The Do's and Don'ts of New Motherhood, According to 'Jane the Virgin' and 'The Mindy Project'

Two of our favorite TV ladies — Jane the Virgin’s Jane Villanueva and The Mindy Project’s Mindy Lahiri — have recently become mothers for the first time, each welcoming home a new son this season. Well, Jane actually had her baby at the end of last season, but then he was kidnapped, and… it’s a long story.

Related: TV Baby Power Ranking: Which Tot Reigns Supreme?

Anyway, both Jane and Mindy have been great, attentive moms so far, but they’ve also understandably hit a few speed bumps as well. Let’s look to these two for tips on how to be the best mom you can be, both by following their lead — and avoiding their mistakes.

DO be careful when naming your child. The poor kid has to live with that forever, you know.

DON’T hand your newborn baby to a “nurse” who’s actually a lackey kidnapping your kid for a criminal mastermind. Insist on I.D.!

DO spend quality time with your new child. But also, DON’T forget to shower at least once a week.

And DON’T use motherhood as an excuse to wallow in filth like a freshman-year frat pledge.

DON’T stress out if your baby doesn’t take to nursing right away. DO try every method at your disposal, though.

DON’T let rude strangers publicly shame you for breastfeeding.

But also, DON’T go and spray them in the face with your breast milk. For one thing, that milk is valuable! (Just ask Jane.)

DO politely ask your next-door neighbors to lower the volume on their rock-band rehearsals when your baby is trying to sleep.

But DON’T steal their amplifier if they refuse. You’ll upset your abuela.

DO let the new dad get a little Italian, if he wants to.

DON’T let Hollywood movies skew your perception of what being a working mother is like.

And finally, DO allow the baby’s dad to pitch in and take care of the infant. It can have unexpected benefits.

Jane the Virgin airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on The CW; new episodes of The Mindy Project air Tuesdays on Hulu.