Hi Friends! I wanted to put together a list of tips for visiting the new Moms and Babies in your lives. You’ve watched your friend or family grow their cute little baby bump, celebrated them at their baby shower, and now their new little baby has finally arrived and you can’t wait to meet them!
Here are a few things all the new Moms don’t like to say, but wish you knew!
1. Don’t Show up Unannounced
Be flexible with when you are able to visit! Being a new Mom is exhausting and sleep is at an all time low. It’s so hard to turn friends and family away when you know they are just so excited to meet your new little baby. Give them a chance to figure out their lives with a newborn before rushing in to meet them.
2. Get Vaccinated
Babies can’t start receiving their vaccinations until they are 2 months old. It is so important that we vaccinate ourselves to protect the ones who can’t.
3. Don’t Over Stay Your Welcome
You always hear that new parents should sleep when the baby sleeps, but that’s hard to do when you have people hanging out at your house for long periods of time. Try and limit your visit to no more than an hour so the new parents can get some rest.
4. Bring a Meal or Snack
Bringing a meal is always a good idea! A frozen meal that can be pulled out and cooked with no prep is such a life saver in those first months. Bonus points for bringing it in a disposable container to cut back on dishes!
If you’re local, we love picking up frozen meals from Daylee Public House! The mac and cheese is our favorite!
Another great option is a grab and go snack like a cheese platter, granola bars, bagels, fresh fruit, or the parents favorite treat (I think I had a minimum of 2 bags of starburst jelly beans on my coffee table at all times that first month ha)
5. Keep the Germs Away
A newborn doesn’t have a strong immune system and needs to be in a healthy environment at all times. If you or anyone in your household has been sick recently, be considerate to the family and stay home. As hard as it is to resist meeting the new baby, a little sore throat for you can turn into a hospital stay for a newborn and that’s just not worth risking.
6. Wash your Hands Right When you Arrive
Going back to the “Keep the Germs Away” thing, make sure as soon as you arrive, you wash your hands first thing. We always keep a big bottle of hand sanitizer by the front door too!
7. Bring a Gift
Even if you already gave them a gift at their shower, bring them a little something (it doesn’t have to be expensive)! Here are some ideas:
Flowers – You can’t go wrong with these!
Hand Soap – With all the visitors they are having they are probably going through hand soap a lot quicker than normal!
Cozy Footie Pajamas – These organic pajamas are so soft on a newborns skin and newborns live in pajamas those first few months!
A Swaddle Blanket – A soft swaddle is always a good idea. These ones are so soft and stretchy too!
A Food Gift Card – Making meals is the last priority, a gift card can make such a difference!
Baby Mittens – I always had these on Marina so she wouldn’t scratch her face, but also for when people touched her hands (babys are always putting their hands in their mouths – back to the germs thing) I could take the mittens off when guests left and put on a new clean pair!
Anything Personalized – Blankets, books, blocks, really anything personalized is going to make the new parents so happy!
Saranoni Mini Blanket – These are my FAVORITE! They are so incredibly soft and are the perfect size for the car seat. So many blankets are so bulky and these mini blankets are such a convenient size!
8. Don’t Ask to Hold the Baby
Okay now I know this is what you are going over to do, but never ask to hold the baby, wait for the Mom or Dad to offer! The first month we had so many visitors it was overwhelming. I remember feeling like I never got to hold my baby because I was always passing her around to everyone. If the parents are comfortable with it, they will offer to let you, I promise!!
9. Never Kiss the Baby
If you made it this far down the list, I’m sure you are learning that it is so important to keep the baby healthy and keep all the germs away. Never kiss the baby unless the parents tell you it is okay. We had this rule for everyone, grandparents included. The safer the better!
10. Avoid Touching Their Face and Hands
Babies are always putting their hands in their mouths so if you touch them they are getting those germs. Also avoid touching their face. It is so tempting to even just brush your fingers across their cheeks but do your best to hold back.
Hey Moms! Are there any other things you wish people knew but you didn’t want to say? Leave them in a comment below!
Love,
Nicole B
*Some of the above items include affiliate links! I only share products I use and love.
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