DO's & DON'Ts of Being the Best Postpartum Visitor Ever

All the months of waiting are over and, finally, a new little one has arrived! Maybe it's your best friend's first baby, or your third niece, or your 12th grandchild. All you know is, you gotta see this wee bundle of joy. Squishy baby sweetness. Newborn sneezes. We totally get it. 

But also remember you're visiting a family in BIG TIME transition. In the first weeks especially, folks tend to fall into one of two camps: helpful visitor or unhelpful visitor. Helpful visitors understand that parents need to bond with their baby (don't worry friend, you'll get plenty of time to hold the baby later) and  their load around the house to be lightened so they can focus on parenting. And nobody wants to be the unhelpful kind so read on for a few trade secrets on how to be the best postpartum visitor. Ever.

DO:

Bring Food -- snacks for the fridge (pre-cut veggies/fruit, cheese cubes, yogurt, nuts, etc.) or a pre-cooked meal is gonna make you a friend for life. Keep in mind a lot of new parents get heavy casseroles or pastas so bonus points if what you bring is not only nourishing but also healthy.

Lend a Helping Hand -- watch the baby so mama/papa can nap and/or shower; do the dishes; finish a load of laundry. In other words: make their life easier.

Tell Her What a Good Job She's Doing -- when you're tired and haven't brushed your hair today and maybe your baby is crying for no discernible reason, hearing "you're doing great" or "I'm so proud of you!" is a little ray of light.

DON'T: 

Ask for Things -- don't you dare ask mama or papa to make you a cup of tea or glass of water. Seriously! Instead, ask what you can get for them. When is the last time they ate? Can you pick them up a couple lattes on your way over? Do they need you to stop at the grocery store? 

Come Over Unannounced -- you can drop off a meal on the door step but if you plan on coming in to the house, make sure you've checked to see that it's a good time for everyone.

Stay for Too Long -- 30 minutes to an hour is plenty of time for you to knock out a chore (see "DO" list above) kiss the baby and make sure mama & papa have everything they need. Anything more than that and you're probably encroaching on precious sleep time. 

Who was most helpful to you postpartum and how? Tell us in the comments below!