This post originated out of my own need and want for help in regards to being a mom. Early on and even now, after being a mom for over a year, I found/find myself really needing advice from other moms. I had read the books but I needed to hear from real people. Women who had been there before and made it to the other side. Moms that I respected and knew had wise and loving advice.

That’s when I came up with the idea to reach out to some fellow bloggers that I admire and ask them for their #1 Piece of Advice for New Moms. My prayer is that this will give you some hope for wherever you are in your mom journey.

Motherhood can be lonely and it’s so helpful to hear some encouragement and advice from women who have been there before. Read and be encouraged…

#1 Piece of Advice to New Moms

Breathe

“To a new mom I’d say, breathe, take it day by day and remember that the days are long but the years are short.
I’d also say “if you need help, don’t hesitate!” Post partum is a difficult time and as someone who suffered from severe PPD, you can’t do it all so don’t try to! Don’t be afraid to let someone lend a hand.” –Bessy from The Simple Mom Life Blog 

This too Shall Pass

“This too shall pass. There will be hard, hard days of motherhood, but everything is a season. The hard days will not last forever, so don’t give up and don’t despair!” –Erin from The Humbled Homemaker

Find what Works for You

“I’d say it’s important to know that what works for one mom might not work for you… And that’s okay! It can be so, so easy to feel like a big fat failure when you read parenting books or hear from other parents who have had great success implementing certain strategies related to everything from sleep and play to nap times and feeding.

Just because one mom had a great experience with a certain parenting method does not mean you will and if you don’t, that doesn’t make you or your baby a failure. When my son was a few months old, I legitimately turned to my husband in the middle of the night after we tried our best to follow a certain sleep strategy to encourage Chase to sleep longer stretches at night and said, “I think our baby is broken,” as Chase was screaming and I was reading some horrible statistic about how basically everyone else who followed this strategy had babies sleeping through the night at 8 weeks. Not my baby! And that’s okay.

We got there eventually when we – and he! – were ready. Different things work for different babies and parents and that’s great! It can just be difficult to remember this when you feel like you’ve tried every strategy under the sun on your baby without any success. Sometimes there is no strategy and just going with the flow and responding to what you think your baby needs is the best route.” –Julie from Peanut Butter Fingers 

Related: Encouraging Quotes for Moms

You are the Best for Your Child

“If I could give a new mom a piece of advice I would reinforce that there is no one else who can love and care for their child better than them. I say this because comparison and competition (intentional or not) often rears it’s ugly head into the life of a mom, even more so when everything is so brand new, and it creates this feeling that they aren’t good enough as a mother. I wish new moms would give themselves more grace and know that when it all comes down to it what makes a good mother is the deep love and affection she has for her child!” –Ileana from The Special Life of Us

You’re Killing It!

“You know what the best advice I would give is? If you are worrying about if you are a good mom, then you are! Moms – no matter what avenue we choose to take care of our babies – all have their best interests in mind! We sacrifice, research, and try every option until we find what works best for our family and THAT is what makes you the best mom for YOUR kids! Don’t let anyone get you down today because you know what? YOU’RE KILLING IT at this mom thing!” –Shannan from Faithfully Beautiful 

Don’t Stress about the Little Things

“The #1 piece of advice I would give a new mom is to not stress about the little things. If things aren’t perfect, if your makeup is not done, if you’re not showered, if dinner burned, don’t let it stress you out. Your new little bundle of joy does not care how clean the house is. But that little bundle will feel the stress and anxiety you have. So relax and enjoy your time as a new mom. In time you’ll learn how to manage it all, but you don’t have to rush it.” –Suzi from Start a Mom Blog 

Ask for Help

“That is it okay to ask for help. When I had my first baby I wanted to do it all by myself, I hated asking for help. I felt like if I asked for help I was failing at being a mom. But baby number 3 I realized how important it is to ask for help, even if you just want to take a shower! And people are usually more than happy to help!” –Kate from The Colbert Clan 

Related: How Dads Can Help with Breastfeeding

Being a Mom is Rewarding

“My #1 piece of advice for new moms would be this: do not go into motherhood with any preconceived notions. It’s harder and more rewarding than you can imagine. Every baby is different, so the advice people give you may not apply to you or your baby.” –Margaret from Reluctant Stay at Home Mom

Comparison is the Thief of Joy

“What do new moms need to know? It’s simple! ‘Comparison is the thief of joy.’ When you have this little tiny human, it seems only natural to compare your new baby to everyone else’s baby. Don’t do it! Yes, it’s fine to seek advice and tips. In fact, it’s always a great idea to connect with other moms so you can remember that you’re not alone. But, make a line in the sand and daily remind yourself that God gave you your one-of-a-kind baby for a purpose. Don’t let comparison steal away the joy of your caring for your special little one!” –Julie from Jules & Co. 

Related: How We Finally Got Our Baby to Sleep!

Trust Yourself

I wanted to also share my input since I have been a mom for a little over a year now and have gone through a lot of ups and downs. I’d say the best piece of advice I can tell you is to trust yourself! I have spent endless hours Googling to find the right answer of how to sleep train my baby, how to feed my baby, what to teach my baby, etc.

Trust your instincts. Unfortunately (and fortunately) there is no right answer in parenting. You are the mom. Do what you think is best for your baby and don’t question yourself so much.

You are stronger, braver and a better mom than you think you are!

Thank you all for reading and I truly hope these words speak to you in some way today. You’ve got this mama and you’re doing an amazing job!!