Mornings with newborn and 4 year old

[MumOfBoys16]

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?

"it's ok I'll do them for you" 🥺 awww

My playfor when DC2 arrives is to continue showering with DD and plonk baby in the bouncer because if they're anything like DD they won't sleep enough to leave them somewhere else. DD will be 2.5 and has never be strapped in a highchair and is allergic to cots and baby gates 🙄

@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!

Have you ever met a 4yr old!?

I don’t get the issue- currently home alone with a 3 yr old and a 3 month old. I showered this morning- 3yr old downstairs watching tv, baby in her bouncer at the door of the bathroom

I just put my baby on the bathroom floor (on a rug in a blanket) or in the bouncer. Tv on for 4 year old.
Do not feel guilty about the amount of tv your 4 yo will watch. It will be a fuck load and that's ok 👌!

Also don't feel guilty if you do end up spending all day in pyjamas too 😂

I read you shouldn't leave children younger than 5 with babies but I guess every child is different and you're the best judge. If it were me I'd have newborn in the bouncer in the bathroom/near me somewhere and four year old chilling somewhere! That'd be for make up/getting dressed though-I have showers at night though! X

As pp have said,save the special tv show for shower time. Baby in cot. It works

I remember I posted on here about the same thing years ago! I promise you- it just figures itself out. Though baby on rocker / bassinet in bathroom with you is probably the easiest/ safest for first few months.

I used to take DC in the bathroom with me in a bouncy chair. Though I have baths rather than showers so the bathroom gets less steamy. Not sure if that would be good for baby.

I had/have the exact same age gap. I used to shower while older DS was at preschool or while DH was at home to avoid any issues.

If I really wanted a shower during the day, DS2 as a tiny baby would come in to the shower with me in an angelcare seat and we'd shower together. He loved it and at 16 months we have a fight on our hands getting him out of the shower or bath. And if it was a hair wash day, the white noise from the hairdryer would send him off in to a lovely nap.

I left the newborn in the cot and my 3 yr old watching tv or playing downstairs. I had the monitor on so I could hear if the baby woke. At the beginning when I wasn't sure if I could trust the 3 year old I'd shut the stair gate, so they were physically separated.

My 3 year old was and is still a very enthusiastic big sister. We had the rule that she only held the baby sitting on the sofa, with a grown up there to support her. She enjoyed doing big sister jobs, fetching things for me and baby and being trusted to watch tv or play by herself while I put the baby down to nap. She has a doll that she spent ages playing with and also likes to pretend to be a baby herself. I like to think she's got all the baby stuff out of her system that way without manhandling the newborn too much. Although the newborn is now a very robust 7 month old who will complain if her sister is too rough, but mostly loves all the attention.