Balancing Your Time with a Baby

Having a baby is one of life’s greatest joys, there’s no doubt about it. Most moms would agree though that once that baby arrives, their time is no longer their own. First you go through the huge adjustment of having a newborn and never knowing when you might be feeding or have a clue as to when they will sleep. Then you start to get a little more adjusted and then it’s time for the baby to be mobile, and the cycle goes on. It’s safe to say that every mom goes through a period of time wondering when they might get some “me time” back.  I’ve found that a few minor tweaks in the daily schedule can help a bit and hopefully these tips will help other moms out there that have struggled with the problem of how to get everything done in a day when you have a baby.

*Work while you can around the baby’s schedule. Once the baby goes down for a nap, use that time to get the necessities done that day. Recognizing that you will never get every little thing done, make a list and work through it in order of priority. There are many days that I have to let some tasks go as I have to be realistic about how to use any free moment that I have.

*Let some things go and know that it’s okay. There’s no such thing as a super mom and trying to be one will only stress you out. If you only threw in a load of laundry but couldn’t quite get to dusting, let it go. The chores will always be there, and you just have to know that you can’t get it all done like you used to.

*Remember your number one priority. Even though it’s tempting to try and breeze through a huge to do list like you used to, your new and most important focus is the baby. You are taking care of that little bundle of joy and that’s the most important way to spend your day. If you get nothing else done in a day but ensuring that the baby is well fed and taken care of, then that’s still a very good day.

Learning to focus on your high priorities and sometimes let the rest go can make your days with baby much more enjoyable. Every time you feel stressed out and as if you can’t get it all done, take a look at that sweet little face and remember what it’s all about.

When is Your Baby ready for Cow’s Milk?

I had always been told 12 months was the magic number to transition your child from breast milk to cow’s milk, but with son number 2 it was obvious that 12 months was too early. Browsing the web I was able to find this tip and more on the subject from iParenting.com:

How should I introduce it? “Most babies can go cold turkey,” says Dr. Jana. If your tot balks, mix cow’s milk with formula or breast milk in increasing amounts. (You can continue to heat bottles if your baby prefers.)