What's your daily routine like with your baby?

[NewToAllThis11]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but am wondering what sort of routine mums with new babies have? My DS is 8 weeks old (corrected because he was premature; born at 27 weeks) and it took me about 4 hours to leave the house this morning to go to baby clinic, ( and then once I'd left it started pouring with rain and I didn't have a jacket, but luckily did have the rain cover for the pram!)

DS is on home oxygen for a few months and will be vulnerable to infection over the winter so I can't take him to too many baby groups, or at least any with lots of toddlers with snotty noses, but I still want him to be able to do normal baby things and also want to get out of the house and meet other mums too as have moved to a new area with my DH.

Anyway, am just trying to strike a balance between being sensible with my lovely, little DS and also getting out and about like any other new mum. So how much do /did you go out with an 8 week old and what sort of routine do you have?
Thanks

I have a ten week old and still haven't been to baby groups yet! She has reflux and is still feeding a lot so most of the day is taken up with feeding and then walking her upright in the sling. Most days we take a quick walk into town or to the park either in the pram or sling just to get some fresh air and a change of scenery. A little bit of the day is spent playing with toys/books or on her playmat. Tbh there's no set routine yet, I just do whatever I'm able to at whatever time of the day.

Thanks Marmalade- that makes me feel much better! It's so true about just doing things when you can. DS always seems to decide he's hungry just as I'm about to go out! He gets bad wind and sometimes needs burping / legs being cycled for an hour and a half after feeds. It sometimes feels like a real achievement just to get dressed!

DD is the same, wants to eat as soon as I lay her in her pram. Then she's sick, then I have to change her, by then she's hungry again, takes an age to find a window where she's not needing anything and can get out the door. Have you tried infacol for the wind? Some people don't think much of it but I find it helps.

Yep, have been giving him infacol which seems to help a bit and am going to try gripe water too. Hoping it's something he'll grow out of as he's so uncomfortable and can't settle at all when he's windy.

With ds2 he was on the school run at 2 days (he was born on a Saturday) and at a baby group (we do 1 a week as I work 4.5 days a week from home) at 8 weeks (after the Christmas break he was born 8/12).

The joys of a third child!

With dd I don't think I left the house for anything more than a walk for about 4 months.

Well done you for getting out at all. :)

Ah, thanks IsThatTrue. Wasn't sure if it was the norm to be going to groups everyday. There's a baby rhyme group in my local library but it starts at 9.30 - no way could I get out of the house for that time!

Completely normal as far as I'm concerned. Baby groups are more about getting out the house and staying sane.

Don't fret, you're doing great. :)

He is still very young for babygroups. We went a walk everyday at any point when i knew i could go out without him needing fed whilst we were out. Other than that I let DS decide our day and I did cleaning and cooking around him sleeping as well as resting myself and watching far too much daytime tv. I loved just sitting around holding him or having him on a playmat and being a "Mummy". This age is precious for that, don't put too much pressure on yourself to interfere with that.

We very rarely made a baby group at that age as dd was always having a nap! When we did go, I didn't enjoy them that much as you have to be all bright and chatty with new people which isn't my thing.

Now, I try to get a few of the all the chores done while dd is asleep. Then after lunch I do some food shopping/pottering/take ds to the park. By 4 or 5 we're home and dd is usually asleep again so I have a tea and go on mumsnet! She goes to sleep for the night at 9 so fairly Kate still.

I took ds1 to a baby sensory class at that age but had to stop going as his silent reflux deteriorated into feeding refusal and feeds took so long that we struggled to even leave the house. With dd2 it has been very different as she has basically had to be portable for all ds1's things - nursery, playdates, the park or soft play as a treat. Dd2 has been quite content just being moved between these places. At that age, what you do for them is really more for your own sanity and wellbeing than for their needs. They would probably be quite happy at home with a playmat and some cuddles and toys waved at them occasionally. But it is important that you get out and see other people and don't end up feeling isolated or depressed. So it is a bit of a balance I think - get out often enough that you don't feel trapped in the house and are starved of adult company and support, but don't feel that you have to for baby's sake.

My DD is 13 weeks and I still haven't made it to a baby group. I like to hope that I can get out once a day even if its just a drive round the block, but tbh it doesn't always happen, and especially at 8 weeks if didn't! I did manage a trip to a resturaunt the other day, but it was a fluke, and it was big risk on my part. One thing I am hoping to go to is the big scream, cinema where it's just for mums and under ones. Btw by this stage we probably should have been more settled and in a routine, but I think my baby has silent reflux, hence the extreme fussiness and sensitivity.

Btw I am hoping to take her to the baby massage classes in sep, hopefully she will be ok!

Thanks for all the responses - has made me feel much better about not being at a baby group everyday! Sharond, what you wrote was really lovely and I agree with you. Being a new mum is a precious time and I do want to enjoy it, rather than worry that I'm not doing enough.