After the excitement of birth and bringing home the new baby, it’s not unusual for moms to suddenly feel extreme loneliness in their new roles as parent. After all, taking care of a baby is tiring and stressful, not to mention labor-intensive. The very nature of newborns is that they need hands-on care 24/7, which often doesn’t leave much time for socializing. Add to this the fact that new moms are immersing themselves in motherhood and learning the ropes as they go, and it’s easy to see how this focus can replace opportunities for connecting with others outside the home.

Here are 5 ways to fight loneliness as a new mom

1)   Get outside daily – Bundle up baby and go for a walk, even if it’s just around the block.  Sit outside on your front porch or in your backyard and enjoy the fresh air. Reconnecting with the outside world will build your spirits and help you feel less alone.

2)   Reach out to loved ones – Now’s the time to reach out to those friends, neighbors, and family members who offered to help when you were pregnant. They said they would help with the baby and it’s a good idea to take them up on their offer, if only to have them come over and have a tea with you while you breastfeed, or better yet, help you to get out with the baby.

3)   Build a support group – You’re not alone. There are other moms just like you, looking for connections in their neighborhoods. Go online and search local resources related to new parents and attend. You’ll find that you’re not alone and there are others looking to connect.

4)   Check local resources – If you’re not up to forming your own group, look to external support groups that are likely already in place. Your local community center, church or library likely have drop-in programs for new parents where you can go to meet others who are navigating new parenthood, just like you.

5)   Accept child care help – If your baby’s grandparents, aunts or close friends have offered to babysit, take them up on it. While it may seem daunting or scary leaving your baby for a short while, it’s good for you, and in the long run it will do both of you well.

Having a baby is both an exciting and often stressful time for a family. For mom and dad, there are preparations to be made, both emotionally and around the home, and for other children in the house, it can be the cause of much anxiety.  Children, particularly younger ones, don’t completely understand what to expect when a new baby comes into the picture. Very often, it’s a shock to realize that things with mom and dad have changed because there’s a new little person in the house – who is not going away.

Parents are wise to prepare their children for the arrival of the new baby before she comes home. By doing so, the transition to a bigger family will be smoother all around. Following are 5 tips that expectant parents can take to prepare their children for the new arrival. Here are 5 Tips For Preparing Your Child For the New Baby:

1)   Tell the child what to expect – Give your child an understanding about what will happen when the baby comes home. Provide as many details as possible so that she feels comfortable with the changes that will follow the new arrival.

2)   Answer any questions and ease concerns – Along with telling her what to expect, now’s the time to also be open and available to speak about whatever your child wants to know. Knowledge is power and your son or daughter will have a number of questions regarding the new scenario. Answer to the best of your abilities so that your little one will feel like they are prepared for their new brother or sister’s arrival.

3)   Reassure the child  – Be as loving and reassuring as you can. Let your child know that you still love them as much as ever and that won’t change when the baby comes home. Now, more than ever, the will need this reassurance.

4)   Let your child help with preparations – Including your child in some of the planning and shopping related to the baby will help get him prepared. Let him help set up the baby’s room, among other tasks so that he will get used to the idea and will feel connected with his future sibling.

5)   Make your child feel included – Ideally your little one should feel connected to the new baby, in a positive way. This can be achieved a few ways, such as letting the child feel the baby kick, talking to them about babies’ behavior and reading books about new babies. The more involved your child feels, the less likely she will feel jealous of the new arrival.

Once the baby is here, it’s not uncommon for many new moms to shy away from going outside the home with their child in tow. After all, the outside world may suddenly seem a bit more dangerous and foreboding. Add to that the thought of having to travel – either via plane, car or train – and it’s enough to have a new parent more than just a little bit anxious.

Thankfully all hope is not lost and many parents are able to successfully get out with their new babies, without too much stress. After all, reconnecting with the community or distant family is one way that a new parent can start to feel better and to get back to normal.

Following are 5 Tips For Traveling With Baby

1)   Prepare – Make your list, check it twice and then add a couple of extra supplies just in case. You know how it is with little ones – they could have a series of spit-ups or worse on your trip outside of the home. Make sure to pack a few changes of clothes to say the least, more diapers than you think you need, backup formula (even if you’re breastfeeding), wipes and more. Sometimes you’re out or traveling longer than you have planned, so make sure you’re able to cover any unexpected accidents, messes or meals that may occur when you’re out.

2)   Research – Know where you’re going. Whether it’s down the street or across the country, have a clear view on the facilities, amenities and lay of the land that may or may not be available to you. Knowledge is power, and you’ll be able to confidently go travel with your child if you know what to expect and how you’re going to maneuver when you’re there.

3)   Set Realistic Expectations – While it may be tempting to try to do it all on your foray out of the house with baby, it may prove to be a bit more difficult than you may have remembered. If you’re traveling close by, perhaps take it easy and go out for just a short while at first, while you become re-accustomed to traveling with your child. As time goes on, you will gain more confidence and will be able to take longer jaunts out with the baby. If you’re traveling somewhere afar, factor in extra time to get to where you’re going because it usually takes longer with a little one in tow.

4)   Engage support – Whether it’s your spouse, a family member or a close friend, take up their offer to help you when you’re ready to go out. Most people are happy to help a new parent regain their bearings and are more than helpful when asked. Having someone at your side, to perhaps help juggle the baby gear as well as provide emotional support is welcome during these early days.

5)   Timing is everything – Consider the baby’s sleep schedule. If you’re able to, go out or travel when your child is asleep for an easier time. Sure, she may awake while you’re out but if you’re able to have even a little bit of peace and lower stress during your travels, do it.

 
The time has come and you’ll be returning to work. Of course one of the most important considerations that accompany this decision is childcare. Yes, it can be a stress even thinking about how it’s going to work and who you’ll trust to take care of your precious child. Will it be a nanny? Is daycare a better choice? Should you go with a babysitter? These are just some of the questions that will likely go through the minds of parents who are returning to work. With all of the other elements related to working outside the home, including getting your wardrobe together, catching up on the latest technology and mentally preparing yourself for a change of pace, it’s no wonder that you may be feeling stressed. And with childcare one of the most critical and important decisions to make during this time, parents can rightfully feel overwhelmed.

Thankfully this does not have to be the case when you’re returning to work. By following a few simple tips, your return to the workplace can be a lot less stressful on both you and your child.

1)   Do your research – Ask friends, family, neighbors and others about what they did when they returned to work. Do they have any referrals for child care providers or recommendations of who you should contact?

2)   Weigh your options – What’s best for someone else might not necessarily be best for your family. A friend or family member may have made a specific choice based, for example, on their hours or employment or the availability of childcare in their area. Don’t feel pressured into choosing an option that doesn’t feel comfortable and right for you. If your gut feeling is to go with that specific daycare center or babysitter, then follow it and don’t worry what other people say. It’s your child, after all.

3)   Assess your finances – Money is always a consideration when it comes to childcare. Sometimes what appears to be too good to be true, is; other times, what seems to be a high price is actually a good deal, when hourly time calculations are made. You may think that you can’t afford a nanny but it could actually be your best choice financially. Same goes for the choice of babysitter or daycare. Look at your finances, do a cost-benefit analysis and make your decision.

4)   Consider your work commitments – Part of your decision-making process should include a realistic look at your work commitments and hours. For example, is your job a 9 to 5 gig or will it be expected that you work longer hours when necessary? Will you be working shifts, and if so, how will that fit into the childcare provider’s schedule? In these instances a nanny might make the best choice. Be realistic and honest with yourself when reviewing these questions and your answer will become crystal clear.

5)   Family and friends – Sometimes family and friends offer their services for childcare to help you transition back to work. In some instances, it’s ideal – after all, grandma gets her fix and you get a break – sometimes it’s not. Some smart minds have warned us all to not mix business with family or friends, though it’s worked well for many. In other words, take a long hard look at the potential benefits as well as the potential problems with this type of arrangement and make your decision accordingly.

So the day’s finally here.

You’ve gone through your pregnancy and despite whether it was a difficult pregnancy or not, you made it out the other side with your precious baby in hand.

Walking through the threshold of your home, you realize that things have changed and that you’re about to embark on a new life and one that, while exciting, is also uncertain. If this is your first baby, this is even more the case, though many of us who have had more than one child can vouch for the fact that it’s always life-changing when your newest family member enters our lives. We know that change is upon us but in what permutation, we’re not sure. It’s anyone’s guess, really.

As this is a common feeling for many moms as they start their new lives with their babies,  it can indeed feel daunting, if not stressful, to say the least. Being responsible for another life completely is not something that most parents take lightly. Is it any wonder then, that we stress about how we’re going to manage at home to the best of our abilities? Add to this the realities of day-to-day life, including  spending time with our spouses, housework and our other kids who also need our support, and there’s the potential for mom to feel overloaded.

Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be the case, as there are a few simple things that can be done to make the transition to new mom as easy as it can be.

Here are 5 Simple Tips For Managing The First Few Weeks After Baby:

1)   Accept help – Once you’ve had the baby, don’t be surprised by the deluge of offers of help from caring family and friends. Your first instinct may be to decline, after all, this is your time alone with your baby and you wouldn’t want your focus to be taken away from your new addition. The reality is that even in those first few days and weeks when your feeling is to spend every waking hour with your child, the reality is that sleep is required in order for you to be at your best. Ditto for being able to do anything else around the house. When a loved one offers to come over and watch the baby while you sleep, shower, take some time alone or otherwise, accept it graciously and be thankful that you’ve got such wonderful people in your life to help.

2)   Don’t worry about the house – Adding to point #1, you may worry about the state of the house, since people are coming over to help you out. Don’t worry about the house. Your friends and family will understand if you haven’t gotten around to vacuuming or washing the floor lately. What’s important is your child, your bonding time with your child and your sleep, so focus on those and worry about the cleaning when the baby’s a bit bigger. And if your friends want to help clean the house, let them!

3)    Take care of yourself – It’s really important to address any health or body concerns that may have come up after your child’s birth. Following the advice of accepting help, make sure that you’re doing something for yourself during this very demanding time. Make sure to follow up with your doctor regarding any body changes or updates since giving birth. If you’re breastfeeding and having some difficulty, it’s okay seek out assistance and ask for help

4)   Carve out some “me” time – As impossible as it may seem with a new baby, this doesn’t have to mean an extended break alone. “Me” time could be 15 minutes alone, away from the baby, while you steal away to a quiet room to read, close your eyes or meditate. It could mean a quick walk around the block

5)   Don’t stand on ceremony – What this means is that while a daily schedule may be good in theory, it doesn’t always translate in reality. Sometimes the baby will fuss longer than planned, other times he’ll sleep beyond the prescribed nap times. In either instance, don’t worry or stress. Unless he’s feverish or clearly ill, variations on daily behavior is normal and on the positive side, a good opportunity for you to get that very well-deserved break.