Do you want to know how you can support new parents when they’ve just brought home a new baby? Check out this post for tips and suggestions on how you can make a difference to a friend or family member.
Throughout this post I will refer to moms or parents as new parents. When I say new parents, I don’t mean first time parents. I am referring to all parents bringing home a new baby, whether that is one they gave birth to, adopted, fostered or parents who have others at home.
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Support Parents of New Babies
When someone brings home a new baby, their life is forever changed. Whether it is their first child, or their fifth, a baby brings with it a lot of sleepless nights, many rounds of feeding and just a whole lot of work for new parents. It really is a life changing experience!
As a friend or family member of a new parent who is about to or has just brought home a new baby, you may be wondering how you can support them with this transition.
Or you may have never considered this at all, but after reading this post you will have a better idea of some of the helpful ways you can make their first few weeks or months as new parents go a bit smoother.
How You Can Support Parents of New Babies
I assure you, all new parents need help, whether they want to admit it or not. However, finding ways to support them without being intrusive and while still respecting their boundaries and wishes, is the key to offering great support! You don’t want them to feel any more overwhelmed than they already may be.
Some expecting parents do a lot of preparation before the baby is born to try to make their first few weeks with baby go smoother. They may prepare frozen meals, arrange for help around the house, invite family to stay over to tend to other children, etc.
Related Post: How to Prepare for your C-Section!
Other expecting parents may not do much to prepare at all. They may choose to just go with the flow and see how things go with the new baby before seeking any support, if they decide to ask for any help at all.
Whichever camp your friend falls into, that old saying “it takes a village to raise a child”, is particularly true during the first few months of parenthood.
Even if you don’t directly get involved with tending to the child, any support you can provide your friend or family member can go a long way to assist them on their journey. I am sure they will be grateful just for the thought and effort.
Ways to Support Parents of New Babies
Below, I share some ideas to get you thinking about ways that you may be able to support new parents. These are just some general suggestions, but feel free to use your knowledge of the expecting parents to figure out what may be most helpful for them!
I look forward to hearing from others in the comments to help grow this list, as I think that support during the postpartum period is so vital to new moms and fathers alike. For more information on postpartum, you can check out this post about helpful postpartum essentials.
Related Post: Postpartum Supplies No One Tells You You Need!
As I mentioned earlier, even seasoned parents with more than one child can benefit from support when a new baby arrives. In fact, many parents of multiple children report that offers to assist or “the newborn hype” declines after the first baby.
So, as a friend or family member, don’t think that parents don’t need help just because they’ve done it before. In fact, they may need even more help as they learn to balance bringing home a newborn, whole balancing raising other children of different ages. There is always some way that you can support them!
Check out some of these tips for supporting new parents to find out how you may be able to help!
Tips for Helping to Support Parents of New Babies!
#1 – Offer to Lend a Hand!
Support new parents in ways that make them feel comfortable. Ask them what they would find helpful. If they can’t think of anything, offer! Suggest that you can do any of the following that they may find beneficial:
- Drop off meals or offer to cook
- Pick up groceries
- Run errands for them
- Do laundry
- Collect their mail or packages
- Offer to take older children for a few hours or to look after them at the house to give the parents some time to focus on the baby.
#2 – Offer to Assist with the Baby!
Some new parents prefer to solely look after their newborn on their own, which is fine, if it is their preference. Do not feel offended!
However, if they feel comfortable, offer to look after the baby for an hour or two, while they nap or take a shower, or simply do anything they want. This is a great way to offer them a chance to take a short break.
#3 – Be Respectful when You Visit!
Wait for the new parents to invite you over for a visit. They may need some time to settle in and adjust to their new reality before being open to the thought of visitors.
Once you are invited over, remember to be respectful of their wishes (if any) regarding hygiene (washing your hands, wearing a mask) and interacting with the baby (hugging, kissing, holding, etc.). Ask first!
#4 – When you Visit, Don’t Create More Work for Them!
You don’t want to act like a guest and create work for new parents when you visit. Bring snacks or a meal with you, offer to help with cooking, housework or the baby or other kids, rather than acting like a guest and expecting them to be a host or hostess to you.
Sit with them, spend time, talk about the baby and how they are doing, and enjoy sharing the experience with them.
Try not to make your visit too long, unless they ask you to! Remember, sleep is so important for baby and parents during the first few months.
#5 – Call to Check in On Them!
They may be extremely busy, but even seeing a missed call or a message from a family member or friend means a lot to new parents.
Call to see how they are doing or if there is anything that they need.
Ask about the baby, but also make sure to ask how they are doing. Often there is so much focus on the baby, that we forget that parents have thoughts, feelings and a separate life too! Talk to them about normal everyday happenings if they are up to it. This may just be the sense of normalcy that they need and have been craving to break up their “baby-filled” day.
#6 – Allow them some Grace Time to Respond to Calls and Messages!
New parents are busy, and may not answer right away. No further explanation needed!
#7 – Don’t ask about Things that aren’t your Business!
The last thing a new mom needs is to have more to worry about.
Don’t ask them about touchy or sensitive subjects like your opinion on breastfeeding vs. bottle-feeding, their weight or postpartum body, circumcision, their decision to return to work or not, developmental delays, their parenting style or anything else that may offend them. Let them start conversations about these topics when and if they feel comfortable.
#8 – Offer to Get Active or Support their Fitness Journey!
If they speak about wanting to get active, offer to join them on a walk, at the gym or even to do a virtual class with them if you aren’t in the same area.
Follow their lead. The last thing you want to do is to push them when they don’t feel ready, mentally or physically.
#9 – Offer to Watch the Baby While they do Some Self-care!
Give them a chance to do something for themselves, without having to worry about the baby. This could simply mean sleep, a pedicure, getting their hair done, or anything else that they choose.
Check out this post on self-care or share it with them for some great ideas. send them the link to this post to give them some ideas.
Related Post: Self-Care Tips to Spice Up Your Life!
Related Post: Self-Care and Your Senses: How You Can Use Your Senses to Better Your Day!
#10 – Look Out for Signs that They May Need More Support
Bringing home a new baby can be especially hard on some moms. Postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression are very real, and effect moms in varying ways.
If you notice that your friend or family member appears to be struggling with their emotions, are constantly down, or are overly anxious, reach out to a mental health service provider or family doctor to seek information on how you may be able to get them some additional support.
#11 – Gift them Something Helpful!
If you would like to get them a gift, choose something that can help them to have a smoother recovery or take care of themselves.
An idea of a gift that keeps on giving is an Audible subscription. Click here to find out more about accessing a free trial. This will allow them to access valuable reading material that can be helpful during their postpartum period and beyond, without having to read it (which may be hard with a new baby).
They can listen from any device, while they are playing with baby or while baby sleeps.
Here is one book that they may find particularly helpful, “Brave New Mom…”.
Here are some great gift ideas:
A Few Things to Avoid when Trying to Support New Parents
- Don’t offer unsolicited advice (wait for them to ask you questions or for your input).
- Don’t tell them that they’re doing it wrong (people have different parenting styles).
- Don’t make negative comments about their or their baby’s appearance or weight (some people may take offence, and I am sure that is not your intention)
Final Thoughts
Support for new parents is so important to help them transition to life with a new baby. Small gestures can go a long way to helping them feel seen, cared for and to take a little off of their plate.
I hope that the ideas have given you an idea or got you thinking about some of the ways that you can support a new parent in your life!
You can also share the link for this blog with them so that they can get relevant information that may be helpful as they navigate the first few months of motherhood.
I Would Love to Hear from You
I can’t wait to hear from other mamas about what you found helpful during the first few months with a new baby?
Or, are you a friend who offered support to a new parent? Share what you did in the comments!
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