20 Clever First Time Mom Tips & Advice for a Smooth Start

Becoming a mom for the first time is exciting, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming. Between sleepless nights, new routines, and learning your baby’s needs, it’s easy to feel unsure of what to expect.

As a mom of 3, including to twins, I created this guide to share my practical first time mom tips. The goal is to help you feel confident, supported, and prepared for early motherhood.

From pregnancy prep to baby care basics and self-care reminders, you’ll find simple advice that will make the transition smoother and more enjoyable. Whether you’re still pregnant or holding your newborn, these tips will help you navigate motherhood with more calm and confidence.

Please note, there are affiliate links in this post. Read my privacy & disclosure policy at the bottom of this page to learn more.

Preparation for Before Baby Arrives

Here is a list of the high priority items to take care of before your baby is born. If you would like an even more detailed list, check out this article on the top 25 things to do before your baby arrives.

• Create a realistic birth plan – When writing a birth plan I recommend using a simple birth plan checklist. You can get one here!
• Set up your baby essentials – Besides having newborn must haves on hand, it’s also vital that you set them up! Be sure to assemble things like the car seat, stroller, bassinet, and nursery.
• Take birthing and newborn care classes – If you are unsure of what to expect, it will almost always help to take a class. Choose the online classes you feel you need from the list below (you might not feel you need all of them):
  • Birthing Class
  • Breastfeeding or Exclusive Pumping Class
  • Newborn Care Class
• Prep for postpartum recovery – Stock up on supplies and meals in advance. Here is a checklist of what you will need.
• Get your freebies – You can sign up for a FREE breast pump, FREE baby samples, and FREE baby items when you create a baby registry.

Before we move on, you might want to grab these FREE printable Pregnancy Checklists. They include a baby registry, hospital bag, and trimester checklist and you can get them by clicking the button below.

First Time Mom Tips for Newborn Care

Adjusting to life with a newborn is pretty intense. I know for me personally, I thought I was prepared and “did all the things” I was supposed to do to be ready.

But the reality is, until you are actually in it and caring for your baby, it’s hard to understand what it will actually be like. Here are my first time mom tips, to help you survive and reduce some of that stress during the newborn stage.

• Learn your baby’s cues – Crying, hunger, and sleep signals take time to understand.
• Understand a typical newborn schedule – Check out a sample newborn daily schedule here (it is for twins, but the newborn schedules applies for one baby too).
• Work at mastering how to efficiently feed your newborn – Whether you are breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping, or combination feeding, it will take time to learn the best methods to get your little one fed.
• Introduce an eat, play, sleep routine – Establishing healthy habits early helps as your baby grows and becomes capable of being on a schedule.
• Learn the 5Ss of baby sleep – I recommend watching the 5Ss of baby sleep video (this was a lifesaver for our family).
• Use swaddles, pacifiers, sound machines, etc. – There are a lot of items out there to help with newborn sleep. I recommend tight swaddling, pacifiers, a sound machine, blackout curtains or shades, and a cozy bassinet.
• Efficiently feed and diaper change at night – Preparing for night feeds and diaper changes is a huge help for getting through them as quickly as possible. Read up on how to set up a feeding and diaper changing station on your night stand in this article about feeding your baby at night.

First Time Mom Postpartum Care Tips 

• Accept help and delegate tasks – Family and friends can ease your load.
• Prioritize rest (when possible) – Try to take naps when your baby sleeps or if you have help during the day. For some this is probably easier said than done (that was the case for me), but if you can get extra sleep during the day, it helps.
• Give yourself grace – Adjusting to a new baby at home takes time. Remember, perfection isn’t the goal.
• Eat nourishing meals and stay hydrated – A healthy diet support recovery and provides more energy.
• Don’t neglect mental health – Know the signs of baby blues or postpartum depression.
• Connect with other moms – Adult interaction can go a long way in making you feel like yourself again. Look to join online or local mom groups.
• Communicate openly with your partner – It’s important to share responsibilities and emotions with your partner, especially because this can be a very stressful time for both of you.
• Seek professional help when needed – Lactation consultants, pediatricians, and therapists are available to assist you with your needs. Don’t hesitate to reach out when you need to.

As a first time mom, remember there’s no perfect way to do things – just the way that works best for you and your baby.

Motherhood is a beautiful journey filled with learning, love, and growth. Trust your instincts, give yourself grace, and take each day one step at a time. The challenges will pass, and the precious moments will stay with you forever. Good luck – you can do it!