Reflections from a New Mom | What I've Learned So Far

I am 4 months into this motherhood thing, and it has been a ride!  I humbly bow to all mothers out there, especially with multiple little ones (and especially during a global pandemic!)

The learning curve is fast and steep, but I have been enjoying the journey.  I can't pretend to be any kind of expert at this point.  Each day is a new adventure.    If someone were to check my google search history it would be an embarrassing array of desperate 3 AM questions like "why is my baby screaming" to "how to stop postpartum hair loss". Social media knows me all too well with advertising “the perfect baby sleep solution” or the latest and greatest baby teethers.

There is sooooo much information out there - almost too much. The one lesson I have learned is to go with what works for you and your baby, and don't compare.  Your baby is going to have different needs/temperament then another baby.  It's a slippery slope of comparing "how long does your baby sleep???" and thinking I must be doing something wrong.  Trying to fit another routine that doesn't fit your family or your baby is a square peg/round hole situation.  It just doesn't work.  

I've chased the rabbit hole thinking I "should" be doing this or I need to start training that way, but in the end, I need to just go with my gut and what works for me and I'm pretty sure we will all figure it out!  It may be messy and imperfect and maybe I could be getting more sleep if I do it this way or that, but at the end of the day, I will never regret snuggling my son to sleep while he is still small enough to snuggle, or enjoying that extra-long feeding while he is still nursing.  

Everyone tells me it goes so fast and it won't last forever, so I don't want to regret these cherished moments while I have them.  I already look back at those teeny tiny newborn photos with longing memories, and it hurts to think there will come a time he won't want to fall asleep on momma!

From my very small amount of “experience”, here are some helpful tips I've discovered:

If you are supplementing, keep up with the bottle

I had quite a traumatic birth experience and was separated from Noah for the first week.  (I know…upphff) So he was formula fed for the first week and we slowly got him back into breastfeeding. Much to my surprise, by 2 months he was solely breastfeeding so I happily packed up my Dr. Brown bottles.  

Now at 4 months I'm set to get back to work and he is refusing the bottle!  ah!  (cue more Google searches) So even if you are exclusively breastfeeding and someday hope for bottle feeding, keep up with at least a bottle a day so they stay used to the bottle!

The Onesie Trick

No one explains to you that the reason the onesies are designed with the weird-looking neckline is so you can actually take them off by pulling it down the shoulders and off instead of over the head.  After your first poop explosion, you will thank me. 

An Electric Nail Filer

This seemed excessive when I first read about it, but I had no idea my child would have daggers for fingernails. The guilt was real when I saw his little scratched up face in the morning. No matter how many times I filed them down, they seemed to come back longer and sharper. I finally got this electric nail filer that’s safe for babies and his little face has been scratch-free ever since! He even sits calmly while I do it and doesn’t wriggle around! Game-changer. Bonus that it has interchangeable heads that can be used for adults too! Mommy manicure time.

Best Butt Cream Ever 

There's a reason this stuff is $30/jar.  Worth every penny.  Works magic on any sign of irritation.

This chair

It seriously gives me my hands free. My guy was not into the baby carriers, so I needed somewhere safe to put him down and keep him occupied.   You don’t need anything big or expensive. He didn't love it at first, but at about 3 months he started really getting into it.  It has helps his motor skill development and now I can set him in there and he stays entertained for long periods of time so I can [fill in the blank] (eat breakfast, go to the bathroom, do laundry, etc]  He even falls asleep in this thing.

This white noise machine

I love that this is portable, small, and puts out a LOT of power.  So I can take it with me anywhere and he is used to the same white noise no matter where he is. 

This wipe dispenser

Many a mom had recommended this to me and I agree- the simple weight allows you to pull out one wipe at a time with one hand, very important as you try to clean a wriggling baby and not get poop everywhere.

Mosquito cover for the stroller

If you live anywhere where mosquitos rule the summer, this is so helpful to help my paranoid self from worrying about him getting bitten, but still be able to enjoy a stroller ride. It also has a UV shield if it’s super sunny.

A Glider

Another tip that so many moms shared was the importance of a good rocker/glider.  This ends up being essential to rocking a little one to sleep and you spend a LOT of time in it, so might as well be comfortable.  I test drove a bunch of these at Buy Buy Baby pre-COVID, and while this was not the prettiest, it was definitely the most comfortable and I'm so glad I went with it!  I'm pretty sure I'm not giving it up even after he grows out of it!

These tank tops

If you are breastfeeding, you need something easy to feed and I pretty much live in these.  You can easily throw a cardigan overtop if you need to, but the flowy bottom was helpful postpartum when you really don't want anything form-fitting around your middle!

These swaddles

Ah swaddling.  This was so key to getting him to sleep the first 3 months!  While we did our best to perfect the swaddle with the cute muslin blankets, our little Houdini found a way out every time, leaving me paranoid of extra fabric flapping around his face.  But these swaddles were easy and effective.  (However the velcro wears down after too many washes, so only wash as you need to!)

A play dome

Between this and his chair, this is where he spends most of his time.  At first, he wasn't too impressed but by 3 months this is his favorite place to be.  He loves to look/grab and try to eat the hanging toys and it really helps develop his motor skills.  This one is creative as it has a little marker where you can take month or week photo! Lots of good tummy time practice as well.

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