It’s no secret that your life changes drastically when you have a newborn; as a result, practicing self-care is the first thing you sacrifice to take care of your family. Although there’s a common misconception that self-care only consists of bubble baths, pedicures, and massages, it’s really about caring for your emotional, physical, and social needs. Explore these ways to maintain self-care as a new mom and make your needs a priority.
Sleep As Much as You Can
Sleep is your best friend as a new mom. Unfortunately, babies don’t typically sleep through the night or for more than a few hours at a time. Therefore, you should go to bed early or sleep during the day whenever you can; consider asking someone you trust to care for your baby while you catch some z’s.
Make Personal Hygiene a Priority
Maintaining your personal hygiene might seem like a given, but you don’t realize how difficult it is to take a shower and care for yourself until you have a newborn. Babies require 24/7 monitoring, and you can’t always step away for a quick shower.
The best option is to ask your significant other, friend, or roommate to watch the baby while you clean yourself and change your clothes; however, it’s not always possible to rely on others. Consider putting the baby in a bassinet or other portable lounger and taking them into the bathroom with you. This way, you’ll have time to shower, comb your hair, and maybe even sneak in a skincare routine for new moms.
In addition, after taking a shower and doing your skincare routine, it’s nice to relax in a comfortable bathrobe. It’s also great for breastfeeding or just hanging out at home with your baby. Many different types and styles of bathrobes are available, so you can find one that suits your needs. Check out different bathrobe reviews for new moms and choose the perfect one for you!
Eat Well
Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet and adequate water intake can be a challenge for new parents, but it should be a priority. Make it a point to fill your cup with water each morning and have it near you all day—you’ll be more likely to drink it if it’s right there.
Thanks to technological advances, you can order your groceries to be delivered to your front door. In addition, keeping fresh, prepared fruit, vegetables, cheese, and meat on hand will help you eat well even in a pinch.
Consider inviting a friend or family member over once each week to cook and prepare meals and snacks together. One person can watch the baby, and the other can get cooking! Prepare a variety of quick meals and snacks to eat during the week when you don’t have time to think twice about what to eat.
Stay Active
Staying active is a challenge with a baby. You might not have the time to hit the gym anymore, but you can find other ways to exercise. For instance, dancing to upbeat music at home is just as much of a workout as running on the treadmill. If you don’t like to dance, you can put the baby in the stroller and take a walk around the neighborhood.
With these ways to maintain self-care as a new mom, you’ll be able to continue caring for your family with grace. Your newborn requires a lot of care, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect yourself!
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 