When do you eat/do anything during the day?

Question

How do you do anything during the day? I am home alone while my husband is at work. My baby is a wonderful night sleeper but during the day he doesn’t nap unless he is on me and wants to be held and rocked the rest of the time. In order to go to the bathroom I have to put him down and he screams and freaks out. I feel horrible because he sounds like he is being tortured but I have to put him down. I can sometimes put him in a swing for a break but it’s very short. What do you do when you need to do something like eat? How do you not feel horrible when he screams? Any ideas to help so I can actually have lunch so I stay healthy? Thank you.

Answer

Baby wear! We used a moby wrap. 
Also, I didn’t worry about getting things done. The days while I was home alone were meant for caring for, plying with, and teaching baby. Once my SO was home I would do dishes and make dinner and meal prep for the next day.

Answer

If it’s any consolation I ask myself how people manage this every other day lol  - I’m a SAHM too and while I can cheat (my husband works at home) a lot of the time I’m flying solo too.
My 5mo usually only naps 45 minutes, maybe an hour if I’m lucky. Anything that needs two hands occurs in those small periods of time.
I noticed when my baby is fed she is content to be on her play mat (or to be worn in a baby carrier), which means I can do short jobs and keep an eye on her at the same time. As soon as the need to feed her arrives or she gets tired, I gotta drop it all. 
Look for patterns, and moments that your baby is content and settled. Use those to shoe-horn self care; have a cup of coffee (or preferred hot beverage), take a deep breath for a minute.
Have quick foods ready that require less than 5 mins prep. I must confess my lunch these days are instant noodles that I beef up with frozen vegetables (I make up the nutrients at dinner). Canned tuna & beans, frozen healthy meals, hell toast might work too.
For the stuff that doesn’t make it, you just gotta let it go. It will get done eventually, and the things that are urgent you’ll find time for. Things that aren’t important just have to wait. These are all things I tell myself but I feel soooo much guilt. So you’re not alone!

Answer

Agree with wearing the baby. Also, if you know your baby is fed, dry, and safe, it’s ok to let them cry. As hard as that sound is, you both should get used to you needing to do things for yourself. Peeing and eating are important!

Answer

My baby usually doesn't take long naps. I do things or eat when she's occupied by other things. Playing on her mat or in her jumper or sitting on the couch with toys. Or I wear her and do what I need to that way.

Answer

Honestly, I didn’t do much unless my mom helped me for an hour or two with babysitting. Everything waited until my husband came home. We ate out a lot or did easy freezer meals. We didn’t clean as often as my OCD would like, but our home was decent. The only thing I kept up with was the laundry and we did that mostly at night or I just carried babe around and did it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ So for like 5 months not a whole lot happened. I think that’s the time to give yourself a ton of grace.

Answer

I wear my baby a lot. Helps keep us both sane so I don’t spend my days fighting. Once he’s mobile he’ll be running around the place anyway so it’s not like it’ll last forever. He also sleeps 100 times better in a carrier than in the crib for naps so when he is awake he’s much happier. He’s getting better at crib naps now though if that makes you feel better ☺️

Answer

I had two out of three babies just like this, I am home on my own with two of the three, eldest is at school, to go to the bathroom, I leave the door open and put baby on the floor (on a rug) just outside the door so they can still see me. To eat lunch I just eat finger food snacks like carrot sticks, celery sticks or crackers and dips. It’s not much food wise but still healthy and baby will eventually grow out of wanting to be held all the time. Good luck!

Answer

Do you baby wear? That way your hands are free. They can even sleep in the carrier or wrap. Otherwise you’ll just have to teach them to sleep on their own. Of course they’ll cry when you put them down because your warm cozy arms are more comfortable than their crib. But for your mental sanity you should get them used to sleeping on their own.

When do you eat/do anything during the day?

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