Handy hacks for first-time mothers
- Being a new mother is wonderful – but it can be incredibly hard too
- MummyPages has compiled some top tips to make the transition a little easier
- Their tricks include simple ways to swaddle and relieve your baby’s gas
Esra Gurkan For Mailonline
32
View
comments
Becoming a mother is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but with it comes a lot of sleepless nights, relentless crying and messy nappies to change.
To make life with a newborn that bit easier, MummyPages has unveiled eight ingenious hacks that include sleeping whenever the baby sleeps, using coconut oil to clean up, and nailing the ‘bike’ method to help reduce your baby’s gas.
The first few months of motherhood might be tough but with the help of these hacks, it could be that little bit less stressful.
MummyPages has put together some top tips to help mothers with their newborn babies
THE ‘BIKE’ METHOD
If a newborn is struggling with gas in their tummy, the only way they’ll be able to let mothers know is by crying.
To relieve their discomfort, MummyPages recommends lying them on their backs and gently moving their little legs in a pedalling motion – as though they are cycling on a bike.
-
‘It can get competitive but it’s good for her confidence’:…
CLEAN UP WITH COCONUT OIL
When a baby is first born, their stool is made up of meconium and is composed of materials ingested during their time in the uterus.
It means the waste a newborn produces can be surprisingly hard to clean up – but coconut oil makes it easier. It also won’t irritate their delicate newborn skin.
Swaddling is made simple with just 5 steps to follow
SWADDLING MADE SIMPLE
If you struggle with swaddling your newborn baby, Mummy Pages has come up with a step-by-step guide:
- Place a square swaddle blanket in your baby’s crib like a diamond.
- Fold down the top corner toward the middle, to make a flat edge.
- Lay your baby down on the blanket with the flat edge at the back of their neck.
- Put your baby’s arms flat against their body, and bring one side corner across their body and tuck it underneath them, leaving an arm free.
- Fold the bottom corner up and over the shoulder of the remaining free arm. Fold the remaining side corner over their flat arm and across the body, tucking it under their body.’
THE 90-MINUTE RULE
Newborn babies often sleep for around 16 or 17 hours a day and only wake up sporadically – during which time they can become aggravated or cranky if they’re kept awake too long.
Though tempting to try and get them into a routine so that they sleep at night, it is best to make sure they don’t stay awake for longer than 90 minutes at a time.
SLEEP WHEN THEY SLEEP
Mothers might relish the moment the baby falls asleep so that they can get on with household chores or zone out in front of the TV – but sleep is far more important.
Mummy Pages recommends getting as much rest as you can, because your baby won’t always sleep as much as they do now.
It might be tempting to stay away and get things done when your baby is sleeping but it is best to rest too
WAKE THEM UP GENTLY
If a baby must be disturbed from sleep, then do so gently.
MummyPages recommends opening up their onesie or changing their nappy, saying ‘the rush of air on their skin should wake them up’. As an added bonus, you get a nappy change in with little fuss.
NAPPY TO GO LISTEN FIRST
When changing your baby’s nappy, try placing a clean one underneath your baby before you begin to remove the dirty one.
The website says: ‘Clean your little one up, then drop the wipes into the dirty nappy, and lift it out of the way. The new one will be underneath, ready to fasten.’
LISTEN FIRST
It can be tempting to rush into the room whenever you hear your baby cry out in their sleep, but often it’s best to wait a moment.
Use a baby monitor to check if they settle down soon afterwards or whether they really do need you. It means you’ll be able to judge how long they normally sleep for and learn more about their cries.
Share or comment on this article
- Boyfriend of TOWIE’s Ferne McCann is pictured living the…
- Revealed: Disgraced Patriots star Aaron Hernandez may…
- ‘This is solely based on race’: Self-proclaimed rapper…
- The Second World War as if it were yesterday:…
- That’s not the standard kit for a lineswoman! Brazilian…
- North Korea wipes out US city with massive nuclear…
- Katie Couric’s face DROPS as she is asked to weigh in on…
- ‘The shock never leaves you’: Prince William speaks of…
- ‘Will my kids be OK?’ Touching moment Prince William…
- EXCLUSIVE: Back to work! Meghan Markle heads to the Suits…
- ‘F*** off back to India’: Irish woman hurls racist abuse…
- Do I HAVE to go back on? Eye-popping moment female physio…
- US Air Force scrambles two stealth jets and an ‘early…
- EXCLUSIVE: Disturbing twist in teen parent case as we…
- Mother-of-four, 36, killed herself after she lost custody…
- ‘I beat her to let my emotions out’: Chilling confession …
- Inside the ghost town in North Korean built by South…
- Toxic Bill: Fox News ‘is in exit negotiations’ with…
Comments 33
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Your comment will be credited to your MailOnline persona.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
The post will be credited to your MailOnline username. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.