Mistakes I Made as a First-Time Mom (and What I Learned Along the Way)

Let’s be honest — no matter how many books, blogs, or Google searches you do, nothing truly prepares you for being a mom until you are one. I went into motherhood thinking I had all the answers, and spoiler alert: I didn’t.

Looking back, there are a few things I did (or believed) as a first-time mom that make me laugh now — and maybe even cringe a little. But they taught me so much, and if sharing them helps another mama worry a little less, it’s worth it.

1. Taking Google a Little Too Seriously

I can’t tell you how many times I found myself down a Google rabbit hole at 2 a.m. One thing I read everywhere was that breastfed babies can’t overeat. Let me just say — they absolutely can. My little one loved to eat and wasn’t shy about it. I learned to listen to him more than the internet. Every baby is different, and that’s the only “rule” that really matters.

2. Trying to Stretch Feedings Too Soon

I thought the goal was to get my baby to go longer between feeds — like that was some kind of milestone. Turns out, that’s not what their tiny bodies need. Babies are growing faster than we can blink, and if they want to eat every hour for a week straight, let them. Growth spurts are no joke.

3. Thinking My Baby “Just Didn’t Like Pacifiers”

For weeks, I thought pacifiers were a lost cause. I tried a few, and he wanted nothing to do with them. Then one day, we found the one — and suddenly, he could soothe himself (at least a little). Moral of the story: sometimes it’s not that they don’t like it; it’s just that you haven’t found the right fit yet.

4. Swaddling All. The. Time.

Everyone told me to swaddle to help him sleep, so I did. Except… my baby is a mover. He kicks, wiggles, stretches — basically runs a marathon in his sleep. Once I finally let him be free, he slept better. Listen to your baby’s cues. Some love the swaddle; some just want to move!

5. Believing Every Instagram Reel

I saw so many moms online saying their newborns “slept through the night right away.” So when mine didn’t, I thought I was doing something wrong. Nope. He was just hungry — and he wanted his mama. Social media doesn’t show the middle-of-the-night feeds or tears (theirs and ours). Don’t compare your reality to someone else’s highlight reel.

6. Forcing a Routine Too Early

I tried so hard to create the “perfect” bedtime routine — bath, book, bottle, bed. Except sometimes I skipped a step, forgot the book, or just couldn’t get him down. I’ve learned it’s okay. Your newborn doesn’t know what day it is, let alone whether you read Goodnight Moon before bed. Structure will come naturally later — for now, just survive and snuggle.

What I’ve Learned

Motherhood is full of lessons that no article can truly teach you. You’ll figure things out as you go — sometimes through trial and error, sometimes through laughter, and sometimes through tears at 3 a.m.

If I could go back and tell my new-mom self one thing, it would be this: stop trying to be perfect. Just be present. The rest will fall into place.