Homemaking schedule with a newborn

ThymeForEverything · 2022-05-19T19:44:35+00:00

Congratulations! I have two kids I have breastfed and cloth diapered.

The first thing I have found is don't make yourself a slave to your schedule. Your schedule works for you not the other way around. The whole point of a schedule is to help you have peace of mind not stress you out.

So stay felxible, because there are a lot of factors that will shift your schedule. Particularly because babies grow so fast. Don't be hard on yourself if you have to pick up a pack of disposables or dinner because laundry and/or cooking just didn't happen because the baby needed attention. I like to come up with mini systems.

Like when baby is old enough for the high chair, keeping a basket of bibs, sprayer with mild soap and water and washcloths close by for easy clean up. Each time baby eats, wash baby and high chair.

For bath time get a nice cozy mat for your knees and have a box or drawer on ground level of your baby bath supplies. Makes bath and clean up so much easier.

I have a stainless steel trash can with a pedal and lid that I line with my cloth diaper wet bag. Keeps bugs and mildew spores out and smells in. I usually wash every other day and do a rinse first. Once baby starts solids a poop spatula is nice to have for scraping diapers in the toilet. I personally would try to avoid microfiber diaper insert because I have noticed they get a lot of buildup and smell after awhile. They can be stripped by soaking them in vinegar but it is a whole process.

Once baby is mobile, going outside after you have picked up is nice because you can avoid the inside mess.

Plan to spend a lot of time breastfeeding in the early weeks. Like A LOT. it's normal and helps your milk come in. Other than night time and and the time spent, I have found breastfeeding fairly straightforward. Pumping and such can get really difficult though.

Also doing your hobbies and cleaning with baby and later on your kid around is great. Baby will enjoy watching. It will make things a lot slower but that is okay. Jordan Peterson has a rule that you shouldn't let your kids do anything that causes you to resent them and I think this is so good, particularly the older the kid gets. I love baking and gardening and I have not stopped because of my babies and they have learned so much from watching and helping. You are not a clown to entertain your baby. Spend a little bit of time reading, singing and playing with baby and then do something you want to do next to baby.

A baby wrap is amazing for getting chores done particular floor cleaning.

It's hard work, but I could not imagine a life where I didn't have little shirts to wash, and sticky door knobs to wipe down.

Generally we wake up and make breakfast. I like to do something easy like eggs oatmeal. I play for about an hour with them or work on letters and numbers with my oldest. Baby naps. Then do a pick up and the daily chores, and maybe focus on a deeper cleaning task depending on time. baby wakes up. Then we go outside and go on a walk. Or just play. I work on the garden and with our animals to during this time. Then we go in for lunch. Sandwiches or left over from the previous nights dinner. Sometimes smoothies. Books and naps. Sometimes I nap if baby was up a lot the night before. Other times I do nothing, sometimes a chore, sometimes something fun for me like reading. Once they get up we might do a craft or bake or play. Then I start making dinner. We eat and my husband comes home. Then dishes, sweep dining room and counters wiped. Then if it is a bath night, bath, books and bed.

angelicasinensis · 2022-05-19T23:19:16+00:00

Try not to overthink it to be honest, I just breastfed my babies when they were hungry and asked for it and it went well- I have seen mothers get super stressed about how much they are feeding/how many diapers- I just fed when they were hungry and my babies all gained well and we had a great feeding relationship with all of them- breastfed my first for 5 years! Cloth diapers are really intense- gave all my kids rashes pretty badly no matter how many we changed- I recommend using disposable for the first 3 months- my babies all slept about 22 hours a day for the first 3 months and I recommend mothers stay in bed 100% for the first two weeks and mostly in bed for the first month to facilitate healing.

LadySandcastle · 2022-05-20T12:27:16+00:00

Not a mother yet, so no tips. Just wanted to say congratulations on the new addition to the family ❤

The comments are super helpful :)

roygbiv103188 · 2022-05-19T23:59:12+00:00

Congratulations!!!!! I would recommend giving yourself tons of grace especially in the first few months. Remember that newborns are sooo unpredictable re:their schedule and so I’d try to keep expectations low and go with the flow until the baby starts to get more regular with their routine.

Keep the baby fed, cozy, clean and make sure they’re never far from a place to nap. Take care of yourself!! Keep plenty of healthy nourishing food and snacks on hand as well as a big ol 32 oz bottle of water. Everything else will fall into place:)))

rammerplex · 2022-05-20T00:39:08+00:00

Congrats!

Hints.

Let your partner have some agency. I as the dad had a birthday party for my third son with my other two sons on his literal birthday. It was a blast. We had cupcakes and blue juice.

When you are super tired ask your partner to take over until you get a nap.

When your partner is wreaked, take charge.

Don't forget to keep yourself up. Makeup is not necessary, but showers/baths need to happen.

best wishes.

Sea_Bookkeeper_1533 · 2022-05-20T12:02:38+00:00

Bless you for posting this, I'm 19+3 and loving these comments.

NevermindTheCrows · 2022-05-20T16:29:03+00:00

I love u/ThymeForEverything's post and I wish I'd read it when I first had babies!

Things looked a little different for me because we live in an apartment, with no outdoor space. That meant I took the babies (and later kids) outside for fresh air and exercise at least once a day. Usually I timed it so that we'd go out to the park after breakfast and lunch; I'd run into my mom friends in the park, which gave me some social time. Then we'd come home and baby would nap.

I think it's really, really important to look for ways to ENJOY your life as a new mother. It can be overwhelming looking after a new baby. Don't get carried away thinking that you have to be perfect. Make time for your interests and hobbies, spend time with other adults, take baby somewhere pretty, look for joy everywhere.

Title	Homemaking schedule with a newborn
Author	Ok_Obligation_6110
Upvotes	23
Comments	16
Date	May 19, 2022 6:47 PM UTC (4 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/RedPillWomen
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/RedPillWomen/comments/uta8n6/homemaking_schedule_with_a_newborn/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/RedPillWomen/homemaking-schedule-with-a-newborn.1119319 https://theredarchive.com/post/1119319

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