Good Routines for Working Moms With Infants

Caring for an infant is a full-time job. Not many would dispute that claim, but it's not your only job. A new mom has the daunting task of developing a routine that leaves her with some sanity. Take your new role as working mom in stride and rest assured that with planning, your roles as mother and as employee, and the many other hats you wear, are manageable.

  1. Meal Preparation

    • To avoid stressing over what the family's going to eat for dinner, plan meals that save you time. Designate a day to write your menu and to grocery-shop for the week. Doing this will ensure you always have the ingredients on hand. Cook meals to freeze or place into the crockpot to avoid standing over a hot stove every evening after work.

    Baby Bonding Time

    • Infancy passes so quickly. When you return home from work, make spending time with your little one a top priority. Don't let any other tasks interfere with this time, no matter how busy or tired you are. Your baby requires your attention for nurturing and development. Spend quiet time together reading a book to him or singing a favorite song. Have a snuggle session after bathing your baby to comfort him for the night. This will also help alleviate some of your stress from the day.

    Nightly Chores

    • No one expects your house to resemble a museum with a new infant in the home. You do want to keep the home semi-presentable for when company comes over. After you've put the baby to sleep for the night, spend about 20 to 30 minutes doing a quick cleaning. Set a timer and when it goes off, you're done cleaning for the night. Just focus on the main areas of the home, like the bathroom, kitchen and living room. Put dishes in the dishwasher and wipe down the counters. Pick up any clutter and find the proper place for it. Only tackle deep cleaning on the weekends. Even then, clean one room at a time, so you'll feel a sense of accomplishment.

    Catch Up on Mommy Time

    • Share the workload of caring for your child and ask for help when needed. Look to your partner or even family members for assistance. To be a good mommy, you have to give yourself leisure time. Watch television, talk to your hubby or soak in a hot bath. Do whatever you need to rejuvenate your body and relax your mind from a busy day. Nurture yourself to remain positive and to be the best mother possible. If you're lucky, your baby will sleep through the night to help you rest as well. Whatever you do, don't go to bed worrying about items that didn't get accomplished, since there's always tomorrow to tackle a little more.

    Breastfeeding

    • It is important to establish a breastfeeding schedule before returning to work, suggests Dr. Sears of Dr.Sears.com. Begin pumping and freezing milk two weeks before the end of your leave to build an emergency supply. Also, pump at work using a double pump during your break times to provide milk for the baby daily. Before work, after work and weekends are opportune times to breastfeed your baby to continue the closeness and bonding.

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