Each moment with my Itty Bitty is a perfectly precious one. I know I’m a little biased, but he is just so damn cute. I could honestly spend hours holding him as he sleeps, while I play with his tiny toes and tiny fingers, or sing him to sleep.

However, being a new mom does have a small drawback…it is incredibly easy to become a pajama wearing hermit/zombie. Why put on my nice dress from Nordstrom and go to Starbucks, when I can wear my new favorite sweat suit from Brown University – which is covered in puke – and make a K-cup from Dunkin’. Who needs sunlight or fresh air when I can catch up on the entire third season of Game of Thrones and eat an the complete jumbo bag of Skittles? (Sadly this is not an exaggeration. BTW, can Daenerys be any more badass? I’m obsessed.)

But, then, I realized that making plans, even as simple as taking a walk around the block, help keep me sane and prevents me from looking like Theoden, the cursed king of Rohan in The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers.

Some days Itty Bitty and I go on adventures in the car, whereas on others we only make it as far as our front porch. It really depends on how he’s fairing for the day.

But, despite how hard it can be sometimes, I do have my favorite destinations. So I’ve decided to start documenting my favorite places in Rhode Island to bring my newborn baby – and share them with you. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to leave them in a comment below, or shoot me an email. Itty Bitty and I are always ready for a new adventure 🙂

The first baby friendly place that I can recommend is your own home. Sure, it’s a no-brainer, but there’s a catch. You need to invite a friend over to spend some time with you and your newborn. Otherwise you’re just being lazy and staying home alone.

I have especially enjoyed having friends and family over during the first few weeks of Itty Bitty’s life because I am in control of the environment. I don’t have to worry about being in a germ infested venue, or suffering from loud sounds that might startle him, or have to worry about the temperature.

How & Why To Invite Company To Your Own Home When You Have A New Baby

  • You have everything your baby needs – diapers, food, a comfortable place to feed, new clothing, cribs, etc.
  • You have everything YOU need – medications, bathroom supplies (especially for that first week home from the hospital), and your entire wardrobe. (Trust me, you’ll need the entire wardrobe because of all the bodily fluids the kid will project Exorcist style).
  • Generally, guests within the first few weeks will offer to help out, whether they bring over some food, or help out with some minor chores like emptying the dishwasher, or putting in another load of laundry. (This, in my opinion, should be par for the course. We never demanded it from anyone, but hubby and I always secretly referred to guests bringing a meal as their payment for seeing our baby 🙂
  • Someone else can hold your baby for you so you can use the restroom or take a shower. Laugh it up. It’s true, you honestly don’t have time to shower. You know how many times I made fun of those moms that said they never had time for themselves before I had Itty Bitty? Yeah, I was really, really dumb.
  • I love having company over because even though I am not leaving my house, I will still attempt to make myself presentable. Generally this just means something not covered in baby spit-up, but, hey, it still counts.
  • If the weather is nice, you can even sit out on your porch, front steps, or backyard.
  • Having genuine adult conversations will make you feel like a million bucks. For once, you and your partner won’t have to talk about whether it was a pee or poopy diaper or how great it is to hear a baby fart. Oddly enough, adults actually have adult conversations. Just seen Star Trek Into Darkness and love the twist about the villain? You can finally talk about it and you don’t even need to leave your home!
  • Make sure your company knows that you will not be able to have them over for very long – an hour at most. You and your tiny baby need to recharge!
  • Guests should come in small groups – either a single family at a time, or a friend or two at a time. This way, you and your baby do not get overwhelmed. And if this is something you’re uncomfortable with, the good news is that your baby won’t be passed around too much.
  • Make sure everyone is in good health before they come over, and that they wash their hands as soon as they enter. Keep a giant tub of hand sanitizer on your table as well.

Staying home and inviting someone over is obviously baby friendly, but a little bit of company will go a long way, especially in the first month after you have your baby. It is great to be surrounded by those you love who will share in your joy, without having to be stressed. Plus, when they bring food, it saves you for ordering Chinese for the third time that week. Although eating a good Pad Thai never, ever, and I mean never, ever, gets old. Seriously, never.

In the end, just stay home and have people over. It’s the easiest and most controlled environment you could possibly imagine – especially if you’re a new mom, or if you’re baby isn’t well, or if he’s so new.

Trust me, don’t worry about bringing your baby out to please everyone whether it be friends or family. People should and will understand that your baby is brand new and pretty much still has the packaging on it. If they love you and truly want to help, they’ll visit. And, really, that’s the best thing for your baby and, most importantly, you.

Because seeing people, and being social, despite how tired you can and will be is a good thing. And let’s face it, no one wants to look like the creepy cursed king of Rohan.

To follow the Best Baby Friendly Places in Rhode Island – just click this link!

Have you ever visited someone within the first few weeks of their having a baby? What was it like?