How to survive Newborn Trenches / Stave off baby blues in cool/winter months?
Trying to gather some tips and ideas on how to survive post partum in colder climates. I’m due later this year and realized majority of the advice I’ve gotten boils down to “go outside with your baby!” And that just doesn’t seem realistic in my case? Or at least I can’t make full use of the idea bc these moms on social media are going out for 40+ minute strolls with their newborns. I feel like I could safely manage 10 minutes.
Going out to an indoor area when baby is so little feels risky too with it being the height of respiratory illness season too😷
Any moms have tips for surviving the first few post partum months in the cold?
ETA: I’m in the northeastern U.S. since someone asked. It can get brutally cold here 😅
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December baby here and honestly in those first few weeks just a 10-15 minute walk around the block did us a world of good! The rest of the time was lots of contact naps with Netflix haha, we just embraced the cozy - it’s the perfect time when they’re so tiny anyway as they need so little, then when spring hits and you feel more like being out and about they are more interactive and needing the stimulation x
I had a January baby and we actually went outside for walks pretty much everyday! I just made sure she had really warm fleecy pram suits and hat, blanket etc to go out with.
If you’re in England and have an M&S near you they do a mums and baby day where when you buy a coffee/hot drink you get free cake! So we did that alot.
I also spent a lot of time snuggled in front of the tv & fire having cuddles!!
I had my boy in October and it was sooo hard i just tried to find any excuse to go to the shop so i ended up in asda near enough every single day baby blues still hit me like a bus but it does pass you just have to keep going through it and before you know it you’ll be feeling better x
See if you have a sling library near you and rent out a baby carrier (sling libraries are amazing and will help you get a good safe fit). I loved going on winter walks with my baby - fresh air (so no worries about rsv), baby kept me warm and I kept her warm, and good for me to get out and about for my mental health. I bought a long coat a few sizes too big and wrapped up nice and warm.
End of December baby here in the U.K., we just wrapped up warm and went on walks most days. Also went to the local shopping centre a lot as that was indoors. Started a baby class once a week in February, met friends for coffee etc. All the usual stuff.
I did used to get a feeling of impending doom whenever it started getting dark. That was mainly down to my husband working shifts where every other week he wouldn’t be home until 10.30pm. The weeks he was home early I didn’t get that feeling as much.
Where do you live/ what temp is it in winter? I honestly don't think it's too cold to take a baby out unless you live in the arctic circle 😆
Scandinavian babies spend a lot of time outside and it's really good for them! It's a huge part of the culture. There's no need to stay indoors
I had a November baby so right smack in the middle of cold wet miserable weather! I had really bad baby blues, which then when that passed developed to anxiety over leaving the house, and I had the perfect excuse with the winter to stay home what I did was either popped baby in the sling or the pram and I walked around the back garden to get fresh air, because leaving the house was not an option for me with my anxiety and the baby blues, I only felt comfortable if my husband was out with me because then I wasn’t alone! Don’t pressure yourself to go out, if you have a garden then walk around that or just up and down your street even for a few minutes and if your not going out ask family or friends to drop in for a half an hour or so for company only if you feel up to it of course so that your not alone at home and ask them to bring coffee or pastries or something you like to have for a chat, i guarantee they won’t mind 😊
I had an October baby and 10000% get outside everyday you can, rain or shine! There is nothing a walk can’t fix, even just a slow plod to a bench for a sit outside in the fresh air. Aslong as you have a good rain cover for the pushchair & a pram suit, or a baby carrier and a big coat for yourself to wear over you both & an umbrella you can get yourself fresh air in any condition.
My biggest tip to avoid the blues is just surrendering to motherhood, accepting the fact your baby wants contact naps and that’s ok! Don’t fight it and try and make them independent at 2 weeks old, if your baby wants to be held, learn how to use a sling & work with it! Don’t fight your baby’s temperament, find ways to work with it xxx
I think it depends how you feel postpartum. First baby was an October baby and I wanted to get out the house pretty quickly. We mostly walked around shops on cold and wet days.
My second baby was born in April and I was excited to get outside more when he was born, but actually I was completely happy to be in my home for much longer. When I did go out, I didn’t want to be out long and was glad to be home!
What I needed first time for my mental health was completely different to what I needed second time, so just see how it goes. You might find you are happy to stay indoors a bit more than you think!
I got a big puffer jacket that went over me and baby and we'd go for walks every day. Snowstorm be damned. I would put her in the pram super bundled up and would go for walks with the stroller.
I live in Canada so I get the winters...but honestly its better to just get out.
We'd go to the mall a lot as well.
You cant do anything about baby blues...they just are and they run their course.
Good luck! I loved a winter baby...means when theyre nuts and starting to walk or crawl you can be out all summer.
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