Are you looking for ways to add self-care to your busy day of taking care of your little one? These are the tried and true methods of self-care for new moms you should know about.
Becoming a mom is exciting, but the first year (heck, the first couple of months) tends to be much more time-consuming and demanding than we expect. As a new mother, it’s instinct to put the baby first and forget about ourselves.
When I first brought my daughter home, I truly wasn’t prepared for the sleep deprivation, the demand of nursing, and the overwhelming emotions that come with postpartum. I got caught up trying to learn the new way of life with a new baby and ended up getting the baby blues and really feeling down on myself.
My husband ended up giving me a pep talk and helped me turn my mindset around. I realized it is not selfish to set aside time for myself to pamper myself. After all, my daughter needed me to be at my best so I could give her my best and also so I could enjoy all the sweet moments of her being so little.
Whether you’re a new mom trying to get into the groove of things and find ways to make time for yourself or come up with ideas to do so. Or if you’re an expecting mama trying to prepare herself for the journey ahead, you will find all the tips and tricks here!
This Post Is A Complete Guide To Self-Care For New Moms.
The Top Self-Care Tips For New Moms
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links to products I have used and enjoyed. If you choose to click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Why Is Self-Care Important For A New Mom?
Becoming a new mom is the most significant change a woman will ever go through in her lifetime. The moment you birth that new bundle of joy, you are getting used to a new way of life with a newborn that relies on you every second of the day.
Those long nights and early mornings with your baby take a toll on you, and it becomes so easy to forget about your own needs. I rocked a greasy mom bun in my pajamas for weeks, and still having all the hormones that come along with postpartum doesn’t make it any easier.
Soon enough, you find yourself crying when your partner asks if there’s anything he can do to help. At this point, your cup is less than half full, and as the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.
Working self care into your routine will help you recharge and feel more like yourself so that you can give your baby your 100% and enjoy doing so. Taking care of yourself helps the transition to your new way of life a little smoother and more enjoyable.
How to Fit Self-Care Into Your Day
Finding time in your busy day with your little one can seem daunting in the first months. Creating a self-care routine can be complex with your newborn’s changing nap and feeding schedule, but the best advice I can give is to put down your phone and be mindful and intentional with your time.
While your baby is napping is one of the best times to squeeze in a moment for yourself. Whether it’s 30 minutes or an hour, that is more than enough time to do a little something for yourself.
Yes, you might have some house cleaning that needs to get done, but that can be put on the back burner to give yourself some much-needed recharge time.
After all, your newborn or infant will nap multiple times throughout the day, and you can use one of those other nap times as cleaning time. You can even fit in a good little tidy-up session while your little one is hanging out awake in their swing.
As your baby gets a little bit older, nap time will start to be on a schedule, making it easier for you to create a more predictable self-care routine.
Your baby will also likely start sleeping in longer stretches through the night, so you can make a routine for yourself once you put your baby to bed for the night.
There are also forms of self-care you can do while your baby is awake, such as getting out of the house for fresh air and movement. Vitamin D and sunshine do the body so much good!
Getting outside is so beneficial for you and your baby. My daughter loved going on walks every day, and it helped me be in a better mood.
Self-Care Ideas
When you think of self-care, You might think of doing a face mask or painting your nails. While yes, these are forms of self-care, there is so much more to it that will help you keep a healthy mindset and mental health.
Self-care comes in many different forms. Try one or try them all. You will be so happy you started now rather than keep on pushing it off.
Here are some of my favorite self-care ideas for new moms that will help you get your mind right to feel good so you can give your baby your devoted time throughout the day.
Learn To Meditate
I put meditation first because meditation has so many benefits! Meditation can help you relieve negative thoughts or feelings, build skills to manage stress, reduces anxiety, improves mental health, helps you live in the moment, and so much more.
By practicing meditation and deep breathing regularly, you will see so many positive changes in your life. You will feel more relaxed and at peace with yourself. It can even help you on your journey to self-discovery as a new mom.
I try to get into a meditation session first thing in the morning while the baby is still sleeping. If I missed my chance in the morning, I would still do it in the evening after I put her down for bed.
It is important to look for guided meditations that resonate with you. You can find meditations on youtube or, my personal favorite, on gabbybernstein.com
Start A Gratitude Journal
I love gratitude journaling. The point of a gratitude journal is it will help you improve your self-esteem, make you happier and more optimistic, lower thoughts of stress and anxiety, and will help you enjoy your days more by being more gracious in the present.
Gratitude journaling will help you stay focused and thankful for all you’re going through, even when it is challenging (being a new mom is not easy!). This is especially helpful when going through the baby blues.
I find that my days start off on a better foot when I wake up and journal about 5 things that I am grateful for, no matter how big or small. This is an easy one to fit in while you’re nursing your baby in the morning.
Take A Long Shower Or Bath
We can all agree that taking a shower or bath can be extremely relaxing. I love to do this after I put the baby to bed for the night so I know there won’t be interruptions.
It’s a great way to relax the mind and body, gather your thoughts, and who doesn’t feel nice and refreshed after a good wash?
I think we can all relate to the fact that taking a shower in the first months postpartum is a luxury. Babies are especially needy at this time, so taking care of ourselves can be tricky.
This is why something as simple as a shower or bath can be such a treat.
You can even make it more of a special time by spicing up your shower with some shower steaming tablets or throwing a bath bomb into the tub.
Do A Face Or Hair Mask
It’s good to feel good about yourself. Doing a face mask or hair mask gives you back the normalcy you need to make you feel good about yourself.
After all, feeling good about yourself is beneficial to your mental health and well-being.
When I was going through postpartum, this was one of my favorite forms of self-care. Especially when the dreaded postpartum hair loss hit! The dull look of my hair and the clumps that fell out left me devastated and depressed.
I felt better about myself when my hair and skin were pampered and felt silky smooth. Even though my hair still fell out until my daughter was 13 months, it made me feel a lot better than it at least looked healthy and hydrated.
Belle from Fueled By Coffee And Chaos shares a fantastic skincare routine for even the busiest of moms! Check out her post for easy ideas on how to add skincare to your self-care routine and feel refreshed even after a day of being a tired mamma.
Take A Nap While The Baby Naps
In the early days, It is incredibly difficult to take care of your little one and have the patience you need to survive the day when you haven’t been getting enough sleep, and your tank is on empty.
One of the best things you can do for yourself and the baby is to recharge with a nap. Although it can be annoying for people to always tell you, “Nap while your baby naps,” it’s really true and something to not overlook.
Forget about your to-do list that needs to be done. Go take a nap! It will make a HUGE difference in your day. Especially if you know your baby will be waking up multiple times a night.
Do yourself a favor and go take that nap.
Move Your Body
Moving your body or getting physical activity of any kind helps keep your mind in a good place and is known to be a mood booster.
Prioritizing regular exercise as part of a self-care routine sends a powerful message of self-worth and self-love. Taking the time to care for your physical health not only leads to improved fitness but also boosts self-confidence, body positivity, and overall self-esteem. (because who doesn’t feel better after they lose a little baby weight.)
There are so many forms of exercise to choose from. You can work out at home while your baby is napping with some yoga, an at-home workout video, stretching, or even going for a walk or jogging with your baby.
If you can find child care for at least an hour with a family member or your spouse, you can head over to your favorite gym or class.
When it comes to working out, definitely speak with your healthcare provider and get the clearance, but in the meantime, you can start off by going on daily walks with your little one. A daily walk around the neighborhood goes a long way for your mental health, so don’t underestimate it.
Read A Good Book
Do you have a book you’ve been wanting to read? Nap time or breastfeeding time is the perfect time to unwind and take some quiet time to read that book you’ve been putting off. Small acts of self-care like this will bring a little spark to your day.
If you want to get really fancy, you can take a bath and read a book.
Watch Your Favorite Show
Watching your favorite show can also be an excellent way to unwind and take some time for yourself.
Sometimes I would get down on myself that I was “being lazy,” but that’s so not true! We need to give ourselves grace and just lay around sometimes and enjoy a show. We deserve it!
As I mentioned before, the first couple of months postpartum is the hardest, do yourself a favor and let yourself be lazy. I promise it’s not selfish.
Get Yourself Ready
Feeling pretty makes you feel like you’re ready to take on the day. Something about feeling cute just makes you feel like you can take on whatever life throws at you.
Something as simple as doing your hair and throwing on some mascara and a cute (but practical) outfit can give you that confidence that is much needed for a day of taking care of your newborn child or infant.
If you’re anything like me, most of my days, my hair is up in a mom bun, and I do not feel cute at all, and it affects my mood! Feeling pretty can really change your day around and give you a little pep in your step.
These are my favorite hair waver, flat iron, and curling iron that makes doing my hair quick and easy. Or if you’re looking to spice up the hair you haven’t washed in 3 days, this dry shampoo is a game changer!
Give Yourself A Mani/Pedi
A mani/pedi is another excellent way to get back to feeling cute. Sometimes the most minor things can make a big difference in how we think about ourselves.
I really enjoy giving myself a spa day, but in the evening, after my daughter is down for bed. I whip out my whole nail set-up, turn on my favorite show and pamper myself. This is my favorite once-a-month activity.
Write Down Your Goals
Writing down your goals is important and impactful. Often we lose ourselves by getting wrapped up in the daily grind of motherhood. Writing down your yearly and monthly goals is a great way to give yourself motivation and something to work toward for yourself.
When you have aspirations to work toward, it boosts your self-esteem and gives you the motivation to thrive each day, not only for you but for your baby as well.
Get Out Of The House
This one is great to make a daily routine out of. Getting out of the house can mean many things. You can go out to lunch with your bestie, go cruise around Target, go grab a coffee, or simply go for a walk in the neighborhood. Whatever it is you enjoy doing out of the house, do it.
Your baby can absolutely do any of those things with you. Here is a checklist of diaper bag essentials that will make taking your little one out a breeze.
When my daughter was still in her first months, If I didn’t feel like going on a walk, I would hang out in the backyard, go to the closest park and lay a blanket in the shade to relax, or even go walk around the mall and window shop while eating a Wetzle’s Pretzels.
Finding something to do out of the house will greatly impact your mood and put a little spice Into your somewhat mundane day.
Final Thoughts
These are ways I incorporated self-care as a new mom into my daily habits so I can be a happy and recharged mom. It goes without saying that it is important to think about your sweet little babe but also think about yourself!
You are essential, and taking care of your mental health will help you become the best version of yourself so that you can enjoy every minute with your little one while also taking good care of yourself.
My most significant advice would be to be very intentional with your time while the baby naps and give yourself the much-needed time you deserve!
This Post Was All About Self-Care For New Moms
Other Posts You May Like:
7 Life Changing Ways To Feel Fulfilled As A Stay-At-Home Mom
55 Positive Affirmations For Moms: Become Less Overwhelmed
75 Inspirational Stay-At-Home Mom Quotes That Will Get You Through The Hard Days
[…] will ensure your mind is in the right place to continue being a super mom. Here are some tips for Self-Care For New Moms. These tips can be helpful to all women and mothers. Try and schedule some time for yourself at […]