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New parent survival guide

The best advice from moms and dads who've been in the new-baby trenches -- and survived to tell the tale

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Originally published in Today's Parent August 2011

Admit it: You’re so focused on the impending birth that you’ve barely thought about what those first weeks as a new family will be like. And if you have, your mental picture may feature an angelic infant slumbering peacefully in your arms. While you will experience such idyllic moments, be warned: This isn’t how you’ll actually be spending your time.

Caring for a newborn is so time-consuming that babies should have a pit crew instead of two parents. There’s little in the way of downtime as you deal with round-the-clock feedings, poop explosions and crying spells, visitors and appointments, not to mention your own physical healing. Winnipeg mom of three Susie Parker sums it up this way: “For the first week or so, just getting out of your PJs is a major accomplishment, and squeezing in a shower is a feat that should be awarded a prize. Really!”

Fear not: A little preparation in the upcoming weeks can make a huge difference in your stress and energy levels after baby’s arrival. To help give your new family the best start, we asked the real experts — parents who’ve been there — to share their top tips for making the early weeks go as smoothly and joyfully as possible. Here’s what they told us:

Before the birth

Make meal plans

Lack of time, brain fog and babies who need attention just as you’re starting dinner make meals hard to manage. Carrie Hunter, a Toronto mother of one, says the best advice she received during her pregnancy was to fill her freezer with homemade food. In addition to doubling batches and freezing the extra when cooking, Hunter asked baby shower guests to bring food for the freezer in lieu of gifts. “That was probably the single best thing I did,” she says. Gift certificates for your favourite takeout restaurants or stores that make freezable meals are great alternatives.

Don’t own a freezer? “Collect some easy recipes, and stock the groceries you need for a few simple, healthy meals,” suggests Rebecca Neaves of London, Ont. For instance, frozen chicken strips or tinned refried beans, tortillas and jarred salsa can quickly be turned into burritos or fajitas.

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