Are you a new mom who wishes your baby came with a manual? I’m here to share five tips this experienced mom would give myself as a new mom.
I’m by no means an expert. I mean, I am an expert on my two kids because well, I’ve been their mom all of their lives. But, there are some things I think I learned from the first go round that made me a better mom in the second go round.
Wanna hear them? Here they go…
1. Sleep When Your Baby is Sleep – People used to tell me this and I thought to myself – when am I supposed to cook, clean, or get laundry done then? But, boy were they right!
Motherhood is EXHAUSTING in those early days. You don’t realize how much pregnancy, delivery, and being a new mom can take a toll on your body. Lower your standards to the absolute minimum when it comes to eating and taking care of your home and SLEEP! I shared some tips before on How to Sleep Better.
You will be much better equipped when the baby awakes. You can still do those things while your baby is awake. You can put the baby in a bouncer, swing, etc. while cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry.
2. Don’t Buy a Whole Bunch of “Stuff” – Wondering what I mean? Get these 4 Tips for Sticking To Your Budget With a New Baby. They really don’t need that much. Really and truthfully, that means: Clothes, Bed, Car seat, Stroller, and Diapers/wipes.
You can let family and friends give you showers and presents for your baby. That will save you a lot of time and a lot of money. It’s not worth stressing out or going into debt trying to buy a bunch of things that your baby doesn’t need and will not remember, at all.
3. Ask for Help When You Need It – You don’t have enough time to get everything done. Sometimes you can find more efficient ways, ask someone else to help, or get creative to just get it done. Other times, you may simply need to let it go.
Time is the most precious and limited resource we have. You can never create more of it. You can only use it differently. Ask your husband, older children, extended family, and friends to get things done.
It doesn’t matter who cooks dinner, cleans the toilet, or picks up the groceries. If you can afford it and need it, pay for any help you need, too. Without the guilt. It’s your life. You make the rules. Period.
4. Accept Help When It’s Given – Someone drops off a casserole? Eat it. Mom volunteers to come over and clean your house? Accept it. Husband says he’ll go to the grocery store on the way home? Thank him.
This is a short season of life where it’s more important to get things done than worry about how they’re getting done or who is doing it. You can get back to your preferences, procedures, and particulars soon enough.
5. Use Affordable Diapers – Many people have varying opinions when it comes to diapers. Some prefer cloth over disposable. Some have favorite brands that they won’t stray from. I believe in the Minimum Effective Dose (MED). It’s the smallest dose that will produce a desired outcome. Anything beyond it, is a waste.
For example, water boils at 212°F. So, you don’t need to bring the temperature to 213°F – that’s a waste. If something costs $0.50, paying $0.75 for it is a waste of $0.25. I know that is an exaggerated example, but you get the point.
The same is true with diapers. If you can find an affordable brand that works for your baby, then stick with it. Don’t pay more just for the sake of paying more.
That’s where Luvs comes in. I used Luvs diapers for both of my babies. I ordered them online and they were shipped right to my door. You can’t make it any easier than that (except those automatically renewing subscriptions that are available theses days).
Get your scissors out because there will be two high-value coupons that could save you up to $4 on Luvs Diapers.
The official diaper of experienced moms, Luvs is often has big savings in Sunday’s paper, in an insert from P&G with a Luvs coupon offering $1 off any one diaper pack and $3 off any two diaper packs.
Use these coupons at any mass, discount, or grocery stores where Luvs Diapers are sold.
You can earn cash back rebates for the things you buy at your favorite stores – even on basics like milk, cheese, and lettuce. I found a limited-time $5.00 rebate for any boxed variety of Luvs diapers, 54ct. box or larger.
It is as easy as your purchase like you normally do, then scanning the product, and taking a quick picture of your receipt. Quick and easy!
Download the ibotta app for iOS or Android. Follow the instructions below when downloading the Free Ibotta App:
2. Find Luvs $5 offer
3. Unlock rebate
4. Purchase any boxed variety of Luvs diapers, 54ct. box or larger
5. Scan receipt and upload to Ibotta
6. Earn $5
This review was made possible by iConnect and Luvs. I was provided compensation to facilitate this post, but all opinions stated are 100% mine.
Great tips! Lucky for me, I did them all. I couldn’t have survived without asking for help! #BLMgirl