It's tempting when visiting a new mum friend to spend the duration sitting among piles of laundry, dirty dishes and overflowing bins doing nothing but eating biscuits and cuddling the baby for four hours straight.
HOWEVER as much as smelling the baby's head can be really really nice so too can making yourself useful.
10 Things to Do for Your New Mum friend That Are Actually Useful:
1. Give her your pre-loved baby clothes
Here's the CRUCIAL part: Have them washed and sorted into bags by age before you give them – in her sleep deprived state sorting through black bags of old baby clothes will seem about as achievable as climbing Everest without supplementary oxygen.
2. Bring her food
And not just cake (though cake is always welcome), I found in the early weeks I was coming down with chocolates, cakes and biscuits but no actual real food. Bringing over soups, cooked meats and prepared dinners is a big help in the chaotic early days of new parenthood.
3. Hold the baby while she takes a shower/ takes a nap
It's a win-win. You get to smell the baby's head and she gets a minute to herself.
4. Do the dishes
Just do them while you're waiting for the kettle to boil or something.
5. Change the bins
Is this not the most annoying domestic job in the world? As far as random acts of kindness go this is the absolute BOMB.
6. Take the baby for a walk (with her permission obvi)
I used to find it quite hard to really relax and have a nap when the baby was downstairs so I always appreciated it when someone (well, not just anyone – preferably a trusted friend or relative) took the baby for a walk while I closed my eyes for a few minutes.
7. Do the shopping
AND put it away. It's amazing how much of a palaver just getting to the shop for the basics becomes with a newborn in tow.
8. Ask her how she is
Like really ask her. Do this with a meaningful head tilt and emphasis on the 'are' of 'how ARE you?' She might be happier than she's ever been in her life or she might need to seriously vent.
9. Clean the bathroom
Nothing cheers my heart like the bathroom being surprise-cleaned, not even anything too in depth just a quick wipe down really improves the look of the place.
10. Tell her she is doing AMAZING
Even if she's put the nappy on the baby's head instead of its arse, tell her she is doing everything right. This is what all new mums really need to hear.
What do you think is the best thing you can do for a new mum? Tell us in the comments...
