How to get things done with baby

august20th · October 2009

I'm feeling super overwhelmed with the babe. I feel like she's constantly eating or fussing and needs me all the time. Any tips on getting a few things done? Like how do you ladies make time to take a shower?

BlissfulGurl · October 2009

For a shower I put her in her bouncy chair or her carseat.

For everything else around the house I always had her in a sling. Like 90% of the first three months of her life was spent in my sling or dh's arms.

AvaLikeLava · October 2009

I only took showers after DH got home.

Having a carrier helped a ton. Then at least I could do some stuff around the house without having to hold him the whole time. And it was good for his reflux too.

GirlStylist · October 2009

At that age I also only showered when dh was home. In the first few months showers unfortunately were not as often as I would have liked Embarrassed

I think 3-8 weeks they are pretty demanding, I promise it will get easier to get things done !!

tri_bride05 · October 2009

I always showered before DH left for work - even that early on. It's the only way I feel human and I can't start my day otherwise. Not only to get clean, but especially when you're on your own with the baby all day, it is 15 min to yourself that you won't get again until DH gets home from work. Other than that, I got pretty much nothing done in the first few weeks/months of M's life.

soon2Bkranz · October 2009

BlissfulGurl:

For a shower I put her in her bouncy chair or her carseat.

For everything else around the house I always had her in a sling. Like 90% of the first three months of her life was spent in my sling or dh's arms.

This is what I did with JLK and am doing again now. Only thing I would add is I would do as much cleaning as I could..brush teeth/wash face etc...with him in the sling then put him in the bouncy chair so if he cries it is as short as possible.

ZoeMay06 · October 2009

tri_bride05:
I always showered before DH left for work - even that early on. It's the only way I feel human and I can't start my day otherwise. Not only to get clean, but especially when you're on your own with the baby all day, it is 15 min to yourself that you won't get again until DH gets home from work. Other than that, I got pretty much nothing done in the first few weeks/months of M's life.

Same here. Kyva hated being in the carseat until around 3 months and wasn't a big fan of the bouncy chair, so I tried to shower before DH left for the day. I'd wear her in the Moby wrap the rest of the time, and she was sometimes happy in the swing. Even so, it was nearly impossible to get anything done. In the end, I think most people just end up lowering their standards...

Lesley423 · October 2009

It is super hard, especially at that age. I usually would shower by putting him in the vibrating chair right after he ate and I knew he was pretty mellow.

It wasn't until relatively recently when L was 7-8 weeks that I feel better about getting things done around the house. Lucas is not a big fan of being worn so I would have to carry him a lot which made things super difficult. It's hard when they are so young.

KellyMRocks · October 2009

AvaLikeLava:
I only took showers after DH got home.
Having a carrier helped a ton. Then at least I could do some stuff around the house without having to hold him the whole time. And it was good for his reflux too.

Ditto

Meritage · October 2009

Am I the only one who showered during naps? I did this until my son was ~16 months old and dropped the morning nap. Once that happened, I had to shower before he woke up for the day.

As for getting anything else done, I don't think you have any responsibilities for the first few months aside from taking care of the baby. :-)

SweetieP · October 2009

another bouncy seat/portable swing/baby wearer here.

I also would take a super fast shower RIGHT after I nursed. Sometimes I'd make it through without him crying but sometimes he'd cry.

yosemite · October 2009

Weeks 3-8 I could only shower with her asleep in the bouncer (vibrating) with the hair dryer going full blast (I'd prop it up on the counter). I almost cried tears of joy the day I figured out that trick. I got a whole 30-60 minutes to myself! Now, she can sit in the bouncer awake and is generally pretty happy while I shower.

Ditto the other posters re: babywearing. I wear her around the house most of the time.

good luck! it is tough, but it has gotten easier with time.

408kittycop · October 2009

i try to shower during morning nap, it is the only one i know will last..although i take quick showers, and if she cries she can wait 2 minutes for me - my husband is on a 24 hr shift so worst case i do it late at night

cleaning - my ocd drives me nuts - im thinking of getting a maid at least once a month for a deep clean

Celyn · October 2009

I've taken more than one shower with a baby in my arms, for sure. You'll find your groove. It takes some time.

AudreyEB · October 2009

I'm pretty much there with ya...but I do try to work the timing...the vibrating chair in the bathroom, doing things that require 2 hands and my full attention while DH is home. Some days are tougher than others.

I take super quick showers, often the hair does not get washed. They sell dry shampoo at Sephora (I shop online). I got a "mom" haircut....ie, no blow drying. She's pretty off and on with the baby wearing so it's only been partially successful in helping me do other stuff. I've also done the eat/type/whatever one handed while nursing or putting her on the boppy while I'm at the desk to email/pay bills, etc. I'm getting pretty good at the one handed thing! I'm also pumping about once a day and this allows DH or grandma, etc to feed her and then I can get out every once in awhile...ie the haircut, etc.

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