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The experience of being a new mom can definitely be overwhelming. The good news: You're not alone. The best mom podcasts out there are the ones that will make you feel like you've got this, and whether you have a newborn or you're running into issues you didn't expect with a six month old, many of them have every aspect of your baby's first year of life covered.
From expert intel to commiseration with moms who have been there already, the podcast world has a lot to offer you. With how isolating those newborn months can be, it's almost like having a friend in your ear guiding you along the way. And if you've suddenly discovered you have a whole lot of free time — around say, 3 am — these podcasts will certainly keep you company when it seems like everyone in the world is asleep but you.
Whether you're dealing with sleep issues, arguing with your partner more frequently, or looking for advice on new mom struggles in general, these podcasts will have your back.
The benefits of listening to podcasts
Aside from offering up some entertainment and education, podcasts are actually good for your mind, too. According to what communications expert Emma Rodero told The Atlantic, they can actually boost your creativity since you aren't looking at any visual representation of what you're listening to.
“Audio is one of the most intimate forms of media because you are constantly building your own images of the story in your mind and you’re creating your own production,” Rodero said.
Listening to a podcast can simulate social relationships, and while it's not as good as meeting a friend IRL for lunch for an actual conversation, it can be a good substitute when you're stuck at home with a new baby and making lunch plans isn't a possibility. It can also give you something positive to focus on, helping you to use your free time a bit more productively at a time when you need that ability the most.
And while you're doing all that listening, you're becoming a better listener, too, which will certainly benefit your relationships!
Podcasts for new mom struggles
Regardless of what you may or may not be struggling with as a new mom, these podcasts just might have what you're looking for:
1. Sleep Cues: The Everything Baby Sleep Podcast
On this podcast, pediatric sleep consultant Erin Junker talks about the most common issues parents run into when it comes to sleep and conducts Q&A sessions on the topic, too.
2. Badass Breastfeeding Podcast
Need something to help you on your nursing journey? Led by two breastfeeding experts, the Badass Breastfeeding Podcast will help you with problems you might end up with along the way and how to solve them.
3. Feed Play Love
Covering the newborn to toddler period, Feed Play Love goes into everything from speech development to tantrums to how to decode your baby's poop (really).
4. The Longest Shortest Time
This acclaimed podcast isn't just about parenting babies — though plenty of that is in there, too. It takes a look at the ups and downs of parenting at all ages, with plenty of laughs involved.
Mental health, marriage, and family podcasts
As a new mom, figuring out how to care for a baby isn't the only challenge you'll face — you will be experiencing new stressors on your family, relationship, and your own mental health at the same time. Fortunately, there are podcasts to help with those topics, too!
5. Happy as a Mother
Led by a host who happens to be a psychotherapist, Happy as a Mother addresses all things that have to do with your mental health now that you're a mom.
6. The Positive Psychology Podcast
This podcast covers all things about the science of happiness, from expert interviews to strategies you can try to bring more happiness into your own life.
7. Hot Marriage, Cool Parents
Hosted by Married at First Sight stars Dough Hehner and Jamie Otis, Hot Marriage, Cool Parents addresses all the ups and downs of keeping a marriage in tact while parenting babies and toddlers.
Finding the right podcast that speaks to you might take a few tries, but in the end, the benefits are invaluable.
"As a recently divorced mom of three, I've listened to so many podcasts about dating, divorce, and trying to keep things in line as a single mom, I've lost count," mom Katie Bingham-Smith wrote for Mom.com, adding that her favorite podcast "[makes] you feel validated and give you the boost you need."
And as new moms, we can all use a boost from time to time.
