Mom Hacks
There are a few things that moms always say to new moms that could be true and helpful, but the cycle should be broken sometimes. I am here to share some tips that I hope you can find helpful.
Baby's Nap Time
Many moms will inform new moms that baby's nap time is time for mom to also catch up on needed sleep. They say "when baby sleeps you sleep." This is true; however, in my own personal experiences I found that it is helpful to get my large daily tasks done during baby's nap time. Daily tasks could be like cleaning, cooking, laundry, studying for school assignments, showering or practicing self-care, etc. So my advice is that whenever you feel you need to rest, take a rest. The cleaning, cooking, and daily chores will be there and it is okay if they do not always get done on time. The importance is mom and baby's health. Now, if you are all caught up on rest then I do encourage to conquer those daily tasks during baby's name time.
Plain ol' meal times
Some parents may feel like they are able to keep up the with program and resume as normal after the newborn comes home. However, in my situation that was not what happened. In fact, pre-baby's birth I would always cook and practice new recipes. I would always clean and exercise, such as a daily walk. What I learned after the newborn baby came home is that plain meals are okay and it is okay to repeat them. It also helps and saves time if you cook in bulk and can save leftovers for next day lunch or dinner. If there is no time for dinner preparation try to keep it simple with ingredients and steps to cook. Maybe even invest in a crockpot to do the cooking for you.
Establishing a Routine
This one is not for everyone, but I found setting up a simple routine for the newborn was effective in being able to set time apart for family time and time for myself as a mom. This looks like when we wake up we would play a little bit and then have a brunch. Play time would be inside or sometimes even an outdoor walk or search for treasures like rocks. After brunch we would play a little more until baby feels tired and we try to aim around the same time each day for nap times. Nap time was demonstrated with a specific song to put the newborn to sleep to let her know it is naptime and its okay to sleep. The steps repeat once baby wakes up from her nap and we begin to have play time or time to learn. The routine gives me a feeling of control that I am able to spend time with my children, but also accomplish my own tasks or just have time to myself to relax and recoup. No one likes a grumpy mom.
Please share
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