Handling The Holidays with a New Baby
The holiday season is often filled with joy, celebration, and a whirlwind of activities. However, when you add a new baby into the mix, things can quickly become overwhelming. As a postpartum doula, I’ve supported many new parents through their first holiday season with a baby. Here are some practical tips to help you navigate the holidays with your babe.
1. Set Realistic Expectations
The holidays can be a busy time – one filled with traditions and expectations. It’s important to work with your partner to set realistic expectations for yourselves and your extended family. This year might look different from previous years, and that’s ok! It’s perfectly fine to prioritize your well-being and your baby’s needs over holiday traditions and extended family’s expectations that might be too demanding right now.
2. Pass the Gravy – Not the Baby
It’s a good idea to speak with your pediatrician about bringing a new baby along to holiday events. This is usually a good starting place for you and your partner to decide which events you will attend and which you will skip – or attend without your babe.. If you’re bringing baby along to a gathering, one of the best (and easiest!) ways to keep baby from receiving unwanted kisses and to avoid the pressure to “pass the baby” is to babywear!
3. Communicate with Family and Friends
Let your family and friends know that because you have a new baby your availability might be limited. Most loved ones will understand and appreciate your honesty. Encourage them to come to you for visits if possible, as this can help reduce the stress of traveling with a baby. If your family is local and you want to avoid a large gathering, see if you can visit during “off hours” – the day or night before or after the holiday.
4. Prioritize Self-Care
Amidst the holiday hustle, don’t forget to take care of yourself! Prioritize rest whenever you can, and carve out time for self-care activities that fill your cup. Whether it’s taking a warm bath, reading a book, or enjoying a quiet cup of tea, small moments of self-care can make a big difference.
5. Incorporate Your Baby into Traditions and Create New Ones
Find ways to include your baby in holiday traditions. Whether it’s taking family photos, wearing matching pj’s, or cozying up for storytime, these moments can be meaningful and help create a sense of connection. Involving your babe in your traditions will help you cherish these special times as a new family. This is also a great time to begin to think of which traditions you may want to add, just for your little family. They can be as simple as playing your favorite holiday music at bath time or making home made gifts and ornaments. (I love making salt dough ornaments with families during the holiday season. My favorite recipe is here.)
Navigating the holidays with a new baby is different, for sure, but with a little planning and flexibility, you can create a joyful and memorable holiday season. I wish you a beautiful holiday season filled with love, joy, and the magic of new beginnings!
Why Every Parent Needs Postpartum Support
As a certified postpartum doula, newborn care specialist, and mother of three, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative the postpartum period can be—both in its beauty and its challenges. For all the preparation that goes into pregnancy and childbirth, the journey of the fourth trimester often catches new parents off guard, me included. When I was expecting my first baby, I had no idea how much support I would need once we brought him home from the hospital! Luckily, my husband and I had a great relationship with my mother and she was able to utilize her family leave to come and take care of all three of us for two weeks. I remember it like yesterday – on her last day of leave, I cried, because who was going to take care of me now? That’s why I’m passionate about the critical role postpartum support plays in helping families not just survive but thrive.
Life with a new baby is often portrayed as a blissful time, but the reality is far more complex. Sleep deprivation alone can take a toll on your mental and physical health, making it harder to bond with your baby or enjoy those early moments, and to communicate effectively with your partner. Add to that the demands of breastfeeding or formula-feeding, healing from childbirth, and managing household responsibilities, and it’s no wonder many new parents feel overwhelmed.
Emotionally, the postpartum period can be filled with challenges, from baby blues to more severe conditions like postpartum depression or anxiety. For many, societal pressures to “bounce back” or seeing the Instragram moms who “do it all” only heighten these struggles.
This is where quality postpartum support comes in. As a postpartum doula, I provide tailored care to ensure parents feel supported, whether that means helping with breastfeeding, guiding newborn care, or simply providing a safe space to share your feelings, worries and questions.
For example, I once worked with a client who felt completely overwhelmed after a difficult delivery. By offering both practical help and emotional reassurance, I helped her discover her confidence as a parent. The difference? She moved from barely coping to genuinely enjoying those precious early weeks. My goal is always to provide seamless, confidential support that fits the new parent’s needs and lifestyles, whether that means creating a schedule, organizing the nursery, or offering a listening ear.
Investing in postpartum care yields benefits that ripple through the entire family. For the birthing parent, it means faster recovery, reduced stress, and a stronger sense of well-being. Women who receive postpartum doula care have a 57.5% lower chance of experiencing postpartum depression or anxiety. For the baby, postpartum care helps to create a calm, confident caregiver who is better equipped to meet their needs. And for the family unit as a whole, it paves the way for smoother transitions and deeper bonds.
As a mother of three, I’ve experienced the postpartum period from both sides of the equation—personally and professionally. I know what it feels like to balance exhaustion with the joy of a new baby and to crave guidance during uncertain moments. My experiences have made me passionate about ensuring that no parent feels alone during this vulnerable time.
Here are some tips to consider when hiring a postpartum doula:
– Research early: Postpartum doulas tend to book months in advance. Look for certified postpartum doulas or specialists in your area. Check trusted websites such as DONA International. Ask family and friends for referrals.
– Important considerations: What are their specialties? How do they tailor care to your needs? What is their certification status and experience? Will their availability and their services match your needs? How is your conversational compatibility with the doula? Do you feel comfortable having the doula in your home?
Remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness—it’s a gift you give yourself and your baby. It’s okay to invest in yourself and your well-being. The journey into parenthood is one of the most significant transformations you’ll ever experience. With the right postpartum support, it can also be one of the most empowering. Whether you’re a first-time parent or adding to your family, don’t hesitate to seek the care you deserve.
If you’re looking for personalized, compassionate postpartum care, Southern RI Doula is here to help. Together, we can ensure this chapter of your life is as fulfilling and joyful as it’s meant to be.