14 Sanity-Saving Tips for your First 14 Days with Baby

You’ve waited months to finally meet your baby, and now that they’re here, you might be wondering how anyone survives parenthood, especially those first two weeks.

The truth is, those first 14 days are a lot.

You’re exhausted from labor and delivery and barely able to sleep two hours in a row without being woken up.

On top of that, you might feel anxious or unsure about how to care for your newborn. You’re thrilled to finally hold your baby, yet overwhelmed by the constant responsibility of meeting their every need.

And while it can feel impossible at times, what you’re feeling is completely normal. Every new mom has moments of doubt, exhaustion, and pure love all tangled together.

In this post, I’m sharing 14 real-life tips from a mom who’s been there: five for you and nine for your baby, to make those early weeks feel a little less chaotic and a lot more doable.

Let’s start where it's often overlooked: taking care of you, mama.

5 Tips for the Postpartum Mom

(Self-Care + Recovery)

1. Rest Is Part of Recovery

You’ve just finished a nine-month journey growing a baby, went through the marathon of labor and delivery, and now your body is healing.

Recovery includes both physical and emotional healing, and rest is essential for both.

It’s easy to think, I feel a little better, so I should do more, but try to resist that urge.

Your body will remind you quickly if you overdo it. And resting doesn’t mean you’re lazy; it means you’re giving your body space to recover.

If you have other kids, this is even harder, but whenever possible, nap when the baby naps (if you can), let the dishes sit, and try to accept that rest is part of your job right now.

This quiet time also gives you a chance to slow down, bond, and get to know your baby.

2. Ask For (and Accept) Help

Asking for help doesn’t come naturally to most of us, but the truth is, no one can do it all.

Let your support system love you by helping you.

Delegate simple tasks like meals, cleaning, and grocery pickup to your partner, family, or friends.

If no one offers, ask directly, even though it might feel awkward. You might say, “I could really use help with dinner this week” or “Would you mind holding the baby while I shower?”

Remember, asking for help doesn’t mean you’re not capable, it means you’re smart enough to know that motherhood is not something you have to do on your own.

3. Expect to Feel Unsure

Even if this isn’t your first baby, it’s your first time with this baby.

You guys are both learning each other from scratch, and on top of it, you might not know how to breastfeed, soothe, or read their cues yet.

But, confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything on day one. It grows through trial and error, and patience.

Every baby is different too, so what worked for someone else might not work for yours.

And even seasoned moms feel like first-timers again with each new little one.

Try to be patient with yourself as you learn, make mistakes, and find your rhythm.

4. Your Emotions Are Valid

Yes, having a baby is joyful and exciting, but it can also feel heavy, emotional, and overwhelming.

You might feel anxious, sad, or tearful for no clear reason, and that’s normal, especially in the first two weeks after birth.

Your hormones are shifting, your sleep is broken, and you’re adjusting to a brand-new identity. When you think about it, all those feelings are valid.

If your sadness feels extra heavy, continues beyond two weeks, or if you feel like it worsens, talk to your doctor or your baby’s pediatrician. You’re not alone, and help is available.

If you want more details on symptoms to keep an eye on, check my blog post on Postpartum Depression for more guidance.

5. Organize for Function

This is something I completely overlooked with my first baby. I had all the supplies I needed, but nothing organized in a way that worked for me.

Try setting up simple “stations” around your home to make life easier:

• A diapering station with diapers, wipes, extra clothes, and a mat in more than one room.

• A feeding station stocked with water, bottles, formula, or breastfeeding/pumping supplies.

• A postpartum care station with pads, underwear, and cleaning bottle for you.

  
  

With everything within reach, you’ll save time, reduce stress, and make those long days (and nights) a little smoother.

9 Hacks for Caring for Your Newborn (Practical Baby Tips)

1. The First Nights Are the Hardest

That first night in the hospital can fool you.

The baby sleeps peacefully, tired from the effort of labor and delivery, you rest a little, and you think, Okay, I’ve got this. Then the second night hits, and everything changes.

The crying, cluster feeding, and short sleep cycles begin, and it might feel like it will never end.

Some babies are naturally better sleepers, but even then, you may still find yourself awake pumping, worrying, or checking to make sure they’re breathing.

No matter what your nights look like, remind yourself: this phase is temporary.

The exhaustion won’t last forever.

2. Master the Swaddle and Sound

Swaddling and white noise became my best friends during those early weeks.

Babies are used to being snug and warm inside your belly, and a good swaddle mimics that comfort.

Try out different types such as...

1. Velcro

2. Zip-up

3. Traditional blankets

until you find what your baby likes best.

Pair that with rocking, dim lights, and white noise to create a calm environment.

And if your baby just wants to be close, babywearing can be a game changer. It keeps them near you where they feel safe while giving you a little freedom to move around and have two hands available to get things done.

3. Learn Your Baby’s Hunger Cues

I didn’t know this at first, but crying is actually a baby’s last hunger cue. Think of it as their final ditch effort to get their need met.

They’ll usually show earlier signs like restlessness, sucking on their hands, or turning their head toward you when you touch their cheek.

Responding to those early signals makes the feeding experiences better for both of you and helps you avoid those frantic, full-on crying moments.

If you’re planning to breastfeed, catching your baby before they’re desperately hungry often makes latching easier and the whole feeding time feel calmer for both of you.

4. Diaper Duty Like a Pro

Changing diapers might seem intimidating at first, but you’ll be a pro within a week; mostly because you’ll get so much practice.

Set up your changing area before you need it.

Keep extra diapers, wipes, diaper creams like Desitin and Aquaphor, lotion, and a change of clothes handy.

A waterproof pad is also a must. It’ll save your sanity when the inevitable mess happens mid-change.

And yes, you’ll end up doing this half-asleep at 2 a.m. and somehow nail it.

5. Umbilical Cord Care

   
   

One thing no one told me about was how to care for that little dried umbilical cord stump.

After it’s clipped in the hospital, it usually falls off within a week or two.

Until then, don’t submerge it in water; stick to wash cloth baths.

When you change your baby, fold the diaper down below the stump so it can stay clean and dry while healing. It’ll fall off naturally, so resist the urge to tug or mess with it.

6. Expect Noisy Sleep (and Don’t Panic)

Here’s another thing I wish I’d known: newborns are noisy sleepers.

They grunt, wiggle, sigh, and sometimes even cry in their sleep. Most of it is completely normal.

The hard part is that you’ll wake up every time they make a sound, wondering if they’re okay.

Before picking them up, take a moment to watch and see if they’re actually awake. Over time, you’ll start to learn what’s normal for your baby’s sleep patterns.

7. Focus on Connection, Not Milestones

It’s easy to fall into the comparison trap when everyone around you is talking about milestones. Things like:

• Rolling over

• Smiling

• Holding their head up

• Crawling

• Walking

• Talking

• Just about everything else they do

Try not to focus on what your baby “should” be doing because in these early weeks, the only milestone that truly matters is bonding.

Every cuddle, every quiet moment, every bit of skin-to-skin contact builds the trust and safety your baby needs to thrive. And this connection forms the foundation for all the other milestones to come.

8. Accept That Crying Is Communication

Crying can be one of the hardest parts of the newborn stage, but it’s also how your baby “talks.”

It’s their only way of saying, I’m hungry, tired, overstimulated, wet, or I just need you.

At first, it might feel impossible to know what each cry means, but over time, you’ll start to recognize patterns.

Responding with patience and consistency helps your baby feel understood and secure; and it helps you grow more confident, too.

9. Cradle Cap and Baby Acne

Here’s one no one tells you: flaky skin and baby acne are totally normal and common.

Cradle cap looks like dry flakey patches on the scalp. It often clears up on its own, but here are some tips to get rid of it.

1. Wash your baby’s hair regularly with a mild, baby-safe shampoo to help keep their scalp clean. You may notice that some of it begins to flake off through regular washing.

2. Keep baby's skin hydrated by using a small amount of baby oil on the scalp to moisturize and soften the scales.

3. Try brushing softly with a baby brush as it can help loosen the flakes.

Baby acne, on the other hand, often appears as tiny red or white bumps on your baby’s cheeks, nose, or forehead. It’s also completely normal and typically fades within a few weeks without any treatment. Just wash your baby’s face with water and a mild baby cleanser, no creams or scrubbing needed.

If you’re unsure about these or if you notice worsening talk with your baby's pediatrician. They can always guide you on best remedies.

Let's Wrap This Up!

The first 14 days are a blur: messy, emotional, exhausting, and beautiful all at once. My biggest advice? Trust yourself. These first two weeks are just the beginning of your motherhood journey.

✔️You already have what it takes to be a good mom, even when you don’t feel like it.

✔️Be patient with yourself.

✔️Rely on support when you can

Remember: Motherhood, like anything worth doing, has a learning curve.

 ✨If you want real-life guidance and encouragement to make your first year easier, join me inside Surviving the First Year, a step-by-step course created for moms who want to feel more confident, supported, and prepared. You’ll find emotional support, practical baby care hacks, and encouragement for every stage of your baby’s first year.

👇 Click here to enroll now and start feeling more prepared for motherhood today.