Experienced advice from moms who've been asked: "Looking back, what would you tell other new moms with newborn babies?"

By CanadianParents.com Community

About Feeding...

Breastfeeding can be hard and does not come naturally to everyone. Asking for help does not mean you failed. [oppmommy]
Your baby won’t starve itself....your baby will eat when he/she is hungry. My oldest was a spitter, and sometimes even projectile vomitted. I “thought” that he needed to eat RIGHT afterwards, because I wasn't sure he had anything left in his tummy. So I would make him take a bottle! [Shanora]
If your baby won't conform to a schedule, just take it day by day. I tried for months and months to get my son on a schedule and it didn't start until I had introduced all 3 meals around 10 months!! I drove myself nuts trying to get on a schedule forever. I'll never do it again. Some babies just aren't scheduled eaters. [jennyjen]

Babies do cry - even if you've fed, changed, burped, rocked and sang to them. You just have to wait it out. PS: It's perfectly okay to think about returning them to the hospital for a full refund. Especially after the colicky 3 hour rant and rave sessions!! I know you won't do it, but thinking about it does not make you a bad mom! [Mom2Travis]
That it’s ok to just let the baby cry....sometimes they just need it! [Shanora]

Everyone told me that newborns sleep SO much; I even knew people with newborns who slept through 5-6 hours. I was very frustrated because my baby didn't and we both had a hard time adjusting. I wish I had known then that a lot of babies do need to have their needs met every 1-2 hours, because I think I would have been better prepared for it instead of frustrated. [cajun01]
Not all newborns sleep alot. Mine didn't and I was SO unprepared and tired and didn't appreciate her at the time not realizing this wouldn't last forever. [S_Noakes]
I would make sure not to watch the clock when nursing and/or when up at night, and stop counting how many (or how few) hours of sleep I was getting. Also, never begrudge the hours spent holding baby when they won't sleep in the crib because those are precious moments that don't last very long. [Soomom]

Get IMMEDIATE proper help for Post Partum Depression (PPD). Don't dismiss it as something that isn't serious and try to fight it on your own without help. I feel like I wasn't even around for the first year of my sons life. Whenever I look back on it, I have trouble thinking up fond memories, because I always go back to thinking about my PPD and how severe it was, and how it ruled over all of our lives. I really feel like I totally missed out on my sons infancy. [TBMyLove]
Don't isolate yourself - get out and mingle with other moms. [Mom2Travis]
Ask for help....for everything and anything! You don't need to be supermom, Trying to do everything all the time with a newborn, leads to a very, very tired and stressed out mom. [Shanora]
Be kind to yourself, and nap when your baby naps. [oppmommy]
Take long walks with your newborn, it will get you back into shape, and it gives you a chance to get some fresh air and bond with your child. [noahsmommy]
Don't stress so much about having a clean house. It WILL get done eventually, enjoy your time with your new baby. [oppmommy]

Trust your instincts and don’t listen to anyone else when it comes to your child. Nobody knows your child better then you do. [Mmummy]
Enjoy holding your little baby because they grow so fast and then won't sit still for a minute. [S_Noakes]
Don't compare your baby to everyone else's baby - each baby develops at a different rate. What exactly is "normal" anyway???
Enjoy every second. Don't feel guilty about spending hours just staring at them sleeping. [noahs_mommy]
Don't buy a lot of expensive outfits in 0-3 month size. They outgrow that size in weeks, and are in sleepers most of the time. [noahs_mommy]
Take LOTS and lots of photos.....you might regret not taking one, but you'll never regret having that special shot of them laughing for the first time, or drooling onto their special outfit. [noahs_mommy]Enjoy every moment of your maternity leave. Some days will go by so fast and others may seem slow but savour each day because once you go back to work (if you do) it will never be the same. [JennyJen]

CanadianParents.com Community

Advice from the parents of Canada's Parenting Community - CanadianParents.com. Information and advice referenced in this article first appeared and was written by parents on the message boards at CanadianParents.com. CanadianParents.com is created by parents, FOR parents.