Quarantine and a Baby
It’s safe to say that being quarantined is definitely no easy task. Trying to keep yourself entertained and sane while unable to leave your house at your leisure (unless for necessities) is mentally and emotionally draining. Now, add a baby to the pandemic with your shakey mental health and voila! You feel like you’ve officially lost your mind!
I must say, I count my blessings (every.single.day.) not just for the health of my baby, but because I gave birth to her before the “Safer at Home” order went into affect. I pray for all the soon-to-be mamas out there that your delivery is safe and that you find comfort in your birth partner since family may not be present during this time. You are all rockstars for entering motherhood during a pandemic and I couldn’t be prouder of you!!
With that said, once you are home with your baby, to-do tasks feel endless, but also slip your mind because you have too much going on.
I’ve made it easy for you and created a list of tasks you can do with your baby during a pandemic so that you don’t go deeper into the twilight zone.
Activities to do with a Baby in Quarantine:
I must say, I count my blessings (every.single.day.) not just for the health of my baby, but because I gave birth to her before the “Safer at Home” order went into affect. I pray for all the soon-to-be mamas out there that your delivery is safe and that you find comfort in your birth partner since family may not be present during this time. You are all rockstars for entering motherhood during a pandemic and I couldn’t be prouder of you!!
With that said, once you are home with your baby, to-do tasks feel endless, but also slip your mind because you have too much going on.
I’ve made it easy for you and created a list of tasks you can do with your baby during a pandemic so that you don’t go deeper into the twilight zone.
Activities to do with a Baby in Quarantine:
- Wake up and shower yourself everyday with baby in a bouncer on the bathroom floor!! Very important and you’ll feel a million times better after a shower (and possibly be more productive; I am anyway).
- Wake baby up and change (this can be after first feeding). Babies need routine and what better way to teach them they should get dressed in clean clothes (could be jammies too since you’re staying in) everyday than when you’re stuck in the house with nowhere to go while they are still little.
- Go for a walk outside! You & your baby need Vitamin D in addition to fresh air and a change of scenery. Even if you’re wearing a mask, it’s still better than sitting on the couch and rewatching episodes of Gossip Girl or Outer Banks (or whatever teen tv show you’ve already seen multiple times). If you don’t like your hood, drive to another one.
- Try a new solid food (if older than 4mo) if cleared by your Pediatrician and record it!
- This may sound like I’m being a lazy mom, but take advantage of tummy time! Your baby will figure out rolling, crawling, sitting up (obvs with you to assist when needed) and if they’re old enough to self entertain... LET THEM! And then you can start a load of laundry or complete chores while the tv plays in the background for noise. If they don’t let you put them down, wear them.
- Take a drive! A long one if you’re super bored. Babies fall asleep in the car and you get out of the house and can grab a coffee (go double cup no sleeve so that you can toss the cup the worker touched when they handed the coffee to you. Just trying to safe is all).
- Buy a baby float for your bathtub and go “swimming”!
- Research recipes (for baby purées or tomorrow’s dinner).
- Turn on Baby Einstein or Baby’s First (online if you don’t have the DVDs or channels that show it) for brain stimulation and background noise. They’ll be entertained with learning whatever lesson the episode is about and you can get some vacuuming done.
- Look up exercising with your baby (I found lots of free videos off of YouTube).
- If it’s warm, get that water hose flowing and play outside old school style.
- If you’re breastfeeding: pump, pump & pump so that you’re ready to return to work without feeling unprepared or even if it’s just to have a small stock in case the stress makes your milk supply drop. A bag a day keeps the stress away.
- Organize baby drawers with neatly folded onesies and closets organized by size while baby plays with their toys.
- Bust out the cutest outfits from their wardrobe and do a baby photoshoot!
- Most photographers are offering front porch portraits during this quarantine time. They’re affordable, fast and will document this quarantine time. We did it and are happy with our photos!
Hopefully these ideas save you some time trying to figure out activities for a couple weeks. Sending everyone warm wishes for health, comfort and safety during this crazy time.
xoxo - Julie
Comments
Post a Comment