This post, how to make the most out of the newborn stage, is sponsored by Ergobaby. We use and truly love these products and if you purchase them, I hope that you love them, as well!
The newborn stage is hard to really appreciate. You are getting to know your baby, trying to find your new normal, and also trying to keep it together while being very sleep deprived and dealing with a swarm of postpartum emotions.
It is easy to wish for the next stage to come – to wish for a longer stretch than just 2-3 hours at night, or to wish that the hours of cluster feeding would come to and end already. I get it – I’ve been there. But, I’m here to tell you that it WILL end…and once it ends, you will miss it. I’ve been working extremely hard to soak in and enjoy each moment with Avery and because of this, I want to help you learn how to make the most out of the newborn stage so that you can, hopefully, really appreciate it and soak it all in, as you should. Here are my best tips:
Soak In The Snuggles
You only get this time once and it flies by, so try your best to soak in the snuggles…even when it’s hard. Doing skin to skin, cuddling, and getting to know your baby is so important during this time. There are so many benefits when it comes to doing skin to skin. It can potentially help your baby cry less, it calms you and your baby, lowers your stress, boosts your baby’s immune system, lowers the chance of PPD, helps build a connection between your baby & you/dad, gives you a chance to rest, and so much more. Snuggling is SO, so important during this time and trust me when I say that you cannot spoil a baby, so please pick them up to snuggle and show them lots of love.
Know That Work Will Always Be There
For me specifically, I work full-time from home while taking care of Avery. In fact, I started working again the day I got home from the hospital. So, from the beginning, I took on the mindset of having to do it all. I had to work, I had to take care of the house, I had to take care of the dogs, I had to take care of Avery and feed Avery, etc.
Since I felt like I had to do it all, I ended up getting really overwhelmed and stressed out. Honestly, Ian and I are pretty sure that me feeling this way gave me a touch of postpartum depression. I would sprint around the house trying to get everything done, only to feel like I didn’t do enough at the end of the day. I was not eating enough, drinking enough water, or getting enough rest. I would cry and cry because I felt alone, unsuccessful (since I could not do it all), and just extremely stressed out. I didn’t know how to fix it, especially since I haven’t had much help.
After talking with Ian, we came to the conclusion that I really needed to get out of the go, go, go mindset. Instead, I needed to focus on the things that were most important – bonding with Avery and focusing on being her mom (and also taking care of myself, of course). Work will always be there, I can do dishes another day, and the laundry will eventually get done. What will NOT always be there is our daughter at this stage.
If you want to learn how to make the most out of the newborn stage, then put everything else aside and really focus on your baby and yourself. At the end of the day, that’s what is most important and when you realize that you really do not have to do it all yourself, you will feel so relieved, which is important when it comes to enjoying the newborn snuggles!
Babywear
The best tip that I received before Avery was born was to fit your baby into your lifestyle – do not completely change your lifestyle for your new baby.
Of course, you are going to have to change things up a bit to fit in feedings, nap times, etc., but kids are adaptable and it’s important that you do not lose yourself completely during your parenthood journey. Ian and I have continued to prioritize each other, our travels (hopefully we can get back to traveling sooner rather than later!), and the other things we like to do. While it has definitely been different, it has also been relatively easy.
How do we do it? My biggest tip for you is to babywear. We have been babywearing since Avery came home from the hospital. It helps us get things done around the house without stressing too much about naps, Avery being fussy, or not being able to use our hands. In fact, when we travel (so much for that right now with the coronavirus, though!), we still go out to eat and everything. While in Charleston, we visited some very fancy restaurants and Avery tagged along while we wore her in a carrier. She has already been to four states in her short four months of life and babywearing has 100% made this do-able for us.
If you are looking for a carrier that is comfortable, easy to use, and cozy, you definitely need to look into the Ergobaby Embrace. It includes a padded neckline to support your newborn’s head, there is an adjustable and supporting waist belt that adapts the seat width as the baby grows and also distributes your baby’s weight evenly, and it is super compact and easy to fold down and throw in your diaper bag.
The great thing about the Ergobaby Embrace is the fact that you do not have to spend time tying a bunch of fabric. This makes it extremely quick when you are running late, or when your baby is fussy and needs a nap quickly on-the-go. Instead, it has an easy buckle waist belt and side buckles. You can tighten each buckle to get a close, snug fit and your baby can nestle themselves close to you while being held tightly and securely by the soft, knit fabric. It really does give you the coziness of a wrap with the simplicity and comfort of a structured carrier.
I have been wanting to try Ergobaby products for such a long time now. Since we travel a lot…or at least did before the COVID-19 outbreak, I knew that they would be very beneficial to us and I cannot wait to try out their other babywearing products, as well. For now, though, the Ergobaby Embrace is everything we need. We are hopefully traveling to Puerto Rico in May and I’m so excited to wear Avery in the carrier through the airport.
Prioritize Sleep
Each baby is unique and has different likes and dislikes. You need to figure out what works for your specific baby and yourself, in order to prioritize sleep. For us, during months 0-3, swaddling worked best. The Ergobaby Swaddler was a life saver. It has unique, escape-proof arm pockets for a more secure swaddle (plus, it’s so easy!). Avery was definitely a houdini when it came to her swaddle, so these were essential. The Ergobaby Swaddler is great not only for the arm pockets, but it allows for easy diaper changes, as well. There’s no need to unswaddle for a diaper change. This helps keep your baby calm and relaxed throughout the night, instead of having to completely unswaddle and risk waking them up. The swaddles are so soft, come in cute patterns, and really help your baby get longer stretches of sleep at night, which is absolutely essential.
Implement Self-Care
Gosh, self-care is really important in all stages of motherhood, but the newborn time is extremely hands-on and can be stressful, which is why I think it’s absolutely essential during this time. If you are able to, take a bath alone, drink a glass of hot tea or wine, ask for help so that you are able to get an hour of extra sleep, go get your nails done, if possible, or ask your significant other for a quick massage. No matter what self-care looks like to you, prioritize it. Your baby needs you and the only way that you can give your all is by taking care of yourself first.
Yes, the newborn stage is hard and more than likely, you will come across bumps along the way, like I did. But, you only get this time once and it flies by. Learning how to make the most of the newborn stage is really important so that you’re able to really enjoy it and soak it in. Finding the right products to help you along the way is really important and that’s why we use and love Ergobaby products, such as the Ergobaby Embrace and Swaddler. If you are interested in trying them out, you can receive 20% off when you bundle them.
These are some of the best times and you are truly blessed to be here because so many women can only wish for those late night cluster feeding sessions, or skin to skin time. Enjoy this stage, mamas – you’ve got this!
