People tend to make a fuss of expectant mums, but once your baby is here you can step aside as everyone wants to cuddle the newborn.

The downside of this, of course, is that you will get an influx of visitors once you are home. Some will be very helpful and some will not.

There seems to be a growing trend for new parents to ban anyone for coming to visit for the first few days after birth. This gives them time to bond with the baby and also to try and get back to some sort of normality.

These tried and tested tips can help you to help them as they meet the newest member of the family:

Spread them out

EVERYONE will want to come and meet the baby straight away but the last thing that either you or baby needs is to be overcrowded by visitors.

Try and spread them out as much as you can, don’t be afraid of telling people they need to wait. You can say something like “oh we are busy tomorrow afternoon, but we could do the next day around 11am for half an hour”. That way you are giving lots of notice of your intentions and keeps the atmosphere happy and relaxed. Also don’t be scared of asking them to leave when you feel ready.

Get them to pitch in

You’ve just spent god knows how many hours in labour. You’ve probably had very little sleep too, so get your visitors to help out.

Get them to put the kettle on and do the washing up. Ask them to pick up your supermarket shopping for you on the way over. You can even ask them cook some food. My mother filled my freezer full of home cooked food for us. Don’t think I cooked anything for months.

Smile and wave

Everyone and their dog will be giving you advice, especially if this is your first baby. Some of it will be quite handy and some, not so much.

My advice, smile and wave (well smile and nod your head lol). You don’t have to accept anyone’s advice. Finding your feet as a parent means figuring out some of the trickier elements for yourself

Come as you are

Other that Kate Middleton nobody looks amazing the day or the week after giving birth. You are surviving on very little sleep, you are hormonal and you cant even get a shower as the baby wont let you put her down! So, it’s perfectly okay to answer the door with milk stained clothing, dark circles and greasy hair. Embrace it and if anyone complains, tell them they can pay for your next spa weekend.

 

Do you have any top tips for dealing with visitors? Leave us a comment below.