Say goodbye to the life you had before having a baby. Sorry to break it to you but nothing will ever be the same again! Once you have a baby your old life goes out the window. Now you have a tiny screaming tyrant ruling your life. Your baby decides when you sleep, eat, and even shower. You’ll even have days where you end up having to sit on the toilet with your baby on your lap. To help you get through the hard times here are 3 tips for making life after a baby easier.
3 Tips for Making Life After a Baby Easier
Co-Sleep
Plan on keeping your baby in your bedroom with you. I know you spent months decorating the nursery and you envisioned watching your baby sleep peacefully in their crib but it is honestly a lot easier for you to keep your newborn close.
You can purchase a co-sleeper that you put in your bed to keep your newborn safe while co-sleeping. If keeping your baby in bed with you doesn’t feel safe you can also attach a Bedside Bassinet to your bed. This is what I used for my second child and it made my life so much easier!
If you are nursing, co-sleeping will help you get more rest. You don’t even have to get out of bed in the middle of the night. You pick up your baby and nurse, change them if needed, and put them back into their bed. Which will make your nightlife a lot more simple!
You can buy a small crib or pack and play to keep in the corner of your room if you don’t want to have the baby sleep next to you in the bed.
Wear Your Baby
After having a baby you will realize how much freedom you had before becoming a parent. Now you have a little human being depending on you for everything and it’ll seem like you never have a free hand. The best baby gear you can invest in is a baby carrier.
The Ergo carrier made my life so much easier with my second child. I wish I would have known about this carrier with my firstborn. It would have made my transition into motherhood so much smoother! The best part of this carrier is that there is a newborn insert, so you can wear your baby from day one.
A baby carrier gives you a little more freedom back or at least the use of your hands! As long as you’re awake and wanting to do other activities such as cooking dinner or light housekeeping, you can wear your baby. Make sure to keep the baby away from the hot stove or cleaning chemicals.
Studies show that wearing your baby keeps babies a lot calmer and happier even later in life. People may tell you not to hold your baby too much otherwise you will spoil them but that is not true. In fact, it will give them even more self-confidence as they age since they will know that you are always there for them.
You can use appropriate carriers through toddler-hood which will promote closeness and health in both mom (and dad) and baby. It’s one of the best ways to get your life back and share it with your baby at the same time. Babies are usually quiet and happy inside a carrier as long as they’re not hungry or have a dirty diaper.
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Sleep When Baby Sleeps
This was the hardest tip for me to follow. It felt wrong to take a nap in the middle of the day. Once I finally got my baby to sleep I focused on getting other tasks done. Tasks, like washing the dishes or cleaning the house. Honestly getting those things done were not important.
I was exhausted but I didn’t want to sleep because before I had a baby I never took naps so it felt wrong to do so now. But what I didn’t realize is I would have felt so much better if I just gave in and dozed. The dishes and laundry can wait. It was more important to rest.
It’s hard but worth it!
Though your life has changed it’s completely worth it! When your tiny tyrant is sleeping in your arms your heart will melt and you wouldn’t have it any other way. It will be hard at first but following these 3 tips for making life easier after a baby will help you adjust to your new life.
Here are other posts you may find helpful when becoming a new parent:
Breastfeeding is Harder Than I Thought
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