What do you do with your newborn?

[moomin35]

What's your routine with your baby with and without your partner around? I find we're not doing much but wonder if it's because it's the early weeks and whether that's normal. Feel I should perhaps be doing something I'm not

[callamia]

I fed, fed, showered and went out for coffee.
I went to one post-natal group run by the HV service that was fairly hit and miss in terms of content (some really helpful, others slightly odd), but I met some people there that I see now at other groups (DS is 9m).

Basically, I muddled through and if we didn't have any plans we often just went back to bed and snuggled and snoozed.

[SweetTeaVodka]

Didn't have much of a routine until she was a couple of months tbh. Walked round to visit people with DD in the pram or sling to stretch my legs a few times a week but mostly I just sat on the sofa breastfeeding and binge watching tv box sets. Ate loads of chocolate and sniffed her head lots. Started going to new baby groups and baby massage etc when she was about 9 or 10 weeks.

I think some people like to hibernate with a new baby and others like to keep busy and both are fine, whatever you prefer :)

Congratulations, by the way!

[CityDweller]

I think you should do whatever you want to! If you want to stay in all day and eat chocolate biscuits and watch TV whilst feeding/ cuddling your baby, then that's absolutely fine!

In fact, I wish I'd done more of that. I was fixated on 'doing something' every day, so I did all manner of pointless things from about 2 weeks. Baby cinema, stay-and-plays, meeting friends, bf drop-ins, etc etc. I look back on my diary from those first months and some days are totally mental - four things in different parts of town on one day, for eg. No wonder I was so knackered

In terms of 'routine', we didn't have anything particularly fixed at that age. Other than I'd always try to shower before DH left for work (otherwise it was just impossible. Why is it so impossible to find the time to have a shower with a newborn?!?) and we got into a 'bedtime routine' relatively early (even if she carried on sleeping on/ near us downstairs until she was about 9 weeks old)

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Im about to go into the newborn phase again but if I remember back to when dd was about a month old, our day would start at 9am (dh got her up at seven with himfor milk and a cuddle then he would reswsddle her and put her back down to bed in our room til we both woke natturally at nine).

Little lay on the play mat and cuddles, cuppa for me and more milk for her then we would take a walk to the supermarket to buy dinner ingredients. Home for another brew and a bottle and a bit of light housework. She would have snoozed while out. Another nap for her while I ate lunch,then we would pop and see a friend or relative for a cuppa and them to have a cuddle,then home for Pointless my Maternity Leave Ritual! with dd in the bouncer next to me.

When dh got in at half five id go for a lie down (just a bit of MNing or a snooze) and he would do her bath and bottle. At half sixish id start dinner for us and he would put her down to sleep in the living room. We would have our tea, and watch a bit of telly abd prepare the nught time bottles. bath and shower each then we would lift dd at half ten for a feed and a bum change and puut herdown in our room and we would both go to sleep.

She woke at three for a feed and then repeat.

[ThirteenMeetings]

Lots of cuddling.

I tried Baby Sensory when DD was about five weeks - it was far too young. She slept through the first three classes, and only really started to pay any attention at about three months.

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

I would say do what YOU want to do and enjoy doing that your newborn can fit in with.

If you want to make some mummy friends, go to groups and classes

If you like cinema/yoga/fitness - go to the baby friendly sessions.

If you enjoy doing coffee and pub lunches - do that. Ditto walking, reading, campaigning for world peace etc

Or sit on the sofa, eat biscuits, gaze into the distance, watch TV, lie in bed all day and enjoy the only time of your adult life you can do that without obligation or justification.

Whatever you do, DON'T set up a routine or activity plan because you feel you must or for the good of the baby. As long as they are fed, clean and next to you they don't need anything else.

[trilbydoll]

I watched lots of Homes under the Hammer and Law & Order. Spent a lot of time in the rocking chair feeding or under a sleeping baby. People came round and brought lunch with them. Lovely days that I will never have the chance to repeat, unless DD goes to nursery 24/7 when DC2 comes along!

[ohforfoxsake]

Feed and gaze. Feed and gaze.

Try to do your teeth. If you can shower, you are going above and beyond.

Congratulations. Time marches on quickly. Enjoy these precious days.

[cashmiriana]

I watched lots of Homes under the Hammer and Law & Order. Spent a lot of time in the rocking chair feeding or under a sleeping baby. People came round and brought lunch with them. Lovely days that I will never have the chance to repeat, unless DD goes to nursery 24/7 when DC2 comes along!

This!
I carefully totally accidentally timed DD2's arrival to coincide with DD1 starting school, thereby ensuring that from 9-2.45 Monday to Friday I had DD2 all to myself.

Homes Under the Hammer (pre-Sky days in this house, so nothing else on) was her signal to wake up and have a very long feed. It was brilliant. I also just about managed to put the nappies in the washing machine, hang them on the line outside, and make tea for DD1 on her return from school, then sit and do her reading and homework with her while the baby fed. I didn't do classes and baby groups as I loathe them, but did go to LLL meetings, and would sometimes go over to my sister's house on her day off. It was a very relaxed first few months.

[KatyN]

We had a baby chair in the bath so we would spend a good hour in there splashing around. My other moment of genius was when I read him stories. He really liked agatha Christie. I would just read out loud whatever I was reading. Felt like we were together but I was doing something I enjoyed.

We also drank a LOT of posh hot chocolate and napped even more!

K

[kinkytoes]

Received a lot of visitors, didn't leave the house for weeks unless I had a specific appt (but it was freezing outside and I was recovering from a particularly nasty episiotomy) spent most of my time bf and watching tv. Baby groups are great if you need to meet other new mums but I already knew a few so waited till ds was old enough to benefit before joining them.

[neversleepagain]

Just get to know your baby and enjoy it.

I didn't do anything but go for walks until they (twins) were 6 weeks old and then it was only a trip into town. I only went to toddler groups etc when they were 18 months.

[Koothrapanties]

Just relax! In a few short months your little newborn is going to be a whirlwind who never stops. Make the most of this time.

[AnarchyRules]

I stayed in bed really late every day, feeding then napping when he napped until about noon :)
Then we'd get up usually when he wasn't content to go back to sleep immediately and potter around getting food one handed. Might go to town in the pram or sling for an hour or so and get milk/bread whatever. Home. Sofa. Feeding. Mnetting. Walking the dog.

About 5 weeks we started going out for a bit longer, feeding in public, going swimming (10 mins in the pool but an hour to get ready/dry off!), visiting friends, going to the pub(!) great fun.

[jessiemummy28]

CityDweller I was the same. We were out of hospital within 3 hours of giving birth, went home to sleep then were up and out the following day. Always made sure we went out somewhere every day, started my first baby group at 6 days old! I regret it a little now, and wish id spent more time resting (8 months on and I'm bloody knackered!) but I think I would have gone crazy at home all day. OP do whatever you want! If you want to stay at home all day dozing/feeding/eating then that's fine, the same if you want to be out all day every day!

[MaryAnnTheDasher]

Change bum, feed, burp, comfort to sleep, little bits of active time, lots of walking the floor while the baby cries- repeat! Light house work and normally one trip a day to local.shop for bread etc. That's it!

[AnythingNotEverything]

My favourite thing was baby cinema bit was often a trial to get there on time but when we did, it was a lovely long cuddle/snooze/milk fest. I think most if the chains do it now.

[Sapat]

With my first I struggled with my episiotomy and it was winter so stayed in the first month. Just fed, slept and muddled on. She had colic, reflux etc. we would do an activity every other day as I found it would tire her to do more. I met up with other mums in coffee houses and it was lush.
With my second it was more or less the same as sister was at nursery. I didn't do any baby groups, maybe baby massage 3 or 4 times, but that was it.
My third, we have been consumed with the school run and housework (kids are seriously messy and dirty!) so the day whizzes by without our noticing. If baby sleeps, he sleeps, otherwise he is in the rocker or the sling as I carry on. Obviously not a chance of baby groups with 3 in tow. Just going to town shopping is a massive endeavour.
Now it is school holiday I let the other two watch TV in their pjs while I snooze with baby. He sleeps most in the morning and I am not a morning person so it suits me. Kids think it is a massive treat to watch TV. We go out every afternoon to the pool, park or shops, or to a local attraction.

Make the most of having a newborn, watch TV, visit friends, go out to coffee houses, nice walks with your super expensive pram. You won't be able to do that in a few months. It is absolutely fine to stay home in your pjs watching daytime TV. If someone turns up unannounced just say baby was up all night, even if it isn't true!

[livingzuid]

Mine is now 8 weeks (eek) and both of us were in hospital the first ten days. Once we got her home at first we treated her a bit like some sort of delicate glass statue for fear of her getting sick again. So it was mainly indoors and watching telly. I also was healing. I was worried I didn't cuddle her enough but looking back at pics she is there in my arms a lot.

Apart from parents coming for two days when she was 2 1/2 weeks, I started getting out a bit more around the five week mark, doing more walking. She LOVES her car seat and being in the car so I will strap her in, go for a drive then a walk before meeting DH after work when we all then do some more walking or driving together. She's also been out for lunch with friends as well as dinner and we went to the beach for the first time on Thursday with the dog. It was at some points cooler outside than in our flat.

Fresh air tires my dd out and she really enjoys it, likes looking around etc so I try to get out as much as possible. She is a very good baby who has always pretty much slept through and only cries when it's food time. But I notice she gets quite antsy if she has stayed in all day.

I return to work in two weeks and I will miss my little shadow so much. Do what feels comfortable to you. It was physically quite tough for me to be out and about soon after birth. Give yourself as much time as you need.

[Valsoldknickers]

Treated our home as my "cave" and retreated from everything while I got to know my baby. It was beautiful and fun and I accepted it for what it was ( couldn't drive cos of CS so was confined for longer than would have liked).

It is normal to chill out and' just be' while getting used to the demands a new baby puts on you, especially if it's your first!

[buffythebarbieslayer]

Just had dc3. First two weeks dh did most care of elder two so that I could rest on the sofa feeding baby, watching Tele and eating chocolate. It was lovely.

Then I was straight back into school and nursery runs and it was last term so busy! We just knuckled down as best we could.

Now summer holidays and we're enjoying the lazier mornings but I do guiltily look forward to back to schoolas my middle one starts too and I will have baby all to myself.