By Vicki Little
There is nothing like a sweet newborn baby. The coo’s and cuddles, the loving eyes and curious hands. The lack of sleep and non-stop worries. It is wonderful. There is so much advice coming at new moms that it is hard to remember what you were told to do versus not to do. There are a few things that you can let go in one ear and out the other, though. Here are five things new moms don’t need to worry about:
1) Other people’s schedules: I learned this one the hard way when we got home from the hospital. I was trying to nurse my son when my sister came over to see him. I stopped so they could meet, and ended up with sore breasts and an even harder time the next time we tried. I ended up in tears and frustrated for the rest of the night. Your friends and family will need to work around the baby’s schedule for just a bit. What you say goes for those first precious months of their life.
2) Milestones: I will say it, you will read it, but then you will worry again. But really, your child will hit their milestones in their own time. Let them. And believe me, one day your child will hit a milestone before those other early-achievers. It may be at one year or at first grade, but it all evens out.
3) Having the best-dressed baby: Seriously, just don’t. I understand wanting your baby to look super cute in their pictures or when meeting Grandma for the first time. But as cute as those fancy little clothes are, they are often more hassle than they are worth. Not only that but it would be like you being all gussied up for hours on end when all you want to do is lounge in your pajamas. When your baby has a blow-out, you will be spending that much extra time cleaning up the mess. And you will be changing clothes often for all of the spit up that will occur. One of the biggest reasons not to go all out having super cute clothes is the simple fact that your little one will grow out of them so quickly. That money will be better spent on diapers, and maybe a few super cute bibs to catch all that spit up and baby drool when they are teething.
4) Doing everything right: I wish I could give every mom that feels that she needs to be perfect a hug. But I don’t have that kind of time. Every mom wants to do everything right, but that would mean we have to know what “right” is. I went through a lot of wrong choices on everything before I figured out what worked. And that is exactly the point. What is right for one baby is not what is right for another. My son loved to be held all the time. My daughter could care less. What is right is what works for your family.
5) Sleeping when the baby sleeps: Many pregnant moms hear the advice of sleeping when the baby sleeps. It is great advice, for the most part. Newborns have such an erratic sleep schedule that you can never plan when you are going to catch your much needed Z’s, and if they are waking a lot at night you need to sleep sometime. But some women just can’t sleep at any random time. Thoughts of dirty laundry and piling up bills may go through your mind, you may never have been a napper, or maybe you just really want to catch up on Orange is the New Black. If that is what will help you relax, do that. But do try to lie down at least a few times a week when the baby does.
Vicki Little is a work-at-home mom with two young kids. A Colorado native, she is the Publisher and Editor of Macaroni Kid Aurora and Downtown Denver. When she isn’t writing or trying to keep up with her kids she can be found volunteering, reading, or enjoying a bottle of wine with friends.
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