7 Common Mistakes Among First-Time Mothers

Becoming a first-time mother is quite a daunting experience and in this article we'll be highlighting some common mistakes.

It’s common for first-time mothers to make mistakes. Knowing them in advance will help you take the necessary precautions to avoid them.

All new mothers would love for their babies to be born with an instruction manual under their arm which would explain step by step how to raise them and care for them properly. You’ve undoubtedly read everything that has fallen into your hands on this subject. Yet, even so, first-time mothers often make common mistakes that are almost inevitable.

If you want to connect with your baby right from day one, in this list you’ll find the most common mistakes that you could be committing due to your lack of experience as a mother. You can probably identify with a number of them.

Common mistakes among first-time mothers

Doubting your intuition

Believe in yourself. By nature you’re already “qualified” to look after and care for your baby. Your baby can’t adequately express his or her needs, and your maternal instinct is vital for your baby’s survival.

Once you become a mother, your senses immediately become more acute, you don’t sleep as deeply, your body becomes resistant to fatigue and pain…all in order for you to be able to raise your child in the best possible way.

If you trust your senses, your body, your instinct and your new role as a first-time mother, everything will be fine. Listen to your inner voice!

Believing that you’re doing everything wrong

Although at first you don’t know if you’re doing things right, never believe that you’re doing everything wrong! Don’t be too hard on yourself; it’s the first time you’re experiencing this and you’re doing the best you can, with much love, will and dedication. And that’s the most important thing of all.

Motherhood is a path of continuous learning. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; we all have to learn from experience. Free yourself from fears and unnecessary demands and enjoy being a mom.

Not looking after yourself properly

When you’re a first-time mother, all your attention is focused on your newborn baby. However, at the same time, you mustn’t forget that it’s very important for you to look after your body, your health, and also your looks. Your baby depends on you. If you’re not feeling good then they’ll notice.

Eat well, drink plenty of water, go for a walk with your baby, make yourself look good. Find time to rest, take a shower, fix your hair, give yourself a manicure, and share moments alone with your partner, friends, and family.

This will allow you to feel more secure and you won’t be so concerned about doing things wrong. Taking care of yourself is something that your child will thank you for later.

Not asking for or accepting help is one of the most common mistakes

Don’t feel guilty if you need time out away from your baby for a while. It’s okay to ask for help when you’re tired; you also need space to be by yourself or with your partner. Your family and friends will be happy to help you, and so you should learn to accept their help.

Don’t think that you’re being selfish by wanting to be by yourself and leaving your baby with someone else. Quite the opposite – sometimes the biggest mistake you can make is not asking for help.

Trust the people who look after your little one while you take a break. Know that you’re doing things for the right reasons and that those people will treat your baby as if they were looking after their own child.

Not involving the father in your baby’s daily routine

The father fulfills a vital role in a child’s life. For that reason, he must be involved in all the daily care for your baby right from the start. For the child’s correct development, you must strive to strengthen the bond between father and child.

It’s very important that you trust your partner, and that you let him change the baby’s diaper and bathe him. He should also be involved in putting the child to sleep and taking him for a walk. If you don’t let him, he’ll never learn how to do it.

Not going out of the house

You may think that if you stay at home, then the baby won’t get sick. Nothing could be further from the truth. The child needs to go out in order to develop antibodies.

The more protected the child is in this sense, the more likely it is that he’ll catch something when you do go out. To prevent this, you should take your child out when the pediatrician says it’s OK to do so.

On top of that, if you just stay at home the whole time, then you’re more likely to develop postnatal depression. You should avoid being with people who are ill, smoking near the baby, and you should dress him suitably according to the outside temperature. You just have to use your common sense when taking your baby out for a walk.

Don’t stay at home, enjoy going out for walks, allow your baby to fully trust you and also life itself. That way, when he grows up, he’ll also learn to trust himself.

Letting your baby cry is another one of the most common mistakes

Letting a baby cry until she tires herself out is a totally unfounded theory. Crying is a baby’s only way of expressing herself.

When babies cry, it’s because they need something. Because of that, you should pick them up, calm them down, and attend to their needs. The baby may be hungry or have a wet diaper; she may be feeling ill, cold, or hot, among other things.

As you can see, there are many issues that must be considered and, of course, you can’t expect everything to go perfectly right from the start. However, don’t worry; you’ll do wonders and your child will be eternally grateful to you. Enjoy this beautiful stage of life with no regrets!