Simple Tips to Survive & Thrive as a Single Mom With a Newborn

When you go to the hospital to have a baby, you’ve got a lot of helping hands. Nurses, doctors and lactation consultants are there to care for you and your baby as well as to answer all of your questions. But not all moms have that kind of constant support when they get home.

I don’t have to tell you that being a single mom is hard. I’m sure you already know that. But I hope that you also know you can do this! And hopefully these simple tips will help you survive and thrive during the newborn stage as a single mom.

Wear your baby.

As a single mom, there isn’t someone to hold the baby, make dinner and do the dishes. You may not be able to spend the time putting your baby down for a nap because you have a work deadline. Things still have to get done when you have a baby, and sometimes the only way you can care for your baby and get things done is by babywearing. If you don’t already have a cozy and reliable baby carrier, I suggest getting one. Ergobaby carriers are lifesavers for single moms. Get yourself and your baby comfortable with it from day one because for many single moms, the only way to survive the newborn stage is by wearing your baby.

Then, once your baby reaches around 4-6 months, you can grow into the 360 baby carrier.  Following baby’s ages and stages, baby is ready to move out of the cuddly newborn phase and see the world.  Check out this Ages & Stages bundle, which includes the Embrace and 360, bundled for savings.

SHOP Embrace Newborn Carrier

Get single mom friends

A challenge is easier to get through if you have someone to talk to who is also going through it or who has already gone through it. That’s why you need single mom friends. Whether you need advice or a shoulder to cry on, there is a lot of support out there for single moms that’s only a click away. From online support and networking groups to local mommy-and-me meetups and stroller workout classes, there are thousands of moms out there just like you. Find them. Befriend them. Lean on and learn from them.

SHOP ERGOBABY Compact Strollers

Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

I spent a lot of my childhood being raised by a single mother. I know it wasn’t easy for my mom to go to work every day when I was growing up, but she had to do it. She also needed people she trusted to watch me and help out with other things. So she turned to family, friends, neighbors and people from our church congregation for help. And you know what? Everyone was willing to help in whatever way they could. 

It can be easy to feel like you’re alone. That it’s your baby and you have to do it all. But you can’t and don’t have to do it alone. Like my mom, find those around you who you can trust and ask for help when you need it. Ask a friend to create a sign-up sheet for meals so you don’t have to cook dinner that first week home from the hospital. Ask a neighbor if she’d help with household chores so you can shower and nap. Asking for help can be hard. But please know that it doesn’t make you a bad mom, and no one will think you’re not qualified to be a mom if you do. Asking for help is a good thing; it’s a sign of strength, not weakness. Plus, there are probably more people out there than you realize who care and want to help.

Take breaks.

You’re a single mom so it’s all work and no play, right? Wrong. All moms – single or married, with one baby or six kids – need a break every now and then. And as a single mom, you absolutely deserve time to yourself. Whether that means hiring a babysitter once a month so you can have a girls’ night out or asking grandma to watch your baby so you can get a postpartum massage, get out of the house and do something for yourself. You’ll be a better mom if you give yourself time to relax and recharge.

Give yourself grace.

Is the sink full of dirty dishes? Did you eat take-out more than home-cooked meals this week? Does your baby nap in your arms more than being swaddled in their crib? That’s OK. You’re in survival mode right now. You and your newborn are learning how to navigate this new life you’ve started. And guess what? One of the perks of being a single mom is that you’re the only one who notices if the dishes or laundry didn’t get done. 

SHOP swaddlers

Utilize A Bouncer

Baby bouncer chairs are a really practical and safe way to take a break when you need one and don’t have an extra set of hands. Purchasing a high-quality and easy-to-use bouncer will give you the peace of mind you need to safely set down your little one so you can have some you time. Whether it’s showering, cooking, getting dressed, or just taking a physical break from holding your little one, bouncers are a must-have in the early months of parenting.

SHOP Ergobaby Bouncer

Take it one day at a time.

Being a single mom with a newborn is overwhelming. So is thinking about going back to work, scheduling doctor’s appointments, etc. Yes, you need to think about what’s coming, but that can make getting through the newborn stage more stressful than it needs to be. You’ll have time to plan out what’s coming. But for right now, especially during the first few weeks, try to simply focus on getting through the day and being present. Oftentimes what you and your baby need most are for you to focus on today, worry less about the future and be more present with your baby. 

Some days it may not feel like it, but you will survive this stage. This too shall pass.  And when you no longer have a newborn, you’ll not only realize that you survived, but that you did an amazing job at being a single mom with a newborn.

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Kirsten Metcalf is a writer, editor and mother to a hilarious but very strong-willed toddler and a beautiful baby girl. She started writing short stories in elementary school and years later became a sports reporter and editor. Now, she mainly writes marketing, religious and parenting-related blog posts. Even before she knew she wanted to be a writer, Kirsten knew she wanted to be a mom. She knows being a mom is one of the most rewarding but hardest jobs out there, which is why she loves being able to share parenting knowledge and support to other moms through her writing. When she actually wins negotiations with her toddler, Kirsten likes to reward herself by watching KU basketball, eating cheesecake, or going on a Target run by herself.

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