When you’re pregnant or have a new baby, it seems like everyone has parenting advice for you. Some of it is great. Some of it? Not so much. For lots of people (especially panicked first time parents like myself) it can be hard to separate the good advice from the bad advice. That’s why we’ve partnered with Dreft to share our best newborn advice we’ve received for our newborn baby girl, and let you know about their new partnership with Sean and Catherine Lowe from The Bachelor! Sean and Catherine joined up with Dreft on April 27 at their “Loads of Love” baby shower from Dreft, where they were showered with love, support, and all the essentials they’d need to prepare for their bundle of joy’s arrival and their parenthood journey. You can follow their journey with the hashtag #amazinghood. One thing you’ll receive at any baby shower is advice for new parents. Advice from seasoned parents, advice from people who’ve never had kids, and advice from everyone in between.
This is a partnered post with Dreft and iConnect, but all opinions are our own.
Here are 6 awesome tips on infant care:
1. Sleep when the baby sleeps.
Everyone says this, and it seems impossible sometimes. For the first few days, I was too paranoid to let my new baby out of sight, so my husband and I took shifts sleeping so someone would always be awake with her. Ridiculous, right? That crashed and burned on our third day home, when I started getting sick from lack of sleep. Now, when baby is down for a nap, she gets to hang out in her bassinet while I grab some shut-eye.
2. Accept help.
If you’re anything like me, you hate accepting help from people. And if you’re a first time parent, you’re going to want to hover over your baby at all times to make sure everything is going okay. This is a bad combination when it comes to accepting help, because your first instinct is going to be to try to do everything alone. However, there’s nothing wrong with accepting help. After all, you did all the work for nine months! It’s time for a break.
3. Don’t panic.
Everything is scary when you have a newborn. Panicking won’t help anything. Call your pediatrician, call your mom, but rest assured that most things you’re going to worry about are going to wind up being perfectly normal. Also, never Google. This is how people wind up in the ER thinking their child has a horrifying rare virus. It’s usually gas.
4. Plan easy meals in advance.
Having a newborn is not easy. You’re stressed, sleep-deprived, and the last thing you want to do is cook a fancy meal. Having meals planned in advance (or stocking up on gift cards to your favorite take-out, or having a meal chain set up by friends) will save you a lot of time and effort during the first few weeks. You can use this extra time to panic about everything, or if you’re less neurotic than I am, to grab some sleep.
5. Reach out if you need to.
Whether you’re dealing with the standard baby blues or full blown postpartum depression, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed. Although you may feel ashamed to admit that you aren’t coping as well as you think you should, baby blues and postpartum mood disorders are a fact of life for many new parents. Don’t suffer just because you can. Talk to your pediatrician, your OB, or another medical professional and find out what you can do to feel better. Talk to your friends and family about things that aren’t baby. Get out and do something fun. Taking care of yourself means you can better take care of the baby.
6. Stock up on Dreft.
Parenthood is messy. You’re going to be covered in bodily fluids from both yourself and the baby, and you’re going to go through a LOT of laundry. If you thought laundry was a boring chore before, you’ll be surprised by how you feel about it after the baby is born. Every wash, you’re wondering “is this the last time she’ll fit into this newborn onesie we brought her home in? When will she stop clawing her face open and never wear these cute baby mittens again?” Dreft believes that baby’s laundry isn’t just a chore. It’s a way to relish the moments and stages of babyhood and parenthood, those firsts and lasts that every parent both anticipates and dreads. Thanks to Dreft, you can embrace all the joys of #amazinghood – even the messy ones.
I put Dreft on my baby registry, and I’m not the only one. When asked about their baby registry, Sean and Catherine Lowe had Dreft on their registry as well! Just like my own mom, Sean and Catherine’s parents had used and recommended Dreft! Talk about nostalgia, huh? Right now, both the Lowes and I are using Dreft Stage 1: Newborn, but did you know that Dreft grows with your baby? As your baby and their messes grow bigger, you can switch to Dreft Stage 2: Active baby and know that even your worst messes are covered. It’s developed with active, growing babies in mind and removes up to 99% of baby food and outdoor stains! It’s still hypoallergenic and easy on baby’s soft skin, so you don’t have to worry that being tough on stains means being tough on baby. That way, you can direct all your worries at something else!
Dreft also makes Dreft Blissfuls, an in-wash scent booster that keeps that baby fresh scent going longer. It’s safe for baby clothes, and it’s also safe for any color, fabric or load that you think needs a little scent-boosting power. Perfect as your baby gets bigger and messier, right?
Over the next year, follow the Lowe’s #Amazinghood journey on Dreft’s Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, where they will share messy memories and exclusive content for their fans!
Did you use Dreft with your baby?
To ask for help and to sleep when the baby sleeps!
Put something in front of my daughter that she like to get her to walk.
The best parenting advice I got was to use a sling to carry and breastfeed.
Take help when given the help, rest when the baby is sleeping.
To be patient and ask for help when it is needed.
It’s ok to let your baby cry
The best tip I ever received was no matter what happens never panic.
Laurie Emerson
lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com
Ask for help if you need it and advice. It’s a family effort and have patience.
Don’t stress trying to be the perfect mom, do what works best for your family. They aren’t little for long, so enjoy it.
Document everything. I wish I had more pictures and video of my kids. Because of that I constantly take pics of my grandkids.
The best parenting advice I received was to sleep when the baby sleeps and enjoy every stage of the baby.
RELAX! You will figure it out. That is what my mom told me.
Shop in bulk
Sleep whenever the baby sleeps, and accept help when offered!
Make time for yourself.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
relax and enjoy the ride. that’s the best advice for life!
Best advice is to get time for yourself too.
The best advice I received is the sleep when the baby sleeps, even though that was hard for me because I have trouble sleeping when its light out.
Try to sleep when the baby sleeps, and the first few days is difficult but patience is necessary for all !!!
I think my best i have received would be its okay to set the baby down for a few minutes and take a break if he wouldn’t stop crying. because my son was Colic.
Be patient and trust your instincts! !
Get plenty of sleep when you can
The best parenting advice I received was to enjoy everything.
Oh I have to say it was to take lots of pictures and videos, they grow so fast!
it’s okay to ask for help 🙂
Ask for help if you need it.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
You will sleep in a couple months and feel not like a zoombie.
Best advice I was ever given was don’t sweat the small stuff!
The best advice I’ve gotten is to accept help around the house and with meals.
Sleep when the baby sleeps. Don’t worry about the small stuff. Enjoy that newborn time. It only happens for a short time.
Don’t worry if your house is messy or your laundry needs to be done. Take time to enjoy your children
Don’t be afraid to say no to your child!
Patience is the best parenting advice I ever received.
When I had my son, I would try to get things done while he was sleeping. Then I crashed. I had to listen to the sleep when they sleep rule. It was a life saver!
Love this! I only used Dreft when he was a baby, it’s great and works wonders.
I loved washing my kids clothing in Dreft. It was super soft and worked great!
Dealing with a newborn is going to be a great experience with lot of awesome moments to cherish. But I agree you must be organized well & these are some great tips for sure. I usually sleep when the baby sleeps & my mother has always offered help needed at the right time.
I am pregnant now so these are great tips to read! I’ll have to check out Dreft.
Every kid is different. Do what you think is right and don’t just follow everyone else’s advice!
It’s ok to ask for help you don’t have to do it alone
I remember when my wife was panic because our son was crying out loud. I wish she knew these before.
Accepting help was probably the hardest for me. Having a newborn isn’t easy!
I definitely used Dreft. It’s gentle but works great and it smells oh so good!
Yep, definitively sleep when they sleep. Even though you might be tempted to get some stuff done lol
Take help when it’s offered. The first few weeks of my little ones life I was offered help, but turned it all down. I thought I could do it all on my own. A few weeks later, the offers stopped and I was exhausted and could have used the help.
Not panicking is huge. Everything can be a little alarming when you’re a new parent (and exhausted). I found like-minded pros to be my sounding board. I politely ignored everyone else.
Best tip I received was accepting all help offered!
Dreft is amazing for getting out stains and leaving your clothes soft. Stocking up on essentials is a great idea before you have the baby.
This too shall pass… Enjoy while they’re little!
My #1 tip is don’t be afraid to ask / receive help. Especially for baby 1,2,3,4,5 LOL! Seriously, moms and dads need sleep and help when a new member is added
The best advice I’ve received is to accept that I’m not perfect and that I don’t have to be the perfect mother, I just do the best I can.
Sleep when the baby sleeps.
That is a very nice picture of your baby and of the two of you guys.
I am not a mother, but imagine your tips here would prove very beneficial to new moms.
It’s true when they tell you to enjoy every moment. It’s over far too soon!
That is the absolute truth. I can’t believe how fast the time went. My babies will be having babies before too long…maybe.
These are really great tips! We always asked for Dreft when we had babies. It smells so good!
So cute! Deft is my number one choice, actually until now I used it for my little man.
I think the most important tip is to accept help when you can! It can get stressful real quick but also to enjoy it.
Cherish the moments because they grow up so fast.
If I could ever give a tip, it would be to just do what you think is right. I had had so many opinions when my kids were little. But really though, mothers know best.
Don’t wish your life away by wishing the child would grow up as the moments go by way too fast as it is.
Maintain and stick to a routine as much as you can make sure to take one night a month at least that way others in the home know what’s expected .I also suggest not making the child the center of everything make sure that you have time for yourself and time as a couple. Even if it means doing laundry together and watching a movie after the kids go to bed at night. I too used drift when Bella was younger.
Swallowing your pride and accepting help is so important. It truly does take a village to raise a child.
My best advice is to plan meals out in advance. The last thing you’re going to want to do once your baby is here is cook.
Accepting help is so important. We often think we can do it all, when we don’t have to stress ourselves out like that.
I think the best advice I have gotten is to wait until we are ready to have kids.
Good parenting advice is to teach your children kindness and compassion.
I like this advice! I had to reach out to my siblings for advice plenty of times. Dreft was always a reliable brand for us.
You know I always would say I’ll sleep when baby does and then I start trying to catch up on things I didn’t get done.
To sleep when the baby sleeps. it really helps a lot
I follow Dreft on Instagram as Angelasnoozy which is different than my username on the giveaway form, but there is no box on the giveaway form to leave my username for Instagram.
The best parenting advice I received is to not be afraid to ask for help & to nap when your little one naps because you’re gonna need the rest!
I swear by draft. I even do a load of my own clothes in it before my baby comes so that my clothes don;t irritate my babes skin. They have all been so sensitive to soaps and detergents!
Wonderful advice, it is has been 7 years since I had a newborn around. I sometimes forget how much we can freak out when we have a newborn around, mother’s are so loving of their little new bundle of joy that we can get a little freaked out by just about anything. I have heard great things about Dreft!
Teach respect and manners while they are young so they won’t be difficult later.
Great advice. The only option to get rest is to sleep when baby sleeps
Sleep when baby sleeps
Get as much sleep as you can, nap when baby sleeps.
These are great tips. I always tried to sleep when my son was sleeping. I always took at least one nap with him.
Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help.
DON’T PANIC – from my mom 🙂
Enjoy the moments! And ask for help
I agree. Don’t panic! I remember the new parent panic phase. Every little thing that went wrong was totally horrifying.
Asking for help is one of the biggest tips you could have put on here. So many moms think there’s something wrong with asking for help, but their just isn’t.
This sounds like some great advice, I’m not a parent myself, but I shall have to share this on with a friend who has just become a Mum 🙂 x
The best advice I ever received is to follow your instincts. If you feel like your child isn’t feeling well, they most likely aren’t.
Great advice! I haven’t found Dreft here in Canada but I’ve worked with them a few times and gotten some bottles and I LOVE it…. wish I could use it more!
The best parenting advice that I have received is to sleep when the baby sleeps. I was so sleep deprived during the first week of my baby coming home and it was unhealthy for me!
After I had my kids a few friends brought us meals and it was one of the best things anyone has ever done for me.
The best advice I received is the sleep when the baby sleeps. I know it’s hard but it is the best thing to do for yourself.
Sleep when your baby sleeps
to rest when the baby does