This post is in partnership with Coterie. I only endorse products I use with my own family.

I became a mom earlier than most of my friends, so when they started having kids, they often came to me for advice. So, when I found myself constantly saying the same things to my friends, I thought, why not put it all together in one place? So, here's a second-time mom’s top 5 pieces of advice for first-time moms to make parenting a little easier and a lot more enjoyable.

1. Use Coterie Diapers, and don’t think twice about it

My number one piece of advice? Just skip the endless diaper trial and error. Use Coterie diapers from the start! Their diapers and wipes are the best, without a doubt. I’ve tried other brands like Dyper, Pampers Pure, and Kirkland, but after switching to Coterie, my baby started sleeping noticeably longer! 🤯 

Here’s why: Coterie diapers have amazing absorbency, which means fewer middle-of-the-night leaks and blowouts that can wake kids up. With other brands, my kids would wake up with wet, soggy diapers because they were uncomfortable.

I'm a big believer in using non-toxic, clean materials for baby products. That’s why I love Coterie diapers. They’re hypoallergenic, independently lab tested, and free from chemicals like fragrances, lotions, latex, rubber, dyes, alcohol, heavy metals, parabens, phthalates, pesticides, chlorine bleach, VOCs, and optical brighteners. Plus, Coterie diapers undergo third-party testing, and they were the first brand to release a public Diaper Safety Report.

Get 10% off your subscription purchase making a month of diapers $81 with code EXTRA10

2. Prepare stations around your home before baby arrives

Consider these stations as your “survival kits”—a collection of everything you need in one organized place. Here are some examples:

• Bedroom station: small night light, burp cloths, sound machine, pacifiers
• Bathroom station: mesh underwear, pads, peri bottle, OTC meds
• Diaper station: changing pad, diapers, wipes, wipe dispenser 
• Living room station: snacks, tissues, baby lounger, nursing pillow
• Kitchen station: baby bottle drying rack, freezer postpartum meals, bottles, bottle brush

3. Prioritize small, self-care rituals

After having Caden, I didn’t prioritize myself or my self-care rituals. My days were a nonstop cycle of feeding him, changing diapers, and catching whatever sleep I could between his naps. It left me feeling burned out and exhausted, and I couldn't really enjoy my newborn bubble because I was physically and emotionally drained.

When I had Willow, I knew things had to change. I started prioritizing myself and making time just for me. Whether it was taking a long walk with a podcast, treating myself to an indulgent breakfast, or doing 20 mins of postpartum recovery exercises, I made sure to find moments each week to recharge.

4. Ask for help

Before the baby arrives, you should think about the support system you’ll need during this big transition when sleep is minimal, stress can be high, and the learning curve is steep. Consider these areas you’ll need some extra coverage in:

• Overnight care: Plan to split overnight responsibilities with your partner, especially during the newborn phase. If that’s not possible, ask a family member, or consider hiring a night doula or night nurse.
• Self-care: Ask your partner if you each can switch off having an hour to yourselves daily. If that isn’t possible, see if a family member, friends or a babysitter can provide childcare a few times a week.
• Mental load of managing a household: This could mean bringing in home cleaners for a few weeks to keep the house tidy and using grocery delivery services or meal prep subscriptions. 

5. Repeat after me…

These mantras helped me through the challenging times:

• It is not the season for perfection
• Trust your instincts
• Every challenge is temporary
• Be patient, me and my baby are learning together

So take my #1 piece of advice, try Coterie Diapers for your baby!

While my friends pick and choose what worked best for their family, almost all of them follow my top advice–using Coterie diapers. Now, they’re big Coterie fans like me!

✅ Super absorbent 

✅ Helps prevent leaks and blowouts  

✅ Contributes to better sleep for the whole family 

✅ Made from gentle and non-toxic materials to prevent irritation and allergies 

✅ SO soft, like cashmere

✅ Convenient subscription with text reminders

Get 10% off your subscription purchase making a month of diapers $81 with code EXTRA10

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