Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day, a day dedicated to doing something nice for someone without expecting anything in return. While everyone deserves kindness, new parents especially need it more than ever.
With a newborn around, they are sleep-deprived, constantly trying to decipher why their baby is crying, and dealing with the physical effects of childbirth. Any act of kindness can make a huge difference in their lives.
If you know new parents and want to help them out, here are some suggestions to make their lives a little easier:
1. Offer to bring food or groceries
Nutrition plays a vital role after birth. Breastfeeding moms require a healthy diet to produce sufficient milk. For those who are not breastfeeding, a nutritious diet can assist in recovering from the physical toll of childbirth.
After returning from the hospital, most new moms lack the time and energy to cook or even visit the grocery store. They often neglect their meals while caring for the baby. Offering them a warm, home-cooked meal or ordering take-out from their favorite restaurant can uplift their spirits.
If the other parent takes up the responsibility of cooking, it’s worth considering delivering groceries. Although he may not be recovering from childbirth, taking care of mom and baby is challenging work. Providing him with essentials can ease his burden.
2. Help with household chores
If the new parents you know are struggling to cook and eat, household chores will likely start to pile up. From laundry to dishes, dusting to sweeping, the list of never-ending chores can add to their stress and tension. You can offer them a helping hand by doing a few housekeeping chores for them, like tidying up, loading the dishwasher or washing machine, and vacuuming, among other things. This can greatly contribute to their mental health and overall peace.
3. Offer to babysit
When you’re completely exhausted, the one thing you want more than anything is uninterrupted rest. If you’re comfortable with babies, offering to babysit can be a great way to help out new parents. They’ll be less anxious knowing someone they trust is looking after their little one.
4. Provide emotional support
Parenthood can be a roller coaster ride of emotions. Sometimes, new parents may feel like they’re doing a great job while at other times, they may feel like they’re failing. During such times, all they need is someone to listen, offer encouragement, or share personal experiences and advice.
If you know new parents, ask them what they need – it may be as simple as some fresh air, a nap, or a shower. You can offer to take care of the baby for a short while so that they can do these things.
Simple words of encouragement can go a long way in boosting their confidence and mental health. Even a phone call or text message can uplift their mood. It doesn’t have to be done in person, you can also call or Facetime them.
5. Offer to run errands
New parents often have more than just household cleaning to worry about. There are small errands that could use a helping hand, such as taking out the trash, doing yard work, walking the dog, picking up the mail, getting an oil change for their car, heading to the drugstore, or picking up more diapers. Offering to help with these tasks can be invaluable support. 💛
6. Send thoughtful gifts
Who doesn’t love receiving gifts? If you know any new parents, why not send them a thoughtful present? You could create a baby-themed gift like a memory box or photo album, or assemble a care package with essential items such as diapers, wipes, swaddles, pacifiers, and more.
Alternatively, you could opt for something for the parents themselves, such as a body massager, a self-heating coffee mug, or a robot vacuum. Here is a list of other gift ideas for new parents that you might find helpful.
7. Help with older siblings
If you know any new parents who also have older children, you could offer to help them out with some essential tasks. For example, you could offer to pick up or drop off their older kids from school or take them to their extracurricular activities.
You could even plan a fun playdate for the kids, like playing board games, solving puzzles, or watching a movie. This way, the new parents can have a break while making sure that their older child doesn’t feel left out or neglected.
8. Organize a meal train
Think back to point 1. We mentioned offering to bring food or groceries. While it works just as well as a one or two-time thing, you could also broaden this gesture by coordinating with friends and family to set up a meal train.
New parents will love not having to think about what to eat. Here are a few things to consider when preparing food for new parents:
- Find a time that suits the parents to drop off food.
- If possible, make a homemade meal. It’s better nutritionally, and you can’t always find the same things online as takeout.
- Ask about any dietary restrictions.
- Cook enough food for leftovers, which will come in handy during late-night feedings.
- Finally, throw in a sweet treat if you can, it’s sure to uplift their spirits.
Whether you want to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day or simply help out your friends and family, the ideas listed above are a surefire way to show support, have a positive impact, and encourage new parents to keep going.
