Sponsored: 5 Ways to Reassure a New Mom (or Any Mom!)

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for JOHNSON’s Baby. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

There are moments when we all second guess our parenting and could use some reassurance that we aren’t messing our kids up. As moms we try hard to keep our babies happy and well cared for, but we don’t always know if we’re doing it “right.”

The thing is, parenting is complex and there are many different ways to do things. Some days you may feel very strongly and confident about your approach, while other days make you feel like a crappy mom.

While making new mom friends can be hard (and scary), I agree that we need a support network. We need other moms to remind us we are all in this together. You are doing fine. Everything will be okay. No one is perfect.

I still have days when I need reassurance, even though I feel more comfortable and confident overall being a second time mom. When feeling troubled I know I can reach out to my own mom, mom friends online and to you. The most vulnerable I ever felt was when I was a brand spankin’ new mom. Everyone has advice, no one seems to think you are capable of figuring things out… or at least that’s how I felt at times. Do you remember feeling that way? It sucks!

Here are 5 Ways to Reassure Your Mom Friends

1. Call/text her with a compliment. You are amazing for keeping up with laundry!
2. Celebrate the small, unsung victories. No spit up induced wardrobe changes today? Cheers to that!
3. Ask her for a recommendation or advice on anything. Even if it isn’t baby related it helps remind her that you value her input. What color should I dye my hair and what salon did you go to for that gorgeous cut?
4. Don’t ask about things like how long baby is sleeping at night. Those questions – while common – set us up to feel judged. Ask about how she is doing and let her bring up the other stuff if she wants to talk about it.
5. Send her a card, letter, or message letting her know she’s doing fine.

When out in public, offer smiles and nods. Interject and deflect other strangers from saying something  judgmental. Be supportive and lend a hand if you can. Little gestures mean a lot, especially to someone struggling.

This year JOHNSON’s Baby makes it easy to send a reassuring note to other moms. The “Care Cards” can be created on their Facebook page at www.johnsonsbabycares.com for free and shared on Facebook, Twitter or email.

For every card sent, shared, or liked, Johnson’s Baby will donate $1.00 to Save the Children (up to $150,000) to help provide mothers education and assistance through pregnancy and up to school aged children. Research shows that early education is critical for baby’s development. Johnson’s Baby launched Johnson’s Baby Cares in 2012 with Save the Children charity as part of their commitment to help every baby have a happy and healthy start to life.

The cards are easy to create and send – you can choose a premade one or create your own message. I shared one with a bloggy friend who recently had her second baby. I know what it’s like to adjust to life with two and wanted to let her know that she’s doing just fine.

Now it’s your turn! Who will you send a Care Card to today? Go to www.johnsonsbabycares.com to send your FREE note of encouragement.

Darcy Zalewski

Darcy is the founder of “Life With Darcy and Brian,” where she combines her love for education, board games, and crafting to create engaging learning experiences for kids. Her creative projects and writing have been featured in outlets like The Toy Insider, CafeMom, Mom.com, Parents.com, Country Living, and The Pioneer Woman.