This holiday season will be filled with many ‘firsts’ for new moms and babies. I remember how exciting the first Thanksgiving and Christmas was for both of my children, but especially my first. Along with the excitement can also come mixed emotions of stress, insecurity, and exhausted for new moms. The disruptive routine of traveling and visiting family over the holidays can be difficult for babies and stressful for new moms.
Here are a few tips to streamline the hectic holiday season with new babies.
Keep Baby Care Consistent
Everyone suffers if you aren’t consistent with caring for your baby. All of the changes in baby’s schedule and being passed from relative to relative can mess your baby’s routine up and cause baby to be cranky. There are amazing benefits of skin-to-skin contact between mom and baby. Consider giving your baby skin-to-skin contact before nap and bedtime, around bath time, and after diapering to soothe your baby.
Dr Susan Ludingtonthat from the Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio performed skin to skin contact between moms and baby research and found amazing results. Babies calm down quickly and their temperature is regulated quickly and naturally with skin to skin contact compared to being swaddled.
Home for the Holidays
Consider staying home for the holidays and having friends and family visit your home instead of traveling far and wide this year. This is especially a good idea if an airplane ride with a newborn is required to go “home for the holidays”.
Manage Gift Shopping
New moms with babies have limited time to shop. Consider giving yourself a break this season by shopping online or opting to purchase family gifts instead of individual gifts this year.
Streamline Holiday Prep
This is the year to streamline holiday prep. Consider a potluck buffet instead of a sit-down dinner. Or purchase sides from a local grocery store, restaurant, or catering company to ease the burden, especially if you are hosting. By trying to do everything, new moms are sure to be stressed.
Go Natural with WaterWipes
Now is the perfect time to go natural with a chemical-free baby wipe.
WaterWipes is the world’s purest baby wipes made with 99.9% water. WaterWipes are the only baby wipes approved by Allergy UK and the National Eczema Association of America. They are made specifically for baby’s delicate skin.
Many people have stopped using traditional baby wipes because of the chemicals. In fact, doctors recommend using cotton wool and water. WaterWipes are a great (and convenient) alternative to water.
My babies always had more diaper rashes during the winter months. I wish I had known about WaterWipes then because they can help avoid diaper rash from the start. I’m so glad that my baby nephew is enjoying the benefits of my new-found knowledge! He’s 4 months old and hasn’t had one diaper rash!!
You can purchase WaterWipes at retailers nationwide including BabiesRUs, Walgreens, and Walmart. Find your local retailer. You can also purchase on Amazon.com.
