New Mum Identity: What I’m Keeping and Letting Go of in 2026

A new year always seems to arrive with a loud chorus of new you! energy. New routines. New goals. New standards to somehow meet… while holding a baby who may or may not have slept.

As the founder of Adventure Babies — but first and foremost, as a mum — I feel this every January. Becoming a mum changes everything, and one of the biggest shifts for me (and for so many women I meet) has been new mum identity: who I am now, what matters, and how I stop myself from disappearing under the weight of doing it all.

The older my children have got — and the more babies and parents I’ve met through our classes — the more convinced I am of this:

When I feel more like myself, my children thrive.

I see it every single week. Babies settle more quickly. They engage more deeply. They explore more confidently. And their grown-ups look lighter, calmer, more at ease. Supporting new mum identity isn’t indulgent — it’s part of our children’s emotional development.

There’s growing recognition of this too. Organisations like Mind highlight how maternal wellbeing plays a vital role in early family life and emotional health (see their guidance on postnatal mental health.

So, with that in mind, here’s my very unofficial, very human What’s In and What’s Out for 2026 list — shaped by motherhood, experience, and learning how to protect my sense of self as a mum.

✨ What’s IN for 2026 (and supporting my new mum identity)

🌿 Peaceful interactions

Less drama. Fewer emotional energy leaks. More calm, kind, grounding moments — whether that’s with my baby, my partner, my friends, or myself.

Peaceful interactions don’t mean pretending everything is perfect. They mean choosing softness where I can, and not engaging in negativity just because it’s loud. Babies are emotional sponges — they learn safety, regulation and trust from calm connection, and that starts with me feeling emotionally steady.

🌳 Being outside in nature

Fresh air fixes more than I give it credit for. A walk, sitting on a blanket, watching leaves move, feeling the cold on my cheeks — it all counts.

Spending time outdoors supports babies’ sensory development and reduces stress hormones — for both of us. It also gives me space to breathe and reconnect with myself, which feels vital for maintaining my identity as a mum.

🍝 Prioritising meals with friends

Not rushed coffees. Proper meals. Food on plates. Conversation that isn’t constantly interrupted by notifications.

Connection is a huge part of healthy new mum identity. Sharing meals reminds me I’m not alone, that my world still includes laughter, adult conversation and being seen as more than just someone’s mum.

👗 Wearing clothes that make me happy

Not clothes that are practical-but-soulless. Not clothes that hide me away. Clothes that feel like me.

When I feel comfortable and confident in my body, it changes how I move, play, cuddle and connect. My children don’t need me to look a certain way — they just need me present, relaxed and at ease.

🎂 Saving nothing for best

Lighting the candle. Using the nice mug. Wearing the outfit. Reading the special book.

Life with babies is made up of small, ordinary moments — and those moments are the point. Choosing joy in the everyday helps me feel like myself again, right now, not someday.

⚔️ Picking my parenting battles

Not every hill is worth dying on. Not every opinion deserves airtime. Not every comment needs correcting.

Protecting my energy protects my new mum identity — and energy is one of the most precious parenting resources I have.

🚫 What’s OUT for 2026 (and what’s harming new mum identity)

❌ Working just to tick boxes

Parenting isn’t a performance. I don’t need gold stars for getting through the day.

My children don’t benefit from me constantly striving — they benefit from me when I’m emotionally available, responsive and human.

❌ Negative interactions

I’m allowed to step back. I’m allowed to disengage. I’m allowed to choose peace over being right.

Protecting my nervous system supports my baby’s sense of safety — and helps me stay grounded in who I am as a mum.

❌ Mum guilt

I’m not failing because today looks different than I imagined. I’m not behind. I’m not doing it wrong.

Mum guilt erodes confidence and joy, both of which are essential for healthy new mum identity.

❌ Overthinking everything

Google doesn’t get to raise my baby. I do.

Trusting my instincts strengthens my confidence — and confident caregiving helps my children feel secure in the world.

❌ People-pleasing when I don’t have the capacity

I’m allowed to say no. I’m allowed to rest. I’m allowed to choose what fits this season.

Boundaries don’t make me selfish — they make me sustainable.

A Gentle Reminder About New Mum Identity

Becoming a mum doesn’t mean losing who I am — but it does mean I have to actively protect myself from disappearing.

This isn’t about rules or resolutions. It’s an honest reflection of what I’m choosing to lean into this year — and what I’m quietly letting go of — so I can feel more like myself and be a calmer, happier, more present parent.

At Adventure Babies, this belief sits at the heart of everything we do. Stories, sensory play, shared experiences and community don’t just support babies’ development — they support new mum identity too. Our classes are designed to nurture both baby development and parental confidence, something I’ve written about before when exploring how shared sensory experiences help babies feel secure while giving mums space to reconnect with themselves.

Writing this has helped me get clearer on what I want more of — and what I’m done carrying — as I move through this stage of motherhood.

I’d genuinely love to know what feels in and out for other mums this year too. Not as a checklist. Not for comparison. Just honest reflection.

Here’s to a year of peaceful moments, muddy shoes, favourite clothes on repeat, and parenting choices made with confidence rather than guilt.

Love,

Emma
Founder, Adventure Babies