Get a Routine Going

Routines may not be flash, but they can prove to be absolute lifesavers, both for you and bubs. Having a structure that means you both know what is coming up helps provide some calm in an otherwise chaotic time and helps babies feel more secure and settled. Routines don’t mean fixed-to-the-second schedules, either, so don’t feel you have to have your whole day timetabled out. Instead, it’s about predictable rhythms. A very commonly used routine is to feed when baby wakes, have awake time that’s used for changes, and, when they’re older, play (and this includes tummy time when you’re ready to introduce it), then finally getting them ready for sleep again. Newborns have very short awake times, so keep an eye out for their tired signs, which you’ll begin to learn as time goes on. You’ll figure out what works for you as time goes on, so don’t feel you have to have it planned out before baby arrives – if you feel something needs changing to fit in with your circumstances, feel free to do what is best for you.

Partner Communication

Having a newborn means we’re often busy and exhausted and end up forgetting about everything other than the baby. That’s why making a conscious effort to keep communication with partners open is so important. Ensuring you’re on the same page helps you remember that even before you were parents, you were a team, and communicating with one another helps you maintain that teamwork and prevents misunderstandings or resentments from building up.

Support Systems

That being said, it’s not unusual to not want to rely solely on one other person. That’s why having other external support systems away from each other is also enormously beneficial. Friends and family can be an amazing source of comfort, or you might try looking into parenting groups. These can be great as they’ll be filled with others who are at the same stage as you and your family, giving you peers to bounce ideas off. Some parent groups even organise visits from professionals to help with any concerns about anything to do with your baby or yourself in those early months and years.

Professional Help

In continuation of the professional help mention, if you feel you’re still struggling, utilise any professional support services you have available to you. This can be anything from your GP to helplines, including things like PlunketLine or Healthline – your country may have equivalent services that have maternity and early childhood specialists available to help.

There are a lot of things you have to deal with as you make the transition from pregnancy to parenthood, and some are more difficult than others. Try out a few things on this list, or use it as a jumping-off point to find what works for you. Remember, everyone is different, and so the things that will help will also be different. What’s important is that you find a way that makes getting through these changes as easy on you as possible.

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