Sense of humor
The only way to deal with the huge life change a baby wreaks on your household is to be able to laugh about it. Yes, it's serious business. But who says you can't find hilarity in the fact that you're interested in the size and shape of your baby's poop, and that you refer to your husband as Daddy? Even better: You don't just have to laugh at yourself. It's pretty funny when Daddy forgets to put a towel over his shoulder before he burps the baby, and spitup befouls his shirt. Also, don't forget the leaky breasts, the leaky diapers, the leaky noses... Have fun!

Creativity
Like a Boy Scout, a new mom is (ideally) always prepared. Unfortunately, new moms are running on fewer brain cells and less sleep than your average Boy Scout, so we can be forgiven for being a little disorganized sometimes. Regardless, you have to be ready for the steady stream of surprises your baby will present, like the sudden bout of vomiting just as you strap him into the car seat. Or the random three-hour morning nap that would be great any other day, except that you have somewhere to be in an hour. Or when he hurls his last pacifier out the car window as you sit in traffic. You know you've earned your mom patch when you concoct a solution to these situations. (Hint: Always have a backup paci and baby wipes in the glove compartment, and if you have to shift your baby into his car seat when he's sleeping, set it right next to his crib before the switch to keep the movement to a minimum.) They don't call necessity the mother of invention for nothing.

Type B personality
You were going to be one kind of parent when you were pregnant: perfect and in control. Let those notions go. Babies have their own ideas on how to spend their days, and you can't be too controlling, or no one will be happy. Try to go with the flow as much as you can. While you're both getting to know each other in the first months, take advice from the Beatles and let it be: Your baby's natural rhythms will emerge, and you can build a workable schedule from the patterns you've observed. If she has her morning nap at 9 a.m., don't sign up for Mommy & Me at 10. Meet your mom friends at a café and let her sleep in her stroller. "Help the baby adapt to the family routine, but be willing to compromise," says Dr. Greene. "Balance will happen if you're trying or not. And how much fun you have in the meantime depends on your willingness to roll with it."

Julie Tilsner is a mom of two and the author of Mommy Yoga: The 50 Stretches of Motherhood.

From stamina to immodesty to tool skills

Stamina
Even though the average infant sleeps between 16 and 18 hours a day, new parents are universally exhausted. "Babies do come with a sleep schedule," says Alan Greene, M.D., author of From First Kicks to First Steps. "It's just not one that we like." By three months, most babies sleep through the night, which is roughly defined as a six-hour stretch. By six months, a baby can pull a 12-hour snooze with only one wake-up food run. Of course, your baby may not have gotten this memo. Even once he starts sleeping in longer spurts, any number of developmental milestones (rolling over, teething, learning how to pull himself up) will further conspire to keep you from getting those eight hours. But it pays to be persevering. You'll build reserves you didn't know you had, and when you're soothing his colic at 3 a.m., you'll realize you've got the stamina of a rock star. If you were always the sort of person who could function on three hours of sleep, you're ahead of the rest of us. But there's that pesky cumulative effect. Three hours of sleep a night for six weeks straight? That's where Starbucks comes in handy.

Immodesty
"If you're breastfeeding, you're going to spend a considerable amount of time walking around with your upper body exposed and your shirt hiked up to your chin," says Maria Lauricella, mom of Sam, 20 months, in Brooklyn, New York. The good news is that after two to three weeks, your milk supply stabilizes and your breasts (more or less) go back to normal. Without the extra engorgement, you won't feel as self-conscious. But whether you're breastfeeding or not, chances are someone you've never met will see you in a state of dishevelment that would have been mortifying prebaby. Ignore the dirty looks and awkward stares. It's not exhibitionism. It's your job.

Tool skills
Forget Bob the Builder. It's about Mom the Fixer. Better get over your aversion to novel-length assembly instructions and learn how to put together that porta-crib (and Exersaucer, high chair, and musical swing). The time has finally come for you to venture into Home Depot for your own set of screwdrivers, wrenches, and nails. Don't forget the hammer, the tape measure, and an X-acto knife to open all the boxes (but don't put them anywhere near the baby!). It's also a good idea to keep the full spectrum of batteries stocked in the utility drawer, too. With the right tools, you're halfway there. And with practice (there'll be plenty) you'll get through the next 18 years, through bunk-bed assembly and science-fair projects, just fine.

From an ability to relax to ESP to a love of song

Ability to relax
Yes, your mind is constantly racing with all you have to do. But there's a lot of "downtime" with a baby. The first year is made up of countless hours just sitting, holding, and staring. Being in the moment is key, because you won't have these delicious moments for long. "You've got to be able to surrender," says Margaret Ludlow, a mom of five in Provo, Utah. "Now that my youngest is almost three, I miss when they fall asleep on your chest." Research shows that babies have six different cycles throughout the day, including a quiet alert time when they just look around. This is when your baby is concentrating on your face, when you can hold him quietly and feel the love. These moments are just as important as when you're stimulating him.

Love of song
Your baby adores the sound of your voice -- he starts listening to it in the womb. Jolie McRae, mom of Karly in Oakland, California, says she can turn her 21-month-old's mood with a well-placed song. "I'll make up words for whatever we're doing, and it helps Karly focus on my song instead of getting buckled into her car seat," she says. "It feels silly to sing 'Buckle up my baby, buckle up my baby, buckle up my baby for a ride in the car,' but it's easier on my ears than her screaming." The next time your baby needs soothing, give in to your inner Beyoncé. It's the most natural thing in the world. And your devoted audience doesn't care how tone-deaf you think you are.

ESP
This may seem like the hardest trait to get, but you probably already have it. You're connected to your baby in more than just an emotional way. You know when something's not right. When you wake from a dead sleep at 2 a.m. and sprint to your baby's room, there's a good reason for it. Listen to your gut -- it's telling you something and it's usually correct. "During pregnancy, mothers and fathers both change," says Dr. Greene. "It's a deep, instinctual, hormonal connection to your baby that you should pay attention to." Trust that you'll know what your baby and you need, and when you'll need it. You can still listen to the advice, but use it to inform your gut instinct and let that be your ultimate guide.

CLOSE PRINT

How to Be a Great Mom to a Baby By Julie Tilsner, Parenting Sense of humor The only way to deal with the huge life change a baby wreaks on your household is to be able to laugh about it. Yes, it's serious business. But who says you can't find hilarity in the fact that you're interested in the size and shape of your baby's poop, and that you refer to your husband as Daddy? Even better: You don't just have to laugh at yourself. It's pretty funny when Daddy forgets to put a towel over his shoulder before he burps the baby, and spitup befouls his shirt. Also, don't forget the leaky breasts, the leaky diapers, the leaky noses... Have fun! Creativity Like a Boy Scout, a new mom is (ideally) always prepared. Unfortunately, new moms are running on fewer brain cells and less sleep than your average Boy Scout, so we can be forgiven for being a little disorganized sometimes. Regardless, you have to be ready for the steady stream of surprises your baby will present, like the sudden bout of vomiting just as you strap him into the car seat. Or the random three-hour morning nap that would be great any other day, except that you have somewhere to be in an hour. Or when he hurls his last pacifier out the car window as you sit in traffic. You know you've earned your mom patch when you concoct a solution to these situations. (Hint: Always have a backup paci and baby wipes in the glove compartment, and if you have to shift your baby into his car seat when he's sleeping, set it right next to his crib before the switch to keep the movement to a minimum.) They don't call necessity the mother of invention for nothing. Type B personality You were going to be one kind of parent when you were pregnant: perfect and in control. Let those notions go. Babies have their own ideas on how to spend their days, and you can't be too controlling, or no one will be happy. Try to go with the flow as much as you can. While you're both getting to know each other in the first months, take advice from the Beatles and let it be: Your baby's natural rhythms will emerge, and you can build a workable schedule from the patterns you've observed. If she has her morning nap at 9 a.m., don't sign up for Mommy & Me at 10. Meet your mom friends at a café and let her sleep in her stroller. "Help the baby adapt to the family routine, but be willing to compromise," says Dr. Greene. "Balance will happen if you're trying or not. And how much fun you have in the meantime depends on your willingness to roll with it." Julie Tilsner is a mom of two and the author of Mommy Yoga: The 50 Stretches of Motherhood. From stamina to immodesty to tool skills Stamina Even though the average infant sleeps between 16 and 18 hours a day, new parents are universally exhausted. "Babies do come with a sleep schedule," says Alan Greene, M.D., author of From First Kicks to First Steps. "It's just not one that we like." By three months, most babies sleep through the night, which is roughly defined as a six-hour stretch. By six months, a baby can pull a 12-hour snooze with only one wake-up food run. Of course, your baby may not have gotten this memo. Even once he starts sleeping in longer spurts, any number of developmental milestones (rolling over, teething, learning how to pull himself up) will further conspire to keep you from getting those eight hours. But it pays to be persevering. You'll build reserves you didn't know you had, and when you're soothing his colic at 3 a.m., you'll realize you've got the stamina of a rock star. If you were always the sort of person who could function on three hours of sleep, you're ahead of the rest of us. But there's that pesky cumulative effect. Three hours of sleep a night for six weeks straight? That's where Starbucks comes in handy. Immodesty "If you're breastfeeding, you're going to spend a considerable amount of time walking around with your upper body exposed and your shirt hiked up to your chin," says Maria Lauricella, mom of Sam, 20 months, in Brooklyn, New York. The good news is that after two to three weeks, your milk supply stabilizes and your breasts (more or less) go back to normal. Without the extra engorgement, you won't feel as self-conscious. But whether you're breastfeeding or not, chances are someone you've never met will see you in a state of dishevelment that would have been mortifying prebaby. Ignore the dirty looks and awkward stares. It's not exhibitionism. It's your job. Tool skills Forget Bob the Builder. It's about Mom the Fixer. Better get over your aversion to novel-length assembly instructions and learn how to put together that porta-crib (and Exersaucer, high chair, and musical swing). The time has finally come for you to venture into Home Depot for your own set of screwdrivers, wrenches, and nails. Don't forget the hammer, the tape measure, and an X-acto knife to open all the boxes (but don't put them anywhere near the baby!). It's also a good idea to keep the full spectrum of batteries stocked in the utility drawer, too. With the right tools, you're halfway there. And with practice (there'll be plenty) you'll get through the next 18 years, through bunk-bed assembly and science-fair projects, just fine. From an ability to relax to ESP to a love of song Ability to relax Yes, your mind is constantly racing with all you have to do. But there's a lot of "downtime" with a baby. The first year is made up of countless hours just sitting, holding, and staring. Being in the moment is key, because you won't have these delicious moments for long. "You've got to be able to surrender," says Margaret Ludlow, a mom of five in Provo, Utah. "Now that my youngest is almost three, I miss when they fall asleep on your chest." Research shows that babies have six different cycles throughout the day, including a quiet alert time when they just look around. This is when your baby is concentrating on your face, when you can hold him quietly and feel the love. These moments are just as important as when you're stimulating him. Love of song Your baby adores the sound of your voice -- he starts listening to it in the womb. Jolie McRae, mom of Karly in Oakland, California, says she can turn her 21-month-old's mood with a well-placed song. "I'll make up words for whatever we're doing, and it helps Karly focus on my song instead of getting buckled into her car seat," she says. "It feels silly to sing 'Buckle up my baby, buckle up my baby, buckle up my baby for a ride in the car,' but it's easier on my ears than her screaming." The next time your baby needs soothing, give in to your inner Beyoncé. It's the most natural thing in the world. And your devoted audience doesn't care how tone-deaf you think you are. ESP This may seem like the hardest trait to get, but you probably already have it. You're connected to your baby in more than just an emotional way. You know when something's not right. When you wake from a dead sleep at 2 a.m. and sprint to your baby's room, there's a good reason for it. Listen to your gut -- it's telling you something and it's usually correct. "During pregnancy, mothers and fathers both change," says Dr. Greene. "It's a deep, instinctual, hormonal connection to your baby that you should pay attention to." Trust that you'll know what your baby and you need, and when you'll need it. You can still listen to the advice, but use it to inform your gut instinct and let that be your ultimate guide.