It’s very common to struggle with dealing with visitors after you have your baby, especially after COVID-19.
Lots of people will want to come and see your new baby, pick them up and take photos with them. It makes sense, they love you and they love babies. We get it.
But it isn’t always an easy decision as a mom whether you will allow a lot of people around your baby and when you will do it.
You’ve also just given birth and you will be tired and run-down.
While people see it as the perfect time to visit someone, it can actually be the worst.
Here are our top tips on how to deal with visitors after the birth of your new baby.
Have Strong Boundaries
The most important thing is that you stay strong with your boundaries.
Your child is your child, and the needs of your family are your top priority.
It isn’t easy and we are so used to putting other people and their needs above our own. But this is a great time to practice asserting your boundaries and stick to them.
Tell people calmly and directly what works for you, and stick to it.
People will be upset and people might try and change your mind, but try and stay as strong as possible in the face of this.
Learn to Say No
A big part of asserting your boundaries will be learning how to say no.
Saying no can feel scary and we can easily feel guilty for doing it, especially when it is to our own family members and close friends.
But you are allowed to say no.
Stick to your guns and be sure of yourself.
Ask for Support
Raising a baby takes a village and it’s good to establish that village early on.
If you’re struggling to communicate your boundaries with people, delegate this task to other people.
Have someone else communicate your decisions when you are in hospital or in your first weeks at home. You are tired and physically drained, sometimes it is a good idea for someone else to have these conversations for you.
It’s ok to ask for support and it’s ok to not deal with every single task by yourself.
Have Sanitation Products Ready
Especially due to the pandemic, we need to make sure that whoever is coming in to see and hold our newborn babies is safe and clean.
If people don’t come prepared with their own sanitation products it can lead to an awkward conversation.
The best way to avoid any issues around this is to have your own products sitting out in a visible and accessible place, so that you can bring them into introductory conversations easily.
If people get offended, don’t back down. The health of your baby is critical and it needs to be treated as such. Make sure everyone who comes into contact with the baby is safe and protected.
Set Specific Times for Visitors
To stop yourself getting overwhelmed, schedule your visits with your family and friends.
If you can go to their house, all the better. You can leave whenever you decide and you don’t have the awkward issue of people overstaying their welcome.
Stick to your schedule and let other people fit in around that. Having a newborn isn’t easy and others need to respect that.
It can be tricky but it is all worth it in the end.
