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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Mornings with newborn and 4 year old

35 replies

MumOfBoys16 · 02/02/2021 22:23

I'm trying to think how we might work our getting ready routine when baby arrives.

I like to have a quick shower in the morning, and really liked this after a night of breastfeeding with DS. But how do I have a shower and not worry about DS (4) medling with the baby?

DH goes leaves the house at 6.30 so realistically I'm thinking I probably won't have the motivation to get up before he goes.

Do I let go of the idea of having morning showers, get a grip and get up early, or is there a solution I'm missing?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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hellosun20 · 02/02/2021 22:24

Does the 4 year old go in a high chair or something he could be strapped into?

xHeartinacagex · 02/02/2021 22:27

I let my older one watch TV in the living room, and baby stayed in her cot. I had a baby monitor so I could hear if she cried.

I started washing my hair, shaving legs etc at night when my partner was home and I could take my time. Morning shower was just a very quick wash to wake me up!

xHeartinacagex · 02/02/2021 22:29

Baby monitor means you could hear if your older one went in to see the baby too. Mine never did though, I think she was glad of a break from her!

EarringsandLipstick · 02/02/2021 22:30

Why would a 4 yo be 'messing with the baby'?

I had a 4 yo, 2 yo & newborn. 4 & 2 yo played while I showered, newborn just was a newborn!

My 4 yo was a tremendous help to me but even the 2 yo was fine.

I think you might be under-estimating your DC!

(Also, was someone really suggesting strapping a 4 yo in a high chair? 😳)

Sunflower40 · 02/02/2021 22:30

Baby in bouncer in bathroom with you?

AintOverUntilTheCatLadySings · 02/02/2021 22:32

4 year old in the shower room with you?

rainingcats · 02/02/2021 22:33

Could you take baby into bathroom with you? Not sure if they are old enough to sit in a bouncer or similar?
I do not have a newborn but do have a three year old who can not be trusted to be let loose around the house when I am in the shower so he gets to sit in my bed and watch tv. He is not allowed to move out of bed while I am in the shower. Morning showers are just a quick two minute job and anything more advance like hair washing takes place at night

Wantthistobedone · 02/02/2021 22:35

I’d let the four year old tooter about and just leave the newborn cuddled up on a blankie on the floor! Or a towel... then again I’d only be soaping up and rinsing off, 5 mins max just to ‘wake up’. Esp if you’ve been breastfeeding, sweaty, cuddling etc. A moses basket brought in the room might make you feel better... I often used to SWEAR i heard DS in his cot wailing when I was in the shower as he napped. Turn the bloody water off and he’d be fast asleep!

Lisyloo725 · 02/02/2021 22:42

I used a bouncy chair in the shower room
With both of mine. In fact we had a second hand one that we kept upstairs for that very purpose (you can’t be carrying a baby with floppy neck and a bouncer up flights of stairs)!
As a previous poster said, do things that take ages in the evening ie hair washing, deep conditioner, shave legs etc! So that your morning showers are closer to 5 mins.
Good luck! X x

ButtonMoonPie · 02/02/2021 22:56

I used to bring baby in to the bathroom in Moses basket - first baby so only because I worried I wouldn't hear crying and meant I could relax and have a longer shower.

Surely nobody actually thinks a 4 year old should be strapped in to a high chair?!

Chelyanne · 02/02/2021 23:03

I swapped to showering when they were asleep at night. Dh works away a lot so it was just me and kids most of the time.
Our 5 year old was very jealous when our 2nd came along and she did hit him a couple of times when I went to the loo so I used to take him everywhere with me until she adjusted.
Not had the problem with younger ones as they never had a time where they didn't have to share my attention.

PFin · 03/02/2021 01:06

Id bring baby into bathroom in their bouncer or moses basket. If baby is sleeping and you dont want to move them 4YO on bathroom floor with something to occupy them, even if its an ipad or phone or something watching a wee programme. You'll work out a good routine that suits you.

Original poster

MumOfBoys16 · 03/02/2021 05:29

Some great ideas here.. I forget who said what but you're right, it'd only be a quick rinse.

My worry with DS is he loves the idea of being big brother so I'm worried about overly affectionate cuddles or something whilst I'm not there.. but I liked the idea of baby monitor so I can hear.

DS is fine to be left at the moment watching tv or playing whilst I'm in he shower with no issues. I think you're right maybe I'm underestimating him.

What sort of rules did you put in place to teach the older ones? E.g. no picking up the baby if mummy/daddy aren't there.

OP posts:

OverTheRainbow88 · 03/02/2021 05:48

I would let 4 year old play in his room or watch tv and take the baby into bathroom in a bouncer or sleepyhead or something so can see the 4 year old isn’t harassing the baby as such

shouldistop · 03/02/2021 06:52

I have a 4yo and a newborn and our mornings usually are like this..

6am baby gets morning feed, change & cuddle
7am baby back into crib for a nap, ds & I have breakfast and I have my shower
8am baby has another feed etc then I get ds dressed for the day

A 4yo really shouldn't meddle with the baby tbh, just talk about being careful.

THATbasicSNOWFLAKE · 03/02/2021 07:01

Trying to imagine my 4 year olds reaction to being strapped in a high chair

JohnLapsleyParlabane · 03/02/2021 07:06

When I was in your situation it was either baby in cot and 4yo on sofa, or baby in bathroom and 4yo elsewhere.
Occasionally DD would want to be with me and DS whilst I showered so she'd 'read a book' to DS in the bathroom.

shouldistop · 03/02/2021 07:07

Trying to imagine my 4 year olds reaction to being strapped in a high chair

I know

Rainallnight · 03/02/2021 07:09

Ha ha, also thinking of my four year old in a high chair

MsChatterbox · 03/02/2021 07:11

I have a gate upstairs. 3 year old plays in his room (I bring a selection of toys up the night before and put outside his door) and baby comes in bathroom with me in baby chair. Toys in room also help when 3 year old wakes and baby still sleeping he will turn his light on and play!

MsChatterbox · 03/02/2021 07:15

So rules in place, if he wants to hold baby he needs to sit on the couch and ask. He's only tried to pick her up once and that's where this rule came in place! I just tell him it's mummy's job because baby might get a boo boo and he understands this. I try not to intervene with cuddles but just jump in when I need to "don't lean on her" is said a lot lol and he responds quickly to this as sometimes he does it without realising. He was 2.5 when she was born so I had to teach him to stroke her body. Whenever he went up to her I just said good boy stroke her body. As it seemed instinctual to poke her face instead lol. I just praised all the soft touches. He is fab with her I'm sure your boy will be too!

THATbasicSNOWFLAKE · 03/02/2021 07:16

Ha ha, also thinking of my four year old in a high chair

Is it bad i am actually considering this just to see his face? 🤣

hellosun20 · 03/02/2021 07:36

Jesus I don't actually have a 4 year old so I have no idea what they do and don't do. I was just trying to help the OP. I'm sure people on MN get ruder and ruder. Good luck, OP!

ButtonMoonPie · 03/02/2021 10:01

@hellosun20

Jesus I don't actually have a 4 year old so I have no idea what they do and don't do. I was just trying to help the OP. I'm sure people on MN get ruder and ruder. Good luck, OP!

Didn't mean to be rude, found it funny more than anything. 4 year olds go to school so highchairs just seemed an odd suggestion.

Original poster

MumOfBoys16 · 03/02/2021 18:53

Thanks all.. I feel much better about it all, it feels manageable! I'm hoping him being a bit older will help as I can explain why it's important to be careful. Although he told me this morning he's going to dress the baby everyday to help me 😂 I said the poppers are a bit tricky, he says it's ok I'll do them for you 😂😂 very sweet, I look forward to what the reality will be like!

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