stocked with diapers for often 50%+ off. They are usually boxes that are damaged but the diapers are fine, This has saved us SO much money.

Apply For Assistance with The Cloth Option

The Cloth Option is a nonprofit that provides cloth diapers to parents in need free of charge. I received a small package right before Thomas was born and sent it back after someone purchased cloth diapers off our registry. They were SUPER helpful and I highly suggest applying for assistance if you need it!

I hope some of these tips and tricks help make parenthood just a little easier for someone!