7 Top Tips For New Mums
Having a baby is a very obvious life changing event - no-one can quite prepare you for the rollercoaster of emotions you will feel or the gob-smacking amount of nappies you will change in the coming months!
We’ve all been there, you feed, wash, change and cuddle your little treasure. You then change him again because he has just thrown up all over his outfit, put the kettle on five times (but never actually made the cup of tea) and the door bell goes. You realise its 10.00am and your work colleague is standing at the door with a blue balloon and a box of chocolates -just what you need when you have several stone to shift. Opening the door you both eye each other up - your friend in a swish suit, matching handbags and perfect makeup - you in grey pj’s, slippers and milk stained muslin over your shoulder and you think to yourself tomorrow I’m going to get dressed!
The following 7 Top Tips aren’t set in stone, they’re not written to judge but simply to maybe make your life a little easier….
- Get Dressed - If thats all you do - fantastic! You will feel better and more prepared with whatever the day holds, particularly when you have visitors!
- Cook Quick - Casseroles are great one pot meals for the first few weeks, they’re quick to prepare (I throw everything in a pot cold, no browning, no part boiling) and put them in a low oven for several hours. The meal won’t spoil if you get delayed at bath time, or feed time and with meat, potatoes and veg being all in one pot it saves on the washing up too.
Alternatively if you have a lovely friend or well meaning Mother-in-Law that is desperate to help ask them to cook you some meals to heat up. They will feel indispensable and you get out of cooking - win/win. (If they can’t cook ask them to stop by M&S - its just as good at making them feel useful and you can eat without a tummy upset!) - Nappy Basket - look at where you spend the most time and put an extra basket with nappies and wipes in it. It saves the hourly trips up to the nursery.
- Emergency Car Bag - This is something I still have today and over the years I have been amazed at how often I have needed to raid this bag. It basically consists of duplicates and so would be different for everyone but my baby car bag had: two sets of clothes or babygrows, one set of bed clothes a blanket, spare coat, nappies, wipes and nappy bags, spare dummy, toy, book, and a spare top/jumper for mum. Friends have ransacked it on day trips out and I became known as highly organised - truth was I wasn’t I just looked sorted because of the bag!
- Make A List - another trick to making yourself look good! It takes only a minute or two to jote down the things you need to do or buy. The next time someone offers to help you you will know exactly whats needed and once they see the list they may just offer to do a few more of the jobs!
- Grab some You Time - Baby will get into a pattern and will find a longer sleeping pattern, whenever that is be first thing in the morning, lunch time or evening, run a long hot bath and have a soak - you deserve it and Mums need love too!
- Give Up Housework - do only the bare minimum in the first few weeks, a bit of dust never hurt anyone and if anyone comments they should simply get a life …. or a baby!
July 11th, 2008
