You might be a seasoned pro at multitasking, but caring for a new baby while also trying to work from home is a whole new level.
Adjusting to life with a new baby is a challenge under any circumstance, but doing it during a pandemic makes reaching out for help and resources even more difficult.
Fortunately, you are not alone and this period is only temporary. To help get you through the most stressful days, it’s important to stay organized and above all, flexible! Here are some tips to help you balance all the chaos in your life.
Schedule Naptime
New parents know that the best time to get work done is while your baby sleeps. However, it is even more helpful if you know exactly what time your baby is going to take their nap so that you can schedule work calls, Zoom meetings, and deadlines during that time.
Instead of letting your baby decide their naptime, put them down at the same time each day to create a nap schedule.
Use a Baby Wrap
With small babies, you can safely use a wrap or sling to keep them close and still have two hands to do your work with.
Newborns love being close to you where they can hear your heartbeat and watch your expressions. You don’t have to worry about them or check on them because they are always right there with you.
When they are not in their wrap, you can set them in a swing for infants nearby that will gently rock them while they’re awake.
Hire Childcare for the Mornings
Many parents working from home rely on regular childcare coming to the house. It’s not an easy task to find childcare during a pandemic, but if you do know someone that you trust, it could be a great solution to have them watch your newborn for several hours each morning or afternoon while you get the majority of your work done.
Alternatively, you could enlist the baby’s grandparents or other family members to come to take care of them.
Go Easy on Yourself
Despite our efforts, no one can do it all. You have a tremendous amount on your plate right now and no one is expecting perfection.
If your work is being very demanding, now is a great time to speak with your boss to manage expectations. It’s better that they know how to be flexible than to expect tasks that you can’t possibly deliver while taking care of your baby.
Take care of yourself and make sure you put aside at least thirty minutes of self-care per day to practice meditation, exercise, or do something else you love.
If you’re feeling like you can’t possibly balance it all, take a deep breath and remember that this too shall pass. You are strong and will get through this!
About The Author:
Rae Steinbach is a graduate of Tufts University with a combined International Relations and Chinese degree. After spending time living and working abroad in China, she returned to NYC to pursue her career and continue curating quality content. Rae is passionate about travel, food, and writing (of course).
