Beating the Winter Baby Blues

0

When I first envisioned having a baby due in the dead of winter, I imagined a maternity leave full of hot chocolate, movie marathons, and snuggle time under warm blankets. Since newborn babies shouldn’t be out and about too much when they are first born regardless of the time of year, I assumed having a winter baby would actually be a benefit, since I would be inside during a time when I usually didn’t want to be outside anyway.

But as the sun set around 4:30pm on the first afternoon alone with my daughter, and I realized that I hadn’t changed out of my pajamas or had an adult conversation all day, I saw that being stuck inside was going to pose a serious challenge.

The isolation was a struggle, without a question. And one of the worst parts was that I absolutely was not prepared for it. But I came across a few practices along the way that made the struggle more manageable. So, here are some tips on beating the winter baby blues!

Sit outside: Even though it was just barely freezing and there were massive snow piles outside our windows, I still tried to get out for some fresh air at least once a day. While my daughter was napping in her swing, I would make a cup of tea, get all bundled up, grab the baby monitor, and sit on the front porch. It wasn’t for a long period of time, but I swear it made a big difference. And if I was really lucky, a neighbor would walk by, or the mail carrier would deliver the mail. Yay for seeing other grown-up’s!

Leave the house: Leaving the house with a newborn can be a huge challenge. My daughter hated being in the car seat and the frigid, snowy weather made it nearly impossible to take her out many days. So, whenever it was possible, I would make it a priority to get out on my own. If my mother-in-law came by for a few hours, I would head the the grocery store. If my husband needed to run an errand, I would offer to do it for him. I distinctly recall heading to a big box store to buy diapers one Saturday morning, and I swear, it was one of the most satisfying things I had ever done!

Join a Facebook “mom” group: Pre-baby, I had no idea the power that a group of mothers, bonding over the same daily concerns about their children, could have. Through a few quick Facebook searches, I found three “mom” groups to join and within days, the relief that these women brought me was incredible. If I had a quick question about my daughter (for example, “Does anyone else have a baby that always get super cranky around 5pm?” or, “How much time do you spend doing tummy time?”). I could post my thought on a wall, and get multiple responses in minutes. These responses brought not only comfort to my first-time-mommy fears, but also created another way to connect with fellow moms.

Invite visitors: As a new mom, there are times when having visitors can be stressful. But after days and days inside with minimal adult interaction, sometimes having a visitor can be a lifesaver. I found that friends/family didn’t care about the mess in the kitchen, or the heaping piles of laundry; so don’t let those things stop you from inviting folks to stop by.

Chat with your other mom friends: Who else is at home during the day with their babies/kids? Your other mom friends! Never underestimate the impact a quick, “Hi, how are you and baby doing?” can have on other moms trapped indoors like you. I will forever be grateful to the wonderful women who took time out of their day to chat with me when I needed it most.

While these suggestions don’t solve all the pains of winter isolation with a newborn baby, hopefully they will come in handy.

What ways did you beat the blues with your winter baby?

Previous articleCreate your New Year (by Completing this Year)
Next articleFCMB’s Top 10 Posts of 2015
Caitlin
Meet Caitlin! Caitlin grew up in Fairfield, CT and after some time living elsewhere, she is ecstatic to call the town home again. She works full-time in higher education at a local university and has found great joy in supporting college students for almost ten years. Caitlin met her husband, Matthew, in college. They were married in 2009 and welcomed their daughter, Parker, in December of 2014. She spends her free time at yoga, writing, watching sports, and attempting to change the world through advocacy and involvement in social justice movements. Connect with Caitlin on Twitter @CaitPereira.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here