We tell new moms to rest, then set them up to fail. Here’s what they actually deserve.
This month we are so excited to partner with our team of experts to provide you research based, factual information on the topics YOU care about. Stop the spiral on social media getting conflicting advice, and know that you have a source of truth to understand key topics like sleep, feeding, and mental health. We are honored to have our very own Rising Toddler Instructor, Jamie Labbe, guest writing this blog on sleep. Read more about her background below!
“Sleep when the baby sleeps” is cute advice until you’re holding a baby who won’t sleep unless they’re on top of you, the laundry is giving you side-eye, and your brain is spinning with the 47 things you’re “supposed” to be doing for your baby’s development.
We tell new moms to rest, then send them home with a baby and zero roadmap. We tell them to take care of themselves, but don’t explain how that’s supposed to happen while they’re up every 90 minutes and learning to parent in a culture obsessed with highlight reels and bouncing back.
It’s no wonder so many moms land in survival mode and stay there.
This becomes problematic when new moms start to think this is normal. That being touched out, tapped out, and running on fumes is just part of the deal. That motherhood means being constantly selfless and endlessly exhausted.
The truth is: you deserve more than just surviving this season of life.
This isn’t just your baby’s childhood… it’s your motherhood. You deserve support that actually works in real life, not just vague platitudes or one-size-fits-all advice. That’s why I do what I do.
As a pediatric sleep consultant at Oh Baby Consulting, I work with families to create personalized sleep plans that fit your child, your family dynamic, and your comfort level. Not because I think sleep is the most important thing (ok, maybe a little), but because when your baby sleeps, you can sleep. And when you get to sleep, everything else gets a little more manageable.
That’s also why I’m so excited to be a part of New Mom School. Because while I can help solve the sleep stuff, moms need more than that. They need connection. They need education. They need a place to ask “Is this normal?” without being met with judgment or a 300-comment Facebook debate. They need to feel seen, supported, and like they’re doing a really good job (because they are!)
There’s a gap in the way society cares for new moms, but we’re working to close it – one class, one nap, one real conversation at a time. Because surviving is the baseline, but you (and your baby) deserve so much more.
Take this with you:
If you’re stuck in survival mode, try picking just one thing this week to lighten your load or ask for help with, even if it feels tiny. Maybe it’s handing off bathtime to your partner, outsourcing a household chore, setting up a simple sleep plan so nights don’t feel like total guesswork, or showing up to a New Mom School class where you’ll find people who really get it. Support doesn’t have to be big or dramatic to be life-changing.
You don’t have to do it all, and you were never meant to do it alone.
Connect with Jamie on Instagram
Join Jamie at a Rising Toddler Class
Bio:
Jamie Labbe has spent her career helping families feel more supported and empowered through the early years of childhood. She holds degrees in Psychology and Child Development, and has worked as a preschool teacher, postpartum social worker, and now as the founder of Oh Baby Consulting, where she supports families as a pediatric sleep consultant. With a background in infant mental health and whole-family wellness, Jamie is passionate about helping parents feel confident, connected, and cared for through every stage of early childhood.