It’s no secret that you have very limited time as a new parent. Newborns require constant attention and care, leaving you with little time to focus on yourself.
Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your little one, they will need to be fed every two to four hours throughout the day and night. This is especially important in their first few weeks, as they will need regular feeding to regain weight until they are back up to their birth weight.
Similarly, they will wet and soil their nappies multiple times a day and need cleaning and changing each time. Depending on the severity of the mess, you might need to get them into the bath for a thorough wash, change their outfit, and wash their soiled clothes before the stains dry.
Of course, you will also spend a lot of time during your day simply relaxing with your newborn and enjoying crucial bonding time. Whether your newborn is asleep or awake, it’s always nice to be close to them and get lots of skin-to-skin contact to aid the mum-to-baby or dad-to-baby bonding process and relax your mind.
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Top Multitasking Strategies as the Parent of a Newborn
Considering all of the above, it’s easy to see why new parents struggle to find time to undergo self-care, complete house chores, and run errands. If you have a newborn, you will be fully aware that you can’t leave them on their own, even for just a few seconds, so put their safety at risk.
This is where multitasking becomes your best friend. Finding clever ways to care for your baby and yourself at the same time can make your life much easier as a new parent.
Multitasking enables you to balance your personal and professional lives with your parental duties. Below, we have covered some helpful strategies for multitasking with a newborn to make your transition into parenthood (or continuation into parenthood if you already have older children) a little smoother and less stressful.
Wear Your Newborn in a Baby Wrap
Baby wraps are a lifesaver when you’re parenting a newborn. They enable you to wear your baby on your person whilst keeping your hands free.
With free hands, you can complete your house chores, such as scrubbing the dishes, putting the washing machine on, tidying, or folding clothes. At the same time, you can keep a close eye on your infant and have peace of mind, knowing that they are safe by your side.
Because baby wraps enable you to strap your baby directly onto your torso, you can also encourage bonding time with your little one and keep them calm with your physical touch and scent.
You can find neutral baby wraps or more colourful, vibrant options. Regardless of the design you choose, make sure the baby wrap fits your body and your baby’s body well to ensure maximum security and minimum injury risk.
Combine Feeding with Other Activities
Breastfeeding and bottle-feeding can both be time-consuming tasks, but they are absolutely necessary to keep your baby nourished and support their growth and development.
Take the opportunity to complete administrative tasks, catch up with your friends and family, watch television, or listen to your favourite podcast whilst you are feeding your little one.
Although your movement is restricted whilst you’re feeding your baby, you can find forms of entertainment during these time periods or take feeding as an opportunity to relax your body and mind.
Remember that relaxation and recuperation are not a waste of time when you are looking after an infant. They are crucial for reducing your stress and supporting your mental health during this challenging (but highly rewarding) time in your life.
Get Things Done Whilst Your Baby is Asleep
Newborns require around 14 to 17 hours of sleep within a 24-hour period, only waking to feed within the first few weeks of their lives. As they get a little bit older, their sleeping patterns will adjust, and they will need less time to rest. However, compared to adults, young infants’ sleep needs are still relatively high.
Take your newborn’s naps as an opportunity to get a few things ticked off your to-do list. For example, if you have chosen to continue working from home during the postpartum period, you may wish to respond to some emails or complete some administrative work for your job. Alternatively, you might want to clean the house, catch up with a friend, or enjoy some much-deserved solo relaxation time.
Make sure to keep your sleeping infant by your side as much as possible, even when you are working or cleaning. Consider getting a Moses basket or a gently-rocking swing that you can carry your baby around the house with you if you’re moving from room to room. This way, you can keep a close eye on them whilst they are asleep and ensure their safety.
Set Up Feeding Stations in Your Home
Create designated feeding areas in your home by setting up stations with the necessary items you need to breast or bottle-feed your baby. Your stations might include a maternity or nursing bra, bottles, muslin cloths or wipes, burping cloths, and a water bottle to keep yourself hydrated.
Setting up feeding stations and keeping them fully stocked makes feeding time with your infant much quicker and easier. Aim to restock your feeding stations as soon as possible after each feed so you don’t forget to do so later in the day and end up rushing around before your baby’s next feed.
Bulk Buy Baby Products
As a newborn parent, you won’t have time to go to the shop every day, and even if you do, you might not have the energy to get yourself dressed and out of the house. Buying products in bulk is an effective way to save time and energy when you’re caring for a needy newborn.
Purchase baby products, such as nappies, wipes, and muslin cloths, in bulk from your nearest wholesale store or from an online wholesaler. Consider stocking up your cupboards with non-perishable foods and doing online orders for fresh foods once a week to save travel time.
