Planning and mode
Planning the day and setting a routine greatly helps a mother find time for other things besides caring for her baby. Of course, immediately after the maternity hospital it is impossible to establish a clear routine for feeding, sleeping and waking the baby, but within 2-3 months it is quite possible to do this. At the same time, you need to adapt to the child’s biological clock and needs, and not try to impose your vision of the daily routine on the baby.
If the baby was born premature, then feeding should be on demand, that is, as often as possible. This will take a long time, since babies suckle sluggishly, and a meal can take up to 40 minutes. In this case, you should wait a little with the regime until the baby gets stronger, and devote most of your time to him.
The following steps will help you achieve the establishment of a regime:
- Feeding, bathing and going to bed at night should be done at the same time.
- If it is clear that the child is hungry, then there is no need to wait for hours. You need to treat everything reasonably and not go too far. Over time, your baby's eating routine will develop on its own.
- You can come up with unique rituals for bathing and going to bed at night. For example, mandatory gymnastics before swimming, massage and a song before bed. Over time, the baby will get used to it; certain actions of the mother will be a signal to him, for example, that it is time to sleep.
Along with establishing a routine for your baby, you need to plan your day. A regular diary in the form of a notebook or an application on a smartphone can help with this.
Planning each day is an incredible help to mom in not forgetting anything and finding time for everything.
- All important events, such as visits to doctors, shopping trips, and some important dates for the family should be noted in the diary.
- For convenience, you can get multi-colored stickers that can be pasted on the refrigerator or mirror in which mom often looks. On them you can write down basic household chores, a menu for the day, interesting recipes, or new activities with your baby that you want to try.
- It’s good to plan your menu for every day so that you know what products to buy and what to cook - this saves a lot of time. In this case, you need to choose simple recipes that do not require much time to prepare.
- Before going to the store, be sure to make a detailed shopping list. You can use the same diary for this. This way you will spend much less time in the store than usual.
- If your mother works, then all important meetings and calls should also be entered into the diary - this will help you work more efficiently and not forget anything.
- It's good to ask friends and family not to come unannounced. A preliminary call will help you prepare for meeting guests, get yourself and your apartment in order, and plan your day taking into account the visit.
Planning the day and routine for the baby is the basis of mother’s life. Just these two steps will help you run your household more efficiently and free up a few hours for other things.
Calm down!
Don't go to extremes and don't get nervous if things don't go according to plan. If the baby is cheerful and cheerful, do not force him to go to bed, even if the time has come. Previously, we already figured out how to quickly put a child to sleep. For example, a familiar ritual will help - bathing, massage, lullaby.
If your baby falls asleep an hour later than noted in your diary, it will not be worse for him. You will just have to adjust your plans. Well, if you don’t watch a talk show or leave an extra comment on social networks, the Earth will not stop rotating. Do you agree?
Mom's helpers
Helpers are great at helping mommy organize her life and free up time for herself; these can be people or modern gadgets.
Relatives, housekeeper and nanny
Not every family can afford to hire staff to help with the child and housework. But if the budget allows it, then you need to take advantage of it. It is not necessary to invite full-time assistants, it is expensive. But a few hours every day or the whole day 1-2 times a week will give mom the opportunity to redo a bunch of things, take care of herself or work.
It is good to involve dad, grandparents and other relatives who show a desire to help with the child. This will save both the family budget and mother’s nerves. After all, leaving a baby with a loved one is calmer than with a stranger, even a professional.
Before leaving your baby with someone, you need to leave clear instructions on the daily routine, feedings, activities, etc. This will allow you not to disrupt your usual way of life, and the baby will feel more comfortable and calm in the new company
Modern gadgets to make mommy's life easier
There are a number of things that will make a mother’s life much easier and allow her to do something else besides caring for her baby.
Sling or ergo-backpack
Great gadget for moms! Many children behave calmly only in their mother’s arms. A sling will help free your hands, while the baby will be in close proximity. Using this device, you can cook food, do cleaning, go to the store, meet friends, or go to any state. institution, for example, for processing benefits. If you wish, you can even breastfeed your baby in a public place. A sling and special clothing for nursing will help you do this unnoticed by others.
Chaise lounge, swing, educational mat
These gadgets can only help at home, but even then, don't underestimate them. As a rule, children enjoy playing and sitting in such devices - this will give mommy time to do a lot of household chores while the baby is busy.
Radio and video nanny
It is advisable to buy such a device for owners of large apartments and houses. After putting your baby to bed, you can calmly go to the kitchen or take a bath. At the same time, these modern devices will help you control the situation. If the child cries or turns over awkwardly in his sleep, mommy will immediately see and hear. The main thing is not to forget to look at the monitor or smartphone screen and listen to the radio.
Modern household appliances
It is better to equip your home with modern household appliances that save a lot of time before the baby is born, in order to fully master its capabilities. Washing machine, dishwasher, multicooker, washing vacuum cleaner, blender, microwave oven, etc. All these devices will help you do household chores quickly, efficiently and efficiently.
Learn to adapt!
Even if you have never adjusted to other people's plans, you will have to learn when your baby is born. Sleep when he sleeps, because after he wakes up you are unlikely to be able to get enough sleep.
Laundry not ironed or dusted? Don't do housework while your baby is sleeping. You will certainly do them when your husband returns from work, because it will definitely be useful for him to talk for half an hour with his son or daughter.
General recommendations for saving time and organizing everyday life for a young mother
These few useful tips and life hacks will help you save enough time to take care of yourself, work or your favorite hobby, as well as organize your life more efficiently and effectively:
We recommend reading: How to wash a newborn's clothes
- Ironing. Modern dermatologists do not recommend ironing bed linen. You should heed this recommendation: it will save a lot of time and effort. For yourself and your spouse, it’s good to buy things that wrinkle a little, and it’s better to choose a washing machine with the “Easy Ironing” function. You can also ask your husband to wear shirts less often, and more often wear sweaters and sweatshirts, which are now in fashion. It’s still better to iron children’s clothes and bedding as before.
- Wireless headphones. Wireless headphones are a great way to move around the apartment, doing various things and at the same time listening to an audiobook, an interesting webinar, or any work-related information.
- Order food at home. Today you can order not only rolls or pizza to your home. Modern companies offer high-quality, fresh, healthy food that you can eat without fear for your health and the health of your baby while breastfeeding. Yes, such pleasure is not cheap, but sometimes you can relieve your day with the help of such delivery in order to do more important things than cooking.
- Preparations of semi-finished products. Of course, we are not talking about low-quality store-bought semi-finished products. But, if possible, it is better to make your own preparations: freeze vegetables and berries from your dacha. Buy meat, mince it, make dumplings or pies - also freeze. If you really don’t have enough time to do it yourself, you can ask your grandmothers to help.
- Getting rid of unnecessary things. If you look at any thing from the point of view of its usefulness and functionality, then you can understand how much unnecessary stuff is stored in the house. If you throw away or donate everything unnecessary, then cleaning will take much less time. Wiping a free surface from dust takes 2 seconds, and moving figurines and other dust collectors from place to place takes 10 minutes. In addition, free space in the house will make room for toys and outdoor games with the baby. It is better to get rid of everything unnecessary even before the baby is born.
- It is better to leave the desire for idealism until the time when the baby grows up. Crystal clear windows, perfectly shiny tiles, flawless makeup and manicure, dust-free surfaces - all this is important, but your own mental comfort is more important. A child needs a mother who is calm and full of strength. Cleaning can be done in parts, without giving yourself the task of cleaning the whole house at once. For example, today – the kitchen, tomorrow – the bathroom and corridor, etc. This method will allow you to keep your home clean, spending no more than an hour a day. You definitely need to remember about the weekend, when mommy takes a break from household chores and cares only about the baby and herself. And it’s even better to organize your life so that at least one day a week is devoted only to rest, and shift care of the child and housework to assistants.
If you don’t have the energy to clean or manicure, then you can put these things off until a more convenient time, hire a housekeeper or ask someone to help. The main thing is the health and peace of mind of the mother, and life will definitely improve, all difficulties are temporary
Proper planning of your day, teaching your baby to a routine, familiarizing yourself with modern technology and attracting helpers will help a woman remain beautiful, calm and a good mother for her baby, as well as a housewife and wife for her husband. There is no need to be afraid of the upcoming difficulties: they are all surmountable if the mood is right and the attitude is positive.
The very beginning
When the period of stay in the maternity hospital is over, you have to “return to Earth.” The woman becomes a wife again, but now in the status of a mother. And all household chores fall on her shoulders. This is especially noticeable in families where husbands think that maternity leave is a vacation, and not responsible work without days off or breaks.
Do you want to know how to manage everything with small children? Try not to strive at first to be the ideal cook, laundress, cleaner, lover and mother. Spend time learning about your baby. After all, it is he who will dictate the rules for the next few years. The first month is an adaptation period. You get used to the child, and he gets used to you and the house. At this moment, involve your husband in helping with the housework. Only when everyone gets used to the new family member will it be possible to think about time planning.
Take with you
1. A set of change of clothes for the child 2. Spare diapers 3. Diaper wipes 4. Cloth diaper 5. Disposable diaper 6. Paper and wet wipes in small packs 7. Water for the child in a bottle or sippy cup 8. Water in a thermos for diluting the mixture ( if necessary) 9. Formula/other food for the baby in a small travel container 10. A couple of clean bottles/a couple of spoons for feeding the baby 11. A container with a snack (apple, cookies, snacks) 12. 2-3 small toys (depending on age child)
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conclusions
If you make time for yourself, you won't feel like a victim for always doing something, especially for someone else. You are an individual, you are a person who should think first of all to yourself. Walk more in the fresh air, breathe. Take care of your health. If you eat right, go for walks with your child regularly, he will be in a good mood, he will spend his energy. The baby will be happy, he will know that his mother spends time with him, he will know that his mother and father need him.
Computer
Have you wondered how to manage everything with small children? Then remember one more sacred rule - give up the computer and the Internet. At least as long as you carry out your plans. It's no secret that we spend a lot of time on gadgets these days. To be able to do your homework, you need to give them up.
You can save a few hours. It won’t be easy at first, but if you really want to get everything done, you’ll have to overcome yourself. You can surf the Internet when the housework is done and the child does not yet require attention. A very good way to save time. Once you eliminate gadgets from your life, you will begin to have time to do more!
Schedule a day
After several days spent in this mode, you can note for yourself a list of urgent matters. It’s useful to sketch out a rough plan of action for the whole day in the evening or at least in the morning. Review it again and cross out everything unnecessary. When all that remains is what you cannot do without, you can safely begin your duties. It is very convenient to control yourself by crossing out completed items. This will make it clear whether time is really being spent on responsibilities or whether it is wasted. Over time, the need to make a plan will disappear by itself. But first, it’s useful to accustom yourself to a certain routine.
Accept offered help
Any help from loved ones can be very helpful. It happens that there is no one to help. But if someone really offers their support, you should definitely take advantage of it. Sometimes a woman does not want to allow her husband to care for the child. It seems to her that he is doing everything wrong. Due to constant criticism, a man may completely lose interest in performing his duties. And then there will be no help at the right time. Therefore, it is worth allowing dad to gain his own experience. Let him change the diaper as best he can. In the end, he will figure it out himself and he will do no worse. But in difficult times, mom can always count on her husband’s help and will be sure that he will cope well.
Break big things into several small ones
Experienced mothers give very good advice on breaking down all big things into small components. For example, it is unlikely that the baby will sit quietly in a chaise longue for an hour while mom cleans up. Cleaning can also be broken down into small steps. It is not necessary to polish the entire apartment to a shine at once. In five minutes you can clean the sink or wipe the floor. And next time do something else. The advice to do big things step by step is actually very effective. The child constantly requires attention throughout the day. But in infancy, he is not yet able to be distracted by anything for more than a few minutes. The main thing here is to make good use of any free second that appears.
Modern world
But that's not all! Some girls complain: “I don’t have time to eat with a small child!” This means that they simply do not know how to properly plan their day or perform some unnecessary actions. It has already been said that it is necessary to divide all household chores into obligatory (important) for the family and into secondary ones. True, there are times when even with such planning nothing works out. Then you will have to analyze what exactly you are doing. Most likely, you have too many unnecessary actions. Either you are not taking advantage of all the possibilities of the modern world.
What is it about? Progress does not stand still; various means have been invented for children and caring for them. They need to be used to the maximum. For example, use diapers rather than diapers. And do not perform unnecessary rituals that are relics of the past. We are talking about ironing diapers on both sides, boiling bottles, and so on. Many experienced mothers indicate that without these manipulations, children grow up healthy and develop correctly. Therefore, make the most of all the opportunities of the modern world.
Physical warm-up
Dear mothers, love yourself, find time for yourself. Find 30 minutes in the morning for physical activity and warm-up. If you do exercises, you will be much more energetic and your day will be much more efficient.
It is sometimes difficult to wake up in the morning, especially if you had a hard night. You will walk around like a “wet chicken” all day, whining about how you didn’t get enough sleep. Nobody likes this state, so it’s better to find the last of your strength and do a warm-up . Energy will appear immediately.
Many people think that it’s better to lie on the sofa, drink coffee, and let things wait. But it’s better to get up in the morning, work out, invigorate yourself and your body.
Rest
No matter how paradoxical it may sound, in order to quickly cope with the assigned tasks, you need to rest. After all, a rested person is active. It helps to complete a task faster than planned.
Therefore, you should not take on a lot of actions. Rest as much as possible so that you have strength. This technique really helps. You don’t need to relax too much, but you don’t need to turn yourself inside out either. When you rest, you will notice that you have more strength and energy. They will help you keep up with everything.
Organizing things
Organizing things is very efficient. Buy boxes, put everything in its place . Organize your space.
Get into the habit of once you have washed and ironed them, then put them neatly in drawers in the closet, in their places. You won’t have to do endless cleaning later if things don’t have their place. Then you won't have to fold and rearrange everything.
Everything should always be in its place.
Also, keep the number of things outside the closet to a minimum, so that there is no clutter on the table or somewhere else. It's better when everything is hidden and you know where it is . It also makes your life easier. There is no need to run around and clean the table all the time.
If your baby is old enough to rummage through drawers and make huts out of these things, then we recommend purchasing locks for the drawers.
The baby does not show interest in the drawers because he does not know that they open.
