Planning Your Day With The Baby

As you have a new baby, whose care will take up most of your time, it is better you make a plan and have a daily routine in place. Since you will have to take care of the baby, the rest of your family, your house and yourself, you may not be able to work as efficiently as you did earlier. Accept this and make changes at home to make things easier for you. Make a realistic plan that you can achieve without much difficulty and distress. We have complied tips from others parents on how to manage your home and your baby in those initial days.

• If you can afford it, hire someone, to help with some of the chores around the house like cleaning, ironing, shopping etc.
• On the weekends, you and your partner can take turns, in looking after the baby so that you get sometime off.
• Cook your dinner early, as you will be exhausted by evening and will have to begin cooking all over again. At least prepare most of it so that you have very little to do later.
• Encourage others to take care of your baby; by telling them how good they are at it and how happy the baby is to see them. This way they will enjoy taking care of the little one and you will get a much-deserved break.
• If you have any problems or concerns about caring for your new baby, seek the help of an expert, either your doctor or counselor etc. They will be more than happy to help you.
• Everyday make time to do something that you enjoy and makes you happy. It can be talking to a friend, watching TV, or listening to music. If you are happy and relaxed, you will be able to take better care of your baby.
• Take a break, leave your house and get out to meet up with friends. It is important that you forget your daily chores and your baby for sometime, it will help you cope better.
• Pack a bag with all the essentials the baby needs and keep it ready, so that you are ready to leave in a hurry.
• If your house has many floors, then make sure you have the baby's essentials on every floor, so that you don't have to run up and down.
• Try to prepare food that you can eat while holding the baby.
• If your baby doesn't sleep with you, for the first feed in the morning bring the baby to your room and lie together for sometime.

Remember no matter how hard you work, you may not be able to do all your household chores. The important thing is not to over burden yourself and to find time for yourself and to enjoy the new baby.