The Newborn Honeymoon Phase: The Best Tips for New Moms

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Just as there is a honeymoon period with newly weds, there is also a newborn honeymoon phase. How should I know?

Well, I’m a mom of three so I’ve been through it more than once. While babies are all different, there are still some predictable patterns that they share.

The more babies I’ve had, the more I’ve learned to sit back and enjoy the newborn stage. The newborn honeymoon period is one of my favorite things ever.

As a first time mom, I was full of anxiety and overwhelm and I wish I could have enjoyed that time more than I did.

I’m hoping that the tips I share below will allow you to enjoy this special time with your newborn.

What Is the Newborn Honeymoon Phase?

So, what is the newborn honeymoon stage? Well, there’s no formal definition, but in my experience, it spans the first 2ish weeks of your baby’s life. With my youngest, it felt like the first month was pretty wonderful.

During that time they are super sleepy (although, not always when we want them to be) and you’re full of endorphins and a sense of great accomplishment after bringing your newborn into the world.

Babies aren’t usually super fussy yet and they tend to settle more easily to sleep.

Now, it would be insensitive to assume this is the case for every woman because I’m well aware that it is not.

For some, childbirth is traumatic and hard to heal from. For some, life is just hard right away. I’m sorry if you’ve experienced that. Motherhood is challenging at the best of times let alone with added complications.

Sharing my experience is not meant to downplay the hardships of others.

However, many new moms are constantly met with all the “just you wait’s” and that can be very discouraging. I hope that we can equally share the joys that there are to look forward to, for there are many.

The Best New Mom Tips for the Newborn Honeymoon Phase

I remember being left alone for the first time after delivering my son. I went over every inch of his tiny, soft body marveling that he belonged to me. He smelled fresh and beautiful and I could barely look away for even a moment.

Newborn babies are one of the greatest joys in this life.

The first two weeks with a new baby can be heavenly. I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as I could have with my firstborn, but by the time my third came along I soaked up every minute. The early days are full of change, but they are also incredibly special.

Now, that doesn’t mean there weren’t hard moments because there definitely were. However, there are unique things about that time that you can never get back again. Those are the things that make it all 100% worth it.

So, from a mom of three, here are my tips for enjoying the newborn honeymoon phase to it’s fullest extent.

#1 Hold Your Baby As Much As You Want

You may be shocked that this suggestion is coming from a die-hard sleep training mom, but it is true nonetheless.

In those first few weeks there is nothing more life-giving than having your toasty warm newborn snuggled up on your chest for hours on end.

That newborn smell is heavenly.

I was very blessed to have a mom who came and helped out after I had my babies. This left me with ample opportunity to just sit and hold my newborn and rest as much as I could. It was the best thing I could have asked for.

Don’t worry about “bad habits” or anything of the like. Hold that baby just as much as you want to. You will never regret it.

There is plenty of time to think about setting up a sleep schedule (or not, if that’s not your thing). Don’t miss out on the cuddles while you worry about any of that.

#2 Be Okay With Saying No

While the first couple of weeks with a newborn are so rewarding, they are also hard and overwhelming.

With your milk coming in, recovering from childbirth, and the sleep deprivation – it can leave you feeling really exhausted both physically and emotionally.

You need to learn to be okay with saying no to things. Say no to visitors, no to outings, and no to anything else that you just can’t cope with right now. You may want more alone time or perhaps you’ll want more time with others.

Listen to how you’re feeling and don’t ignore it.

There is a sacredness about the early newborn days and it is 100% okay to want to protect that.

The sleepless nights can leave you feeling overwhelmed and lonely. Let the people in who will encourage and uplift you.

#3 Set Up Comfort Stations

Young mother breastfeeding her newborn baby boy at home

During the first several weeks of having a newborn, it is just a fact that you will spend much time sitting and holding or feeding them.

It can be easy to feel frustrated and trapped if you don’t have everything you need. For that reason, it’s a good idea to go about setting up comfort stations where you regularly sit.

Things to include there would look something like this:

a throw blanket
a cushion (maybe even a feeding cushion specifically)
a water bottle
snacks
phone charger
breast pads
burp cloths
baby wipes

You may also want to include anything you need to do a diaper change. It may seem like a lot of things but it’ll make your life easier overall, especially if you’re sitting there for a long time.

Set it up so that you can be comfortable and actually enjoy the time spent holding your baby instead of resenting it. Taking care of a new life is a full-time job!

#4 Take Care of Yourself

During the first week or so I always found myself with almost superhuman energy. After that, it was like I was hit by a brick wall.

The honeymoon phase can feel amazing but those wonderful endorphins can sometimes make you feel as though you can just continue to exist on barely any sleep and a poor diet.

Taking care of yourself is vital to the continued care of your baby. Rest as much as you can, take a shower whenever you get a moment (bring baby into the bathroom if you need to), and make sure to eat and drink regularly.

Eventually the adrenaline and postpartum endorphins wane and you’ll feel the effects of not having looked after yourself.

I don’t actually like it when people say to sleep when the baby sleeps, but whenever it’s feasible, definitely do that.

The reality is that after having a baby you do have to come up with new ways to make sure that all of your needs are also being met. Little things build up to be big things, so just do a little every day and it’ll make a world of difference.

#5 Be Realistic

As a new mom you may think that you can just bounce back to your pre-baby life but the reality is far from that.

Having a baby changes you in more ways than one, which is something to be celebrated.

However, it can take some time to get used to your new normal.

Remember that the early postpartum weeks are not what your forever will look like. You will sleep again and you will get to eat a hot meal again too. The good news is that there’s a phase to everything.

In the meantime, be gentle with yourself and lower your expectations. The newborn honeymoon phase should be spent soaking in that newborn smell and all the heavenly cuddles.

It should also be noted that different people can cope with different levels of things. Yes, we all have our plates full, but some of us have smaller plates than others. Don’t compare.

#6 Prepare But Don’t Despair

Pretty woman holding a newborn baby in her arms

The reality is that for the honeymoon phase to exist there has to be some kind of opposite or contrast to it.

After the first little bit, your baby will start to have growth spurts and their digestive system will really kick into gear.

At 3 weeks of age your baby will likely have their first very noticeable growth spurt – the first of many that will take place during the first year of their life.

Baby’s development means that things change quickly and that can make for some challenging times for new parents.

However, while it is good to prepare your mindset for the potential of little sleep and a fussy babe, it’s also important not to despair about it.

Take each day as it comes and don’t stress about what might happen. You’ll for sure lose out on the joy of today if you’re forever worrying about tomorrow.