How to Visit a New Mom and Newborn Baby Without Mom Getting Mad at You

The birth of a baby is a very exciting time for families and friends. Once the baby is home, everyone wants to visit the new family and meet the newborn. However, the first weeks after delivery can be very stressful as everyone is adjusting to the new way of life. Sleep deprivation can leave mothers a little on edge and cranky, so one must be especially careful when visiting. Here's how to visit a newborn baby and family while staying on the mother's good side.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Call before you come over. New moms do not have time to clean the house, and if a visitor arrives unexpected the mom can be very embarrassed by the state of her home. A call at least several hours before you plan on arriving so that she can get up the large messes or at least recruit her husband for some help.

2. Bring something to eat. New breastfeeding moms feel like they are ALWAYS feeding their newborn and hardly have time to fix anything to eat for their family or themselves. Breastfeeding also makes you extremely hungry! Do not ask if she wants any food, because she might not want to make requests. Just bring something anyways. Make sure it is healthy so that mom can quickly gain her strength back after postpartum and that the newborn is getting good nutrition.

3. WASH YOUR HANDS! Mothers of newborn babies can be very obsessive about germs around their new baby--and rightly so. Make sure to wash your hands before holding the baby and tell the mother that your hands are clean to reduce her anxiety level.

4. Skip perfumes and scented lotion when you are going to be around a newborn. Newborn babies have sensitive skin that can be easily irritated and develop rashes. A new mother will not appreciate you giving her precious baby a rash, so just skip it altogether.

5. Do not hog the baby. New moms want to bond with their baby more than you do, and they deserve to. If the baby is crying, do not try to play peek a boo and insist that you can comfort her. Chances are, the newborn needs to nurse and your efforts to distract the baby will only make her more upset. Immediately hand the baby back to mom so she doesn't have to try to breast feed a frantic newborn.

6. Bring useful gifts. Diapers, wipes, wipe warmers, and baby clothes will all be appreciated. Mom does not have any time to go to the store, so just bring things to her. Don't ask her what see needs because she may not be comfortable requesting someone to do her errands. Just bring it.

7. Do the dishes. Cleaning and housework will mostly not be done during a postpartum time, so just step up to the plate and help out. After you have cleaned all of the dirty dishes, bring her some plastic plates and cutlery so she will have a break from dirty dishes.