Any way you slice it, being a new mom is hard. You can’t think straight, you’re exhausted, and life as you know it has just been forever changed. Couple that with your crazy up and down hormone levels, and life as a new mom is not a piece of cake.
Once you get out of the fog, however, you will inevitably think of things that you wish you would have done differently. Here are a few very common things that new moms say they would do differently if they could just rewind time.
1. Less Stuff
Babies come with a lot of stuff, it’s true. But, most moms realize after their first baby that they really don’t NEED two pack and plays, a crib, a bassinett, a swing, a bouncer, a jumper, a wipe warmer, a diaper genie, 100’s of outfits, 30 blankets, 3 different mobiles, etc. This is one of those times that less is really more, and less can really save you money.
2. Take Help
We’re all programmed to try to be super mom, even before our babies are born. Many new moms are afraid to ask for help, or if someone offers help, they simply refuse it and say that they have got everything under control. If I could turn back time, I would embrace my friends and family’s offers of help, and use that time to rest and find my bearings as a mom.
3. Don’t Sweat The Milestones
Does your baby weigh enough? Is she eating enough? Did she smile later than your friend’s baby? What about rolling over? Why isn’t she doing it yet? Sound familiar?
Many new moms stress constantly over the suggested milestones of babyhood, and spend all their time worrying about if their baby is doing everything “right”. I would let go of that mom stress and enjoy that time with my little one, knowing that he or she will do everything on his or her own time.
4. Keep A Journal
It’s in all of the “what to do when you’re pregnant” books, but keeping a journal does sound sort of cheesy, and besides, “ain’t nobody got time for that”. However, looking back, many new moms wish they would have kept some sort of a journal or record of their pregnancies, their cravings, their thoughts and fears, along with labor and delivery feelings, and memories from that short time in the hospital. It’s a very special time that doesn’t last long, and you can’t get it back.
5. Don’t obsess over choices
There are so many choices when it comes to newborns. Cloth or disposable? Purple or pink? Formula or breast milk? Crib or co-sleep? Make your own baby food or buy it at the store?
The black and white mobile or the colorful jungle one? Having all these options can kind of take over your life, and you can end up spending all of your time worrying about making the right decision instead of relishing and savoring your time as a new mom.
6. More Pictures
As I look through my kid’s baby books, I find lots of pictures of them, but hardly none of me. I remember why. No pictures at the hospital, I just had a kid, I look awful.
Not many pictures with my babies as newborns, I’m still losing my baby weight. Now, not many pictures of me with them as bigger kids, I’m just too busy. I see now that they don’t care about any of that, and they would love to have more photos of us together.
7. Travel More
Many new moms opt not to travel when their babies are young because traveling with a baby can be more complicated, plus they don’t remember it. I wish I would have traveled more when my kids were babies, so I would have those memories now. Plus, babies are almost always free.
8. Trust Your Mommy Instinct
Even when your baby is brand new, you have them. There have been many times that I have ignored my mommy instincts only to have it come back to bite me later. Trust yourself, you know your baby better than anyone else.
9. Forget About Other Babies
With this, I mean that I would pay less attention to what my best friend’s baby is doing. I would ignore the other babies at daycare who had more expensive clothes, or the mom at the park with the $700 stroller.
I would forget about the Pinterest moms who make their baby food from scratch while knitting their baby a blanket. I would do the best I can, and let that be enough. Let go of the mom guilt.
10. Take Time For Me
If I could do things over again, I would take some time for myself, minus the guilt. I would rest, recharge and come back refreshed, instead of haggardly crawling through the trenches and sometimes forgetting who I am. I would make sure to give myself time to take care of myself, because a happy mommy means happy babies.
