As you can tell by the title of this post, I’m going to be sharing some vital tips for parents to help you navigate caring for your newborn. As with any tips or guides you might see on the internet, these are to be used loosely. Just remember that every baby is different and that some points might not apply to you.

Thinking back to when I was pregnant last year, I can remember trying to soak up all of this information about birth, newborns, weening etc. I pretty much researched everything right up to a year old. Whilst this put my mind at ease then, I can’t really remember half of what was said and will no doubt have to research each step nearer the time. But that’s ok and to be honest, this would be my first tip I would like to point out.

The reason I’ve talking about newborn tips in this post is because when you are in that newborn bubble, nothing else is going to matter. You won’t care what your baby will be doing in 6 months time. All you need to concentrate on is the here and now. Making it through each day, as it slowly gets easier and more second nature, is what is key right in that moment.

With that being said, I’ve written some more tips down below that I found useful. When you break it down, it really isn’t as daunting as it might first seem. Please also try to remember that whilst they are delicate, they aren’t as weak as you might first think. It’s ok to walk away for a couple of minutes if you just need to count to 10. Just make sure they are in a safe place first.

Taking care of a newborn can be both exciting and challenging. Here are some essential tips to help you navigate this precious time:

1. Feeding

Whether you are breastfeeding or formula feeding there are important things to remember. When it comes to formula feeding, prepare and feed formula as the instructions state. Just because someone did it differently, doesn’t mean you should. It’s scary how many mums have recommended upping the water with less scoops without proper medical advice or knowledge. Stick to the instructions and if in doubt, ask a professional. It’s also important to make sure you ensure proper hygiene throughout this time. It might sound basic but when you are exhausted, it can be easy to forget. Remember to wash your hands and have everything sterilised to reduce your newborn becoming poorly.

If you have chosen to breastfeed, ensure you get a proper latch. Trust me, if you don’t, it can become really painful on your nipples. One thing you definitely want to avoid is mastitis, so that proper latch is key. It can be quite draining in those first few weeks, but something else that you really need to be doing is feeding on demand. Don’t worry about feeding routines and schedules. Your baby will want to eat little and often. Not only will it help them gain that much needed weight, it will also help regulate your supply.

2. Nappies

As you can probably imagine, newborn babies will have tiny bladders. When you think about this in relation to how much they are drinking, you will want to make sure you change nappies regularly to ensure they are clean and comfortable. Use cotton wool or water wipes as and when you need to. Similarly, nappy rash cream can be applied as a barrier once a day if you want to. This is what we did and Nellie remained rash-free throughout this stage.

Another way of preventing nappy rash and something we also chose to do was nappy-free time. Nellie loved it and letting the air get to everything really helped in my opinion.

3. Sleeping

If you are in the UK, you are probably aware of the Lullaby Trust. They have amazing advice about safe sleep and are definitely worth checking out. It’s really important that newborn babies sleep in a safe-sleep environment. The main basis of this is by placing baby on their back on a firm mattress, in a feet at the bottom placement. There should be no loose bedding, which is where sleepbags come in handy. Alternatively, if you choose to use a cellular blanket like we did, make sure it is securely tucked in all round and placed no higher than under armpits.

4. Bathing

Bathing was something I was dreading because newborn babies seem so delicate. In reality, Nellie loved her bathtime and still does. Follow the guidelines for your country when it comes to water temperature, because I know it varies. If you need to use a soap, make sure it’s a mild one and suitable for newborns. If you are breastfeeding, adding a little bit of breast milk to the water can really sooth babies skin.

It’s important after the bath to pat babies skin dry otherwise they will become sore. Applying a gentle baby lotion can help lock in that moisture too.

5. Bonding and Interaction

This was something that I thought would just come naturally but actually it took a couple of weeks for me to really start to feel that bond. Just know that it’s completely normal and it isn’t always instant, like films portray. If you gets to over 3 weeks and you still aren’t starting to feel that bond, it might be worth talking to your midwife or health visitor for advice.

Newborn wake windows are very short so don’t worry about toys to start with. Simple things such as cuddling, talking and singing are more than enough. You can engage in age-appropriate activities in future weeks but to start with being close in what is best. Just think of it as this tiny baby has suddenly found itself plonked into this huge, scary world. Imagine how you would feel to be constantly outside of that comfort zone. With that mindset, it makes it easier to create a new comfort zone for baby.

6. Health and Hygiene

Like most expectant parents, this was something I was really worried about. How do I know when they are poorly? How the hell do I cut these tiny nails? These are both normal questions. The answer to the first one is simple, you will know. Within days, you will get to know your baby and know when something isn’t right. Trust your gut and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

As for cutting nails, some parents prefer to bite them off. Personally I couldn’t do this and so I created a nail-cutting routine. I’d put Nellie in her bouncer so that she was nice and relaxed, dancing fruit came on the tv (sorry to the haters but sometimes it’s a must) and I’d get to work. Once I’d done it a few times I became less nervous about it which is great because baby nails grow so quickly!

My only other tip to do with health is to keep up with all of babies appointments and vaccinations. Whilst it may seem a lot in the beginning, they do become less over time. Nellie is now four months and we only have an appointment once a month with the health visitor now and don’t need to see a Dr or nurse until her 1 year jabs unless I have any concerns.

7. Self-Care

This is a really important one because you can’t look after a newborn unless you look after yourself too. Whoever said sleep when baby sleeps was definitely a man. I mean, how else are you going to get anything done? Having said that, it is important to rest where possible. This could be from letting your partner take over so you can have a break or asking family and friends for support.

Change your mindset

One tip I’d love to share is to change your mindset. Whilst this might sound strange, hear me out. Before your bundle of joy arrived, you probably had an empty wash basket some of them time, am I right? Your home was tidy and relatively clean. You washed daily and dressed in lovely clothes that looked right together. Now you have this newborn, scrap the majority of that. This is where a mindset change is important.

Does it really matter in the grand scheme of it if you house isn’t perfectly clean and tidy? No, it really doesn’t. Once I realised this, I found it so much easier to get through the days and it definitely helped my mental health too. So what if things aren’t getting done. You will only get that newborn stage for a few short weeks so make the most of it. I loved having baby cuddles, but now Nellie hates them. I’m so glad I got them whilst I could.

What’s important to you?

Just because you’ve changed your mindset, doesn’t mean you should give up though. Think about what is important to you and stick to those each day.

So for me, I wanted to brush my hair, wash my face and get dressed everyday. I felt that I didn’t want to just stay in my pyjamas, so changed into comfy clothes each day instead. These were things that made me feel better. When it came to the housework, as long as all dishes were washed and the kitchen sides cleaned at the end of the day, I was happy.

Other than that, I just concentrated on things for my newborn. For example, making sure all bottles were washed and sterilised for the next day, checking the nappy caddy was well stocked etc. These things helped with the next day. Trust me, there is nothing worst than trying to play catch up with a newborn. Other than that, everything else would get done when it could.

Final Thoughts

I hope you have found these tips useful. There is so much more I could have mentioned but I wanted to keep it to the vital tips to help parents feel able to navigate that newborn stage. Now I’ve come out the other side, it definitely wasn’t as scary as I first thought. Trust me when I say, you will get through it, I promise.

Please don’t take these tips as complete gospel. It’s essential to trust your instincts and seek help from healthcare professionals or support groups if you have any concerns about your newborn’s well-being or your own mental health.

If you have any tips to help newborn parents, leave them in the comments below.