In honor of my friend Vasco, who just had his first baby boy Milo over the weekend, I offer one of my favorite tips/activities.
Try out the bouncy seat or swing and bring the baby into the bathroom with you for a quick shower. Leave the door ajar if steam is a problem. If your baby is not into bouncing or swinging, some moms wheel the stroller right in.
Our bathroom has a huge mirror so Holden could (theoretically) watch himself and the shower and I could see him if I peeked out. Of course, at a few weeks old, he’s not watching anything. Taking a shower feels good all around. Helps with aches, wakes you up, and gives you a great accomplishment. Now, add showering to your ta-da list and get some rest.
When DD was little I would take the bouncy seat that lit up and played music into the bathroom with us. I sat her in there, turned on the shower, and turned off the lights! She was just fascinated by the toy, and it allowed me enough time to take a shower in peace. I didn’t even mind that I had to shower to “The Wheels on the Bus” and other kid songs.
I used to bring my daughter into the bathroom in her bouncy chair when she was young, she loved the echo when she babbled and I was always able to get a shower in peace. With three children under 5 now however its not nearly as easy!
[...] Moms of newborns are not online. At least not at our site. So, read ahead and check out the month one activities… and know we’re here for you. Even if you forget once you have your baby. Somewhere, deep down, you’ll remember that you can take a shower and get fresh air and that your to-do list is not what it was. [...]
I love this idea… Here I am trying to figure out how I’m going to take showers AND clean AND cook AND sleep while the baby sleeps, but I’m going to have to do at least the first three when she’s awake sometimes too :]
Oh, showers with a newborn feel like a little gift each day!!!! I would either make a mad dash while he was napping or bring him in the bathroom too. They don’t mind.
The first week, after everyone went home or started working again, I took my first ‘baby & me’ shower. Now at 6 months this is still a favorite afternoon activity for us. I wait until the afternoon because it is harder to put him to sleep for afternoon naps. I drag the bouncy chair into the bathroom, lay a fluffy hooded towel on it, strip myself down, strip the baby down, turn on the shower, and we both hop in. I hold him tight, he touches the water and sucks drips off my shoulder, and totally relaxes. Then I slip him into his bouncy chair, wrap the towel around him tightly (almost a swaddle), and climb back into the shower to finish (turn up the heat, get out the slippery shampoo, etc). He is always calm after warm water, and goes to sleep easily after I get out.
This is the best tip ever. It’s working beautifully with my baby – although I didn’t have the guts to try it until she was nearly 10 weeks old. Thanks so much!
[...] Pump it up (support for working the breast pump) Activity #212: Interrupt someone’s work day Activity #46: Take a shower (you can do it every day!) Activity #135: Host a [...]
yes yes and hell yes! my baby boy is now 4 months old and this has worked wonders! he loves the sound of water and the fact that he can hear me near him. he ends up asleep half the time!