Taking care of baby is a wonderful experience for moms
and dads, but it can be very stressful when there’s no time to relax.
Being a parent is a full-time job and there are times
when parents just want some room to breathe and freedom to pursue other
activities and hobbies.
Having a baby shouldn’t mean that your time for yourself
is gone; it just means that you need to work harder to make time for yourself.
Parents should remember to reward themselves from time to
time for all their hard work by creating some “me” time.
Here are some ideas for entertaining
baby so parents can get some personal time in.
Take advantage of nap time
When baby is asleep, this is the best time for parents to
get in anything that they have been putting off. These are truly the only times
during the day when you have time for yourself and it’s important to make the
most of them.
Do what makes you feel most relaxed, whether that’s
through reading a book, giving yourself a manicure, or catching up on your
favorite TV show.
Take turns with your partner
Raising a child is easiest when you have a partner who
you can take turns with when it comes to watching the baby. When mom needs to
have some personal pampering time, dad can take baby off her hands and go for a
walk and vice versa. If one of you really needs a break, it’s nice knowing that
you have someone else who can take over for a bit.
READ MORE: It's important for moms to work in a little time to themselves each day
Have a date night
There will come a time when you and your partner want to
go out on a date night and spend some alone time without baby. Find a
babysitter in the neighborhood or someone you trust like a family member or
friend who will agree to watch the baby for one night. You can plan to do this
at least once a month; this me time (really “we” time) helps to keep you and
your partner connected and is a way to rekindle the romance that sometimes gets
lost after having a baby.
Take up offers from the family
Many times after having a baby your friends and family
will offer to watch the baby for you from time to time. Immediately after
having your baby you may not feel ready to leave baby with someone else, even
if it’s family. But after some time has passed, you should rethink these offers
to help. It’ll be good for you to get a break and it’s good for baby to bond
with other family members.
Take longer showers
As a parent you learn to cherish those peaceful moments
in the shower without having baby around. A long, hot shower feels amazing
after a day of hard work and chasing around a little one. Spend a little more
time in the shower or bath with some home spa treatments like body scrubs and
bath bombs and you’ll step out feeling refreshed and ready to take on anything.
Invest in a bouncy swing or pack ’n play
When you have a little one in the house you can’t take
your eyes off them for a second, which makes it almost impossible to get
anything done. Having a bouncy swing or pack ‘n play creates a safe
place for you to put baby and keep him close by while you do whatever it is
that needs to be done. Babies love bouncing around in the swing and you can
place them in the pack ‘n play with toys to keep them occupied while you
work.