Knowing what to do when things are quiet at home with your newborn can be challenging. Yes, you need to tend to them from time to time while on maternity leave. But if you’re honest, a lot of the time is actually quite quiet. Newborns do a lot of sleeping.
So, what are our recommendations for what to do when things are quiet at home, but you’re off work? Let’s take a look.
Take A Long Bath
When the silence finally arrives, our suggestion is that you take a long bath. Spending more time bathing and enjoying yourself can be physiologically relaxing, preparing you for the next round of intense effort.
Long baths are helpful because they act a bit like saunas. They raise your body’s core temperatures, encourage sweating, and allow blood vessels to dilate at the surface, improving circulation. Many mothers find that it is a great way to help their bodies recover and feel better in general after the exhaustion of going to the hospital.
Eat Something Real
You could also spend some of your downtime preparing something real to eat. So many mothers get by on cheap, packaged food that they forget what whole fruits and vegetables taste like.
When you begin eating real foods, your entire body and outlook on life change. You discover that you’re much more robust than you thought and that things that used to affect you tremendously don’t anymore.
You can also explore new recipes and cuisines during your downtime. After all, you don’t have the pressure of work weighing down on you! Buying a few cookbooks and some new equipment for the kitchen can be an excellent way to pass the time and produce something worthwhile and meaningful at the end of it.
Snap A Baby Pic
When your newborn is feeling quiet or falling asleep, you could also use the time to snap a baby pic. The first few weeks of your child’s life are among the most special you’ll ever experience, so you’ll want to be there every step of the way.
Sometimes, it’s nice to snap photos of your child the old-fashioned way, on a disposable camera or Polaroid. These will always give you a sense of nostalgia whenever you look back at them.
Catch Up On Sleep
Of course, you can also catch up on sleep if things are all quiet in your home. You might need the extra rest if your baby’s been keeping you up all night.
Catching up on sleep is often essential for new parents because of how much newborns cry during the night. They don’t have regular body clocks at this stage in their lives (that comes later), so they don’t care if it is the early hours of the morning.
This worked fine historically when parents could pretty much sleep and snooze when they wanted. But with modern work schedules, it’s a real worry, which is why maternity leave is so important with the birth of a child. It lets you get back into a sleep rhythm before returning to work and going without.
Catching up on sleep isn’t something that will come naturally at first–you’ll be too interested in your baby. However, it will happen over time.
Just remember to sleep near your baby monitor so that you can wake up when they cry. Otherwise, you’ll be too worried about their well-being to get the rest you need.
Play A Game
You can also use the time to play a game or checkers or Minesweeper–whatever it is that you like to do. It’s always worth reminding yourself that you were someone who had a big brain before your newborn came along and that you like to challenge it from time to time.
These days, you can find these games online for free, so you don’t have to spend a lot of money. You can get them on your phone or tablet, so you can play them while your child rests, giving you something else to think about and a way to pass the time.
Playing games is a lot of fun and can even take your mind off things if you’re feeling stressed. Plus, there’s so much choice, you’ll never get bored.
Text Your Friends
When your baby is snoozing, it’s also an opportunity to text your friends. You can chat with them about how things are going and even ask them for help with meals or changing diapers.
Texting your friends and telling them that you still exist is a great way to stay in their lives. Remind them that you miss them and can’t wait to go out with them again when the babies are growing up.
If you’re having problems at home, venting to friends is also a great idea. You can tell them about the problems you’ve been going through or any health-related issues to do with the birth or breastfeeding (which are surprisingly common).
Then, you can wait for some sympathetic and caring replies. Who knows, they might even agree to come and stay with you for a while.
Sit And Breathe
Sometimes, when things are quiet, it’s also nice just to sit and breathe. Being constantly on the go all the time is hard work and something that a lot of new mothers struggle with. You’re always thinking about whether your baby is okay and even if you should take them to the doctor’s office.
If this happens, it can be beneficial to be mindful and take some time out. Breathing in and out slowly can help to calm the nervous system and prepare you for whatever additional challenges the day has to throw at you. Sitting and breathing might feel strange in today’s hectic world, but for new mothers, it’s an essential part of meditation and calming the mind (which can sometimes get out of control).
Tidy Up
Another thing to do is to tidy up. When a newborn baby arrives in your home, it can create a significant mess, which is why it is so critical to use downtime to put things away.
Remember, living in a messy house isn’t good for you. Even if it is hygienic, it can make you feel stressed and leave you feeling even more out of control than you did before.
Therefore, start with one room at a time and get tidy. Begin with the kitchen, then move on to the bathroom and living areas. If your child’s room is a mess, you can adjust that, too.
Ensure that you use baby-friendly products as you clean. You don’t want to expose them to any harsh chemicals that might adversely affect their health.
Start Stretching
As a new mother, you most likely spend a lot of time sitting down and simply being with your baby. But after you’ve given birth, it’s also a good idea to stretch. Getting the blood moving again can help with healing and makes it easier for your body to return to its regular, healthy state.
As you stretch, walk around the room and use the activity to think about your ideas and what you want to do next. Getting up and about can change your perspectives and give you the ability to plot a course forward.
So there you have it: some of the things you can do when it’s quiet at home with your newborn. Take advantage of these periods as they may never come in your life again, especially if you have a career to go back to afterward.
