Advice for Newborn Parents: What No One Actually Tells You (But Should)
Hi, and welcome to my blog. If you are pregnant or you are a first-time parent, this post is for you. Whether you are looking for advice for newborn parents or just trying to figure out what to expect, you are in the right place. I am not going to focus only on the mom here, no, I am going to talk about advice for both parents. I want to be as transparent as possible because I know that between giving birth and bringing your newborn home, it can go very fast. And that, despite everything you may have heard, you are going to have to deal with your own experience as parents.
Advice for newborn parents
Stock up: One of the first pieces of advice for newborn parents is to take advantage of the baby shower to stock up on diapers in the bedroom; you are quickly going to feel like you are in a routine: breastfeeding, changing the diaper, and sleeping. You are going to have to get into a rhythm, and I do not think you will want to run out of diapers or wipes! Even if it will not be the end of the world, we never know what surprise you will have. I very strongly advise you to buy spatulas and diaper cream because your newborn can have big redness on the buttocks. Instead of applying diaper cream with your fingers, it is more hygienic to do it with a spatula dedicated to that. You can go read about the unthinkable essentials you will need. I wrote it here. By the way, to decrease the risk that your baby has redness on the buttocks, do not wait too long before changing their diaper.
Do not block family visits: I know! This advice seems different from what you have read, yes, me too, I was fooled by telling myself that it would be better not to have too many visits, but how wrong I was! You will need them, tell yourself, first of all, that your family and your in-laws are just as excited and happy as you, and this is especially true if it is the first one. It is like a sweet celebration where they will want to help you, bring you food, and offer their arms while you rest. It is also the best way to lower your stress, your mothers have experience with newborns, they will really be able to be useful.
Ask for gift cards: I do not know if you are reading this article close to the due date or out of curiosity because you are new parents, but it is never too late to ask for gift cards for Uber Eats, DoorDash, or groceries. And this is especially true if you do not have family living close to you. Let me explain to you why this is important. With the lack of sleep, the hyper-focus that the two of you will have on the baby, it will already be noon, and if you have an empty fridge and hunger that comes with it, you will feel discouraged. If you do not have gift cards, you can always subscribe to HelloFresh as well, or another company that delivers easy-to-prepare meals. I am telling you this because it is going to be like that, and if you are breastfeeding, you are going to burn a lot of calories, so having food on hand is a detail that should absolutely not be neglected.
Take advantage of your hospital stay: Whether you give birth at the hospital or at home, take advantage of these days to ask your questions. For example, in my case, when I had a C-section, the nurses not only watched over me, but they watched over the whole process afterward. I could ring the bell when I had an emergency, and they helped me with breastfeeding, feedings, teaching me different breastfeeding techniques, and the bath. Inform yourself about the hospital where you are going to give birth. I cannot tell you, but it is good to inform yourself. When I left with my dad, we felt much more comfortable and confident.
Rent an electric breast pump: If you plan to breastfeed, I am telling you in advance that your baby will have growth spurts, and so the feedings will increase. To do this, if you want to strictly breastfeed, start as soon as you can to pump your milk. I do not recommend buying it if you do not have the means; you can rent one, and it will be much cheaper. As you can see in my photos, I was pumping my milk, and then it was possible to close the containers into which the milk went. Then, you can order breast milk freezer bags on Amazon.
Take turns as two, so the other can rest: With the adrenaline at the beginning, you can feel like two superheroes, but in the long run, after 6 weeks, you are going to start feeling the fatigue. If you are breastfeeding, it will be a little more complicated than if you are giving formula, but in all cases, taking turns so the other can rest a little is important, and you will understand why in my next point.
Find time to sleep: A baby needs two parents who are half-functioning, and this, even though I would be lying to you if I did not tell you that you will be in survival mode during the first weeks. Despite that, sleeping remains super important. Take advantage of the help that your family will offer you to help you sleep. Around week 6, the baby’s cries will be more intense. By the way, cries are very normal; it is the way babies use to express themselves, except that yes, there will be times when the cries will be more intense than others.
Do not delete your pregnancy apps: Having been with the app “Baby Bumps,” I remember that the app continued, even after pregnancy, to give me useful information for your baby’s development week after week.
Keep a calendar in your bedroom: Between the fatigue, the sleepless nights, and the newborn routine, you could very quickly lose track of what day it is. There will often be important appointments for the baby, and this is why I advise you to keep a calendar in front of you with all the baby’s upcoming appointments. Another trick is to set a reminder on your phone 24 hours in advance and another one on the day of the appointment, so you do not forget anything.
This Season Is Hard AND Beautiful: The sleepless nights, the endless feeding, the uncertainty, it’s genuinely hard. And it also goes so fast that it will take your breath away. You will miss this. Not the exhaustion, but the tiny hands, the newborn smell, the way they curl up on your chest like the outside world doesn’t exist yet. You’re not just surviving the newborn phase. You’re living it. And you’re doing better than you think. Are you a new parent navigating those first wild weeks? Drop your biggest question in the comments. You’re not alone in this.
You Don’t Need Half the Baby Gear People Tell You To Buy
The baby industry is worth billions of dollars, and a lot of it is spent on things babies never actually use.
What you genuinely need:
A safe sleep space: firm, flat, nothing in the crib.
Diapers and wipes: buy multiple brands before committing.
Onesies in 0-3 months and 3-6 months: newborn size lasts about 2 weeks.
A baby carrier or wrap keeps your hands free and the baby happy.
A white noise machine: worth every penny.
What can wait:
The fancy swing: Borrow one first to see if your baby likes it.
A wipe warmer, a bottle sterilizer, and a diaper pail with special bags.
If you want a more complete list of what I advise you for your baby, strictly what you will need, you can see my article on this topic. I also wrote an article about what you would need at the hospital for the mom and the baby.
My last piece of advice for newborn parents:
Bringing a newborn home is beautiful, but it is also a lot. You are learning a brand-new rhythm, your baby is learning the world, and everything can feel overwhelming at first.
So please, do not put pressure on yourself to do everything perfectly. Accept the help. Rest when you can. Ask questions. Keep food close. Let people love your baby and support you, too.
Those first weeks can feel messy, emotional, and exhausting, but they are also filled with moments you will remember forever. The tiny sounds, the sleepy cuddles, the way your baby fits perfectly on your chest.
You are not supposed to have it all figured out right away. You are allowed to learn as you go.
And if you are in the middle of the newborn stage right now, take a deep breath. You are doing better than you think, and little by little, you will find your rhythm.
I wish you a beautiful delivery!
-Plume
