Genius Hacks All First Time Moms Should Know

1. Get as much sleep as you can that very first day/night!

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We know that it's going to be hard to switch your brain off to sleep when your motherly instincts kick in after only just giving birth, but sleep is going to be very hard to come by going forward and it's important to get as much sleep as you can that very first night! Labor will have left you exhausted and that first night might be the only opportunity to get rested before the fun begins.

2. Be food on demand for them the first few days

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It's going to be relentless and sore on your poor b**bs, but it's a good idea to just let your baby tell you when they want to eat rather than trying to get in a routine of breaks, or giving them a pacifier instead if you think they're just fussy and not actually hungry. The longer you leave with them waiting to be fed, the more antsy they'll get - and the longer it'll then take to calm them down!

3. You might want to get a heating pad

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Your baby loves you, of course, but another reason they might want to cling to your chest 24/7 is because of the warmth and body heat. Cuddles are great, but it becomes a little inconvenient when your baby won't settle anywhere else but your chest. A heating pad can be a great solution to put them down, while ensuring they're still getting that warmth they crave!

4. Watch for their physical cues

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Babies can't tell you what they want - it's what makes motherhood so demanding as well as rewarding - but they will help you out a little by using physical cues. You can learn these over time, like if they smack their lips when they're hungry, or if they're really

hungry they're going to cry and turn red in the face. The key is to pick up on the early cues so they don't get to that stage!

5. Stock up on gas medication

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A good hack is to do this before the baby is born so it's ready for when you get home. Babies can run into a lot of digestive and gas discomfort in the early days, and you don't want to have to be running to the store with everything else you have going on! Gas drops are great for relief if your baby is burping and f*rting way too much. Gripe water can also be helpful for hiccups!

6. Breastfeeding? You might want to say no to dairy...

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There are quite a few foods you'll be advised not to eat if you're breastfeeding because they can have a negative reaction on your baby, including citrus fruits and cruciferous vegetables. Another thing you might want to avoid, though, is dairy. It might be that your baby isn't sensitive to dairy at all, but just to be safe, avoid having it for the first few weeks so you don't risk your newborn having an upset tummy!

7. Go for zip-up baby clothes

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We know all those button-up onesies looked cute on the shelf before the baby was born, but you're going to hate buttons for the rest of your life after you've changed your baby a million times a day. Zip up onesies are going to be so much easier to get your baby changed instead of fumbling with all those buttons. Zippers are also better for keeping your baby warm because you won't have the gap in the fabric between buttons!

8. Take a gamble on a wiper-warmer

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Even as adults we know that feeling when something cold goes on our skin when we need to use a cold cloth to clean up or heal a cut. For a baby, this can be worse, especially if they love the warmth. If you're using cold wipes when you're changing your baby, it could send them into fits of discomfort and crying. A warmer wiper might be a worthy investment if it means a more comfortable experience for them (and for you!).

9. Use a baby tracker app to save time

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Unless you're someone who absolutely needs to track everything the good ol' fashioned way with a pen and paper, an app is going to help you save a bunch of time in the early days. There are a lot of things you need to track, including bottle feeding sessions, diaper changes and when to nurse. All of that is so much easier in a baby tracker app so you can keep all your baby's data in one place.

10. Coconut oil will be a great cleaner for meconium

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Meconium is your baby's very first poop, and it's built unlike the rest - meaning it's harder to clean, and harder to get off during a diaper change! Coconut oil is actually a great solution for that, because it'll make it so much easier to get off your baby when you're cleaning them up. You can use a spray bottle to more easily apply it and use with wipes.

11. Share out the baby workload from day one

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You and your partner need to work as a team from the moment baby arrives, and it's a good idea to discuss this sooner rather than later. You're absolutely going to need help during the very first days, and if you're a single parent, you should try to agree help with someone else close to you, like a parent, family member or even friend who's willing. It'll be harder if the person doesn't leave with you, but any support is going to make all the difference!

12. Let there be (night) light!

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Night lights are an absolute must for you and your newborn - sure, you already have main lights and lamps, but you'll learn the hard way how bright those actually are when you're waking up a million times a night for your baby. Night lights - especially dimmable ones - will be the perfect amount of night to not startle your baby and ensure you can see when walking around half asleep!

13. ALWAYS burp your baby after feeding

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There are a few issues that can come from not waiting for your baby to burp after feeding, including them being sick on you, or even potentially choking if you put them back down. If you take the extra time to burp them after feeding it makes it less likely they'll spit up - which is good news for you when you don't have to clean it up or change your clothes (again!).

14. Don't be quick to change diapers right after a feeding

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Your baby is going to need to poop pretty quickly after feeding because their stomachs are so small, but give it at least 15 minutes to half an hour before lying them down for a change. This is because you don't want to have to risk changing two diapers instead of one, but also because lying them on their back too soon after eating and putting that pressure on their stomach for a change could make them spit up!

15. Teach your baby day and night

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With babies, it doesn't work in the same way with how we try and handle jet lag by forcing ourselves to stay awake until 'official' bedtime for the sake of our body clocks! You should let your baby sleep when they want to, but try to establish a good routine based on a light system. When it's daytime, let them see as much natural light as possible and speak in louder voices. When it's night time, use much dimmer lights and softer tones. Gradually, this will help them understand.

16. Take the onesie off top-down if they have a messy accident

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We like to hope your baby won't have a messy blowout outside of their diaper, but it can of course happen - and this makes changing them even more difficult. The good thing is those onesie flaps at the top near their shoulders are made for this! Instead of trying to take their diaper off from the bottom, undo the flaps and pull it down from the top first. Thank us later!

17. A carrier will be one of the best investments you make!

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Not only investing in a carrier, but investing in a good

carrier. A stroller is a must, but as we said before, your baby is going to be craving the warmth of your chest and arms, and you definitely don't want to be stuck carrying them all day when you're already tired! A good carrier you can comfortably wear, for you and your baby, will be a huge relief for you.

18. This swaddle hack

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Swaddling is going to help your baby feel more warm, protected and snug - and the good news is this should help them sleep better, too. There's actually a hack to swaddle in the perfect way, though - as not all swaddles are built equal! The easiest way is going to be buying a Velcro swaddle or zip swaddle, instead of a standard blanket you have to fold a bunch of times.

19. Use white noise to help your baby sleep

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White noise ambience can easily be found on YouTube or streaming platforms for free these days. Even some adults need white noise to sleep instead of complete silence. While you might think your baby would prefer not to be disturbed, white noise is the closest thing they can get to the noises they experienced whilst inside the womb - so it can help them to drift off.

20. Honestly? Chores can wait

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We'd all love to ignore chores for a little while - and being a new mom gives you that free pass. There's a certain guilt that comes with your house being a mess when you have a baby, but at the end of the day - you have a baby

! You should be prioritising self-care and sleeping when your baby is resting, not that vacuum cleaner or feather duster. Chores will get done whenever!

21. Use a pacifier (but not all the time)

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A pacifier is another great tool to help your baby relax and sleep (but it's important not to have them use it all the time and become dependent on it). The best way to do this is to use your own mommy intuition as to when they should use it, because there's a lot of different advice in regard to pacifiers and breastfeeding. The best time to use it is when they're fed well and at the right weight, and just want something to suck on rather than feed.

22. Don't wait longer than 2 weeks for that baby photoshoot!

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Most new parents want a newborn photoshoot to celebrate their new bundle of joy and get those memories in before their baby starts to change. The trouble is, the first two weeks are going to be the busiest so you might forget. But the optimum timeline for newborn photos is when they're 4 to 12 days old. That's because after that, they get more cranky and sleep less - and you don't want photos of them red in the face!

23. You'll definitely want to pack an extra outfit

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This applies to you and your baby! The most important is the latter, though, because we know that messy diaper accidents can happen at anytime, and you don't want to be stuck without a fresh change of clothes. But if you want to be really

prepared, you might want to pack an extra blouse for yourself in case they spit up - or even if some mess gets on you during a change!

24. Get outside - even if you don't feel like it

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We really do sympathize with your need to sprawl on the couch and hide yourself away when you're so tired and don't want to take your baby away from their comfortable bed. But getting outside is key for you and your baby - but especially you. Natural light is so important for your mood and to tackle risks of postpartum depression. The exercise, fresh air and scenery, even just a quick walk down the street, will all help as a boost!

25. Choose your go-to delivery service

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The fact is, home delivery is going to be a savior for you during those early days! It'd be great to think you can pop out whenever for everything you need, but you just won't be able to. Knowing which delivery service you can depend on for quick delivery - Amazon being the most obvious choice with next day or same day - means you can have everything you need for you and baby delivered to your doorstep.

26. Let's get that air humidified!

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Your baby is going to love breathing through their nose, which means it's more likely they'll get stuffed up with mucus build up if the air in your home is way too dry. The last thing you might have been thinking about is the air when you have enough going on, but a humidifier in your home is going to be extremely helpful - at least if you don't want them crying or fussing over not being able to breathe properly!

27. Crying baby? Try "The Hold"!

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You might have thought there was only one or two ways to hold your baby to try and calm them - but a man named Doctor Robert Hamilton has revealed a key technique to get your baby to stop crying by holding them in a certain way. To make sure you're doing it properly, check out his video on YouTube. It's a technique of holding them around the bum and then the other hand supporting their neck while they're being held away from your body. Try it!

28. Give them a nice warm bath before bed

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We know as adults how important it is for the 'wind down' period to get our mind and body ready for bed. Without it, we can risk being wide awake. For babies, it's the same - they need that routine to pick up on cues of when it's time to wind down. It can actually be a huge help if you give your baby a warm bath before bed to relax them and also help them to associate this with bedtime.

29. Follow your baby's cues to what they like

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There are many things you can prepare for and take advice on, but your baby is going to be the best lead in how to do things right. Get to grips with what your baby likes and doesn't like from everything you've been trying, and stick with what works through trial and error. Every baby is different so you can only go off what yours likes when you get to know them!

30. Take care of yourself

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We know your newborn is your whole world, but you're going to struggle to take care of them if you're not taking care of yourself. There are many great hacks for making life with a newborn that much easier, but one of the best is to also prioritize your own health and self-care so that you can be the best mom you can be for your new bundle of joy when you bring them home!

31. Buy a bath pad

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To make bathtime with your little one a little easier (and a lot more safe), don't forget to buy a bath pad/mat to avoid slipping and for extra grip. It can also make bathtime a lot more enjoyable and comfortably for your baby if you get an infant bathtub alongside the bath pad, instead of trying to bathe them in the normal bathtub or even the sink as some parents do.

32. Get the post-wash items ready next to you!

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Even as adults we know how annoying it is when we're trying to fumble round after a shower to find out pajamas or bathrobe and remember we left everything in the bedroom right down the hall! So make sure to put everything you need to get your baby dressed, dried and comfortable after their bath right next to you so it's all there ready and you don't have to move.

33. Control your home's temperature

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Just like we hate getting out of a hot bath or shower during winter when the rest of the house is so cold if you haven't set your thermostat right, then your baby is going to feel it even worse than you are because they're so sensitive to the cold. Make sure to set and control your home's temperature so that it's always nice and warm for them, so they're more comfortable after bathtime or when they're being changed.

34. Shampoo your baby last

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We know how important it is to keep your little one's head warm, which is why a ton of hats are always on the newborn to-buy list! When you're bathing your baby, it's a good idea to leave shampooing their head/hair till very last, so you can take care of everything else first. That's because if they're sat with a wet head after shampooing while you do everything else, they'll get cold!

35. Keep bathtime as short as possible

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Although most of us would say long showers or long baths are nice and relaxing, for a baby they're really not. To keep them as comfortable as possible and to make sure they're not getting too cold and restless, try to plan bathtime to be as quick as possible - in and out, and do everything you need to do quickly so they can get nice and dry and wrapped up again!

36. Cuddle as much as possible!

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You're obviously going to want to cuddle your new bundle of joy as much as possible, but it's actually about a lot more than just nice little hugs. Cuddles are really important for bonding with your baby, especially during those first few weeks, so you'll want to do it as much as possible. Skin-to-skin contact with cuddles is the best way to increase bonding, too.

37. Make eye contact during feeding

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When you're feeding your newborn, whether with bottle feeding or breast feeding, it's important to also make eye contact and hold their gaze lovingly while they're feeding, because this is really important for bonding too! Feeding is a very intimate moment between you and your baby where you can connect, so staying in the moment and looking at them will help for the bonding.

38. Talk to your baby as much as possible

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Talking to your baby as much as possible is going to help both with bonding and their development, especially during the initial days. You should try to talk to your baby as much as you can throughout the day, as well as making noises and big, exaggerated facial expressions! Try for a running commentary every time you're doing something with them, like when you're changing them.

39. Make time for play every day

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We know how exhausting it is being a new parent, and when you're trying to keep on top of feeding, changing, sleeping, chores, making sure they're okay... you can easily forget about just playing with your baby and keeping them entertained. Making time for play is so important during the early days, and trying to set aside time for it every single day is a good idea!

40. Be prepared for growth spurts when buying clothing!

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When you've never had a baby before, you might be shocked at how quickly they actually grow within that very first year. It can make buying clothing very difficult (and expensive) when you have to replace everything in the blink of an eye. Keep in mind how fast they're going to grow when you're stocking up on clothes - think about second-hand clothes, or clothes that will be suitable for more than one age range.

41. Stick to simple clothing

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There are a lot of things that can be a hazard to your baby when they're still so young, and although there are lots of adorable baby clothes out there which are decorated, you're best off (and safer) sticking to very simple and plain clothing, that doesn't have anything extra on it like ribbons that hang down, tassles or any other loose decoration.

42. Keep a glass of water near you when feeding

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When you're feeding your baby, you obviously need to settle down comfortably and let them take as long as they need, so you're not going to be able to move until they've finished. You need to take care of yourself, so keeping everything you need within arm's reach during this time is important - and particularly a glass of water. When you're feeding, you're more likely to feel thirsty yourself, so it'll help.

43. Try to get into a habit of more daytime feedings

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The more you can encourage your baby to want to feed during the daytime, the better it'll be in the long run for good night time habits and your baby avoiding waking you up by crying for a night time feed. It might be difficult at first to try and get them to want to feed during the day rather than night but have some patience with it and try to encourage it as much as you can!

44. Get your baby into the crib while it's drifting off

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It seems logical to wait for your baby to fall asleep before taking them to their crib and settling them inside, but it's actually a good idea - and good practice to get into - to put your baby in the crib when they're still awake, when they're getting tired and close to drifting off. This is because it'll help them better understand that the crib is where they go for sleeping - and they need to still be awake and aware for that.

45. Don't go to your baby straight away if they're crying

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In a lot of cases, your baby might be crying over nothing, and if they're in the other room in their crib on the baby monitor crying, it's a good idea to give them a few minutes before going in there to see if they stop crying. In some cases, they might, and they can get into a good routine of you not rushing to them every time they cry. If they're still crying after a few minutes, you can go to them.

46. Don't forget those postpartum products from the hospital!

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During your time in the hospital after giving birth - or during the recovery time at home if you've had a home birth - the hospital or midwives should provide you with some postpartum products which will help your recovery. When you check out of the hospital if you gave birth there, don't forget to take all the products you were given home with you, because they'll help!

47. See if you can get a prescription for a breast pump

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A lot of moms prepare for the birth of their baby by buying a breast pump ahead of time so it's there ready - but you might be able to save some money by holding off and potentially having a pump on prescription instead. After you've given birth, if you're having difficulty getting the baby to latch and feed, you can speak to your doctor and might be able to get a pump on prescription.

48. Speak to a lactation consultant if you need to

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You might think breastfeeding comes naturally to you as your motherly instinct if this is the first time you've had a child, but actually it can be a lot more complicated than that, and you're not expected to know how everything works automatically. After you've given birth, there are lactation consultants available to speak with and ask for help with things like positioning the baby and getting it to latch.

49. Have the baby in your bedroom for the first few months

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You should share a room with your baby for the first few months after you bring them home, with their bed next to yours (be sure not to share your actual bed with the baby as this can be dangerous). This can help you in many ways, including bonding, making night-time feedings easier, and keeping an eye on your baby for any health complications. After a few months, they can have their own room.

50. Get a play station with a changing table included

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You can buy pack up and play stations that are very easy to move around in the house, but it's a great idea to get one that also has a changing table included, so that it's an all in one kind of deal! This is so you don't have to run into the other room, or up and down the stairs, to the separate changing table every time you're playing with your baby and they then need their diaper changed!