Managing self-care?!?!

I’m sorry if this answer doesn’t help much. But I didn’t find time for myself in the day until I was able to put my baby down for naps around 11 months. I chose to contact nap until then to soak up those baby snuggles but it was hard!!! Finding time for anything was next to impossible unless I had some help. Do you have support you could ask over to help you shower? Or if you have a safe space for baby to move in the washroom while you pop a quick shower? A pack n play or bassinet or something you can keep an eye on them while you do your thing?

I do have support in the evenings so will do it around there and just be with baby in the day!! 💖🥰 I can just about manage to go to the toilet in peace bless him. Thank you x

My lb is 3 months now and I have a bouncer which if I need to shower or use the toilet I'll sit him in there where I can see him and also my husband listens out for him too 😄 he never sits in it for long but long enough for me to have a quick shower and freshen up 😂 x

My partner takes the baby every evening and will have a bottle prepped ready if needed. I’ll use this hour to have a bath, wash, dry my hair, do any other self care. I also find the first nap of the day is the easiest to put our baby down for so I’ll use that 30 min/hour to shower, put some makeup on etc. a baby sling is my best friend for getting jobs around the house done. You’ll find your way of making it work, at 2 weeks old everything is still really new so don’t panic you’ll get used to it x

@Lottie that’s so great you’re able to use the toilet!! That was always my biggest struggle haha. You’re doing great, Mama. It’s a hard feat adjusting to a new baby. Soo glad you have support in the evenings!! You’ll find your groove especially as baby grows and changes. As long as they are in a safe space where you can keep an eye on them, they’ll be fine while you do your thing - if you need to.

I had to either put my boy in the baby sling if it was to hang washing or sort hair or anything that was manageable with him in carrier and if I wanted to shower I had to put him in rocker in the bathroom for first few months. Open the window, keep the door open so it’s not too hot for him. Then once he was awake a bit more during the day I would feed him then shower whilst my husband watched him. (First few months my husband very much brought him to me every time he cried so was just easier bringing my boy in the bathroom with me, plus it also kinda worked as white noise and kept him asleep.)

My girl today wouldn’t settle so she’s been contact napping on me for majority of the day. I could barely make and drink my cup of tea — and to top it off all I’ve had to eat today was a dairylea dunker 🥴

My LO is 11 weeks. I may not have the answer you’re looking for BUT for things like shower, I would put her in her chair and bring her to the bathroom with me and my showers can be as short as under a minute, but I am showering. Things like cooking and dishes. I may have to wear her sometimes she’s OK just being in her chair. I talked to her while I’m doing things so she knows I’m still there because her vision isn’t very good yet. As for hair day, I make sure my husband is home and he helps me-to cut down on the time. I had to stop a few times to feed her and it took two days, but it got done! Overall, my husband still does most of the house chores and food prep, which helps a ton so that I can focus on taking care of myself and her. Good luck you’re doing great!

Plucking eyebrows is something I rarely get to tackle and I grow a unibrow if I don’t maintain it- at the dollar store the facial razors have been a life saver to get done in a jiffy. I’ve found letting my hair air dry until it’s 85% dry then I braid it. It works for me but might not be your preference. Co-bathing is a fun thing I’ve had done in my family for all parents with their babies-toddlers :) of course no added stuff to the tub

I wouldn't describe any 2 week old as a Velcro baby, they are designed to be near us, we are carrying mammals and infants want to be in our arms. Whilst this is difficult for us sometimes, it is a normal part of development. Them being close to your skin helps both your skin microbiomes to develop, their temperatures to regulate and the heart rate and breathing to calm. The fourth trimester is a real thing and babies do not want to be away from us for a reason. Wearing a baby in a wrap safely on your chest can help provide them the closeness they want whilst leaving both your hands free!

This probably doesn’t help, but I just had to get my mum to come round so I could have a full MOT in the shower. Like shaving everything and washing my hair, as you just don’t 🥲

😂 Shower, what's that. I have one every few days when baby sleeps (13 months) and that is the extent of it Hopefully one day

Fab to know all the advice, thank you. My showers are short and hair wash super speed. My partner is amazing support doing so much to help and then days he's not here we cuddle mostly which is wonderful. I've plucked my brows when he's had a little nap. The sling is amazing and he loves to be nuzzled into me and I love h being so close 💖🥰 everyone in the same boat!!

I’ve had a nanny since my son was 1 month old, that helped a lot!

My baby (now 12 weeks) will finally allow me to put her down for about 10 mins at a time… until now I wore a baby carrier and did the above jobs when she was asleep :) (showered in the evening when husband was home)

Initially showers: would feed baby first thing in the morning, get them super sleepy, put my dressing gown on the floor and put baby on it, sometimes worked, sometimes didn’t, otherwise only when partner had baby. Everything else including toileting baby was in sling for.

I love to do this stuff at night! I know you might be tired but I find instead of sitting watching tv if I give my self a little pamper I properly wind down for the night and it’s proper time for myself instead of trying to juggle around the we one! Hope you find the time because it’s super important 🫶🏻

Defo a sling to do chores, I showered when she went back to sleep in the am as she snoozes till 10, blow drying my baby loved watching me do my hair as the noise is distracting same as hoovering. X it does get easier

After my 2nd I realized i needed to put myself first when appropriate obviously. I’m 5 in and am able to do all of it because they don’t make my schedule. There is no Velcro baby, starting at 4 months I was strict about sleep schedules and self soothing. My children know that aside from being a mom I have responsibilities to myself and the house.

I shower at night most of the time so my partner has the baby. For anything else baby bouncers, their cot or a play pen when they’re a bit older. I often find myself putting my make up on sitting on the floor of his playpen while he plays (he screams if I get out 🫠😂). You will find your own ways of doing things as best you can but it isn’t overly easy. I do my hair and make up a LOT faster than I used to!

My husband.my mom and.someyimes my sister make it's easy. Thank God