Self care with infant

This may be a dumb question but how do some moms seem so put together. I’m a single mom of a almost 6 month old, I have 3 teens to help but they have their own stuff going on and aren’t always available. I have a hard time even getting a shower, let alone blow drying and styling my hair, and putting on makeup. It’s making me depressed. I’ve gained more weight, and I’m so unmotivated sometimes and when I do want to do something for myself he’s in the background crying, and I don’t let him cry it out, he’s too little, I can’t. Any tips?

Read more on Peanut

The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.

Learn more about our guidelines.

Add a comment

No tips, just solidarity. I'm currently still in showering-every-3-days survival mode. I can take care of baby, work, take care of the house/life stuff, or take care of myself but I can't do all of those. 😩

It's just perception sometimes, not reality. I'll go 5 days without a shower and plop my baby on the counter in his carrier to stare at the mirror for a minute to put on blush and mascara and some earrings and people will say "oh, you look so nice!" when I feel like a bridge troll. Other people are probably looking at you thinking you look perfectly fine ☺️

Okay I could never go without showering I don’t care how bad things get I am getting a shower!! I don’t have time for hair or anything like that, but a shower is always going to happen. Being clean is important especially if you are breastfeeding!
Don’t worry about the other stuff, it will get better!! Maybe try and put on a movie or a show for your baby, or I dunno if your baby is able to feed itself yet, but while your baby takes their bottle you can try sit next to them and put make up on?
Put them in the bouncer or swing and just talk to them while you do your hair they might get distracted by what you are doing and enjoy it 🤗
I don’t let my baby cry it out either!
While your baby plays with their toys and does tummy time you could lay next to them and work out if you like

Enjoy the little moments. You'll always get to catch up on showers, and self care but not having a little one. They grow up fast, and then they leave. I know what your going through. Try and focus on what you can do, not what you can't. And snuggle the heck out of your babe while you have the chance. :)

I put my baby in a little bouncer thing and play peek a boo while I shower. When I want to do hair or make up I put a mat in front of the mirror with toys and get ready while talking to and playing with my baby then usually when it’s time to leave he’s already tired for nap time in the car

I usually get up an hour or so earlier than when my baby gets up to give me time to have breakfast, a cup of coffee and time to get myself ready. If we are getting up at the same time I’ll give her a bottle and then she will in her exersaucer for 30-45 minutes.

I do my self care at night after baby goes to sleep. I'll do a quick clean up/ night reset, prep my coffee maker for the morning (the smell and knowing my coffee is ready the second I'm up is motivating to me lol) and then I take a nice non rushed shower. I'll do a face mask if I'm up to it and my skincare, put on fresh pjs, grab a snack or dessert and sit on the couch n watch my TikTok's or a movie in peace. As for getting ready during day time... hey bear is my best advice! 😂

in our community

Wdy think of this for a toddler to learn word construction?

I'm open to anything else to start teaching him to read and write. He's 3!

Do men really enjoy fellatio?

Been together more than 10 years, but it's been a while since he even seemed remotely interested in me getting on my knees, or vice versa so to speak. I think it was once last year. Must be something I am doing wrong 🤔. Generally everything else in that department is great and we have two young kids with no extra support, so it's quite surprising we can't keep our hands off each other but may need to try new things. It's basically 2 positions each time with some foreplay.

Vanilla extract

Has anyone used alcohol free vanilla in their babies formal to help them drink?
I’m 100% sure my baby refuses her bottles as she doesn’t like the taste of it!

Just anxious to try it, don’t want her to get used to it and then refuse bottles again after two weeks of using (correct me if I’m wrong but I’ve read you use it for 2 weeks max)

TIA 🙂

Naps

How is everyone doing for naps?

Little one is 9 months old and will have 2 half hour naps and one solid 1 hour - 2 hour nap a day

Then settles for night around 9pm. Wakes for a feed around 3:30 then sleeps until 6-7

Pumping advise

FTM to a 2 week old! I’m breastfeeding and then giving one formula bottle last in the evening before bed. I want to start expressing milk to give me some breathing room and also allow my partner to be more involved in feeding. I’m finding the idea of introducing pumping into my day quite overwhelming though. I don’t want to take milk away from my baby by pumping if he needs it during the day when being breastfeed.

Can anyone advise how I start pumping and when to do it? Thank you!

Sex post C section

Hi ladies I’m 4 weeks 5 days postpartum and I had a C section. I’m not bleeding properly anymore just some brownish discharge stuff that starts on and off. I’d like to do the deed with my partner; is it okay to do so or shall I wait the full 6 weeks. I feel up for it but also worried because the advice is 6-8 weeks.