What do you do with your days with a new baby? Share with Fairy Non Bio for chance to win a £300 voucher NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

As part of our partnership with Fairy Non Bio, we’ve produced the Mumsnet Babies podcast. There are ten episodes in the series, and episode 8 covers what you can actually do with your days when you have a new baby. Fairy Non Bio would like you to listen to the podcast here and then post on this thread with your experience.

A new life as a stay-at-home-parent may feel daunting and bewildering, and though you’d likely prepared for the ‘stuff’ you have to do with a baby, you may not have planned for how you intend on filling your days with a new baby, and potentially preventing loneliness now that you’re not at work every day?

Whatever your experience, share your stories of and tips for making the time you spend alone with your baby feel fun and fulfilling, and share any advice you have for when you’re out and about. Do you have any ideas about what you can do at home, when your baby is at different stages? Perhaps you have tips on making being out and about more enjoyable, despite the organisation it now requires with a new baby in tow? Maybe you have creative ideas for being able to do the tasks you need to be able to do around the house, while keeping your baby entertained?

Whatever your experience and tips, share below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

If you’d like to rate the Mumsnet Babies Podcast, please go to the iTunes store to add a review.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

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My wife loved it but for me being at home with baby on my own when he was a very new and small prem baby was absolutely terrifying ! :-)

When my dc was tiny I used to take her out to see parks and animals. Indoors I would sing nursery rhymes and she was easily amused - there was a nightlight and a baby musical mobile she was fascinated with

We would go on long walks in the fresh air also when baby slept I would also have a lie down.

I used to put classical music and dance with them when they were still a bundle. Luckily I didn't put them off classical music

I try to go out most days, even if just for a couple of hours as it breaks the routine up

I did feel isolated. I spent time out walking with the pram, but when my son was 6 months old, I joined a parent & toddler group. Yes he was the youngest, but it helped me meet people & got him used to other children & a different enviroment

I have a papoose for out and about and when vacuuming, I love to be close, I spend a lot of time singing and looking into his eves as he is enthralled by my 'Adele' renditions. When he has a nap, I sleep on the sofa next to his buggy. The closeness makes him feel safe and secure, and I love having him next to me and bonding so beautifully.

Luckily we live near the sea so when they were tiny babies, we practically lived on that beach. The fresh sea air was amazing to blow away the cobwebs of a restless night and life-affirming when I felt blue. Plus the kids slept in the buggy and were fascinated by the sound and the movement of the ocean.

Having him in a sling whilst hanging the washing out was good - he especially loved watching the sheets blowing in the wind!

When the weather was good I would take him in the pram to the local park with a flask of tea and a book. I would sit on a bench and find that other mum's would come and chat.

we have a rocking chair so i like to rock with our baby on my chest secure and nap.

I have to get out of the house for a bit most days with my 8 month old. I didn't think I would enjoy baby groups but I have met some lovely friends at them. I don't go to any you have to pay for in advance though. For the first time in a long while I'm making the most of not having to be at places at certain times if I don't want to.

Keeping on top of housework and entertaining my DD takes up the rest of my time (with lots of cuddles mixed in).

What you think you will do and what you actually do are totally different, I don't know where the time goes but you imagine having all of this free time but in reality you get to the end of the day and wonder where the time went and what you have actually achieved!

At the start, mostly catching up on sleep and clearing up

As the sleep of a night increases the day times get easier, I tried to get out every day, even if it was just a walk or a trip to the supermarket. It meant we were clean and dressed every day and got some fresh air, I think it helped with my mood

Going out for a walk every day .

When mine were babies I made sure I had s plan to take me out of the house daily - a baby group, health visitor weighing clinic, meeting NCT mum friends for a coffee etc. Basically, made sure I had to get dressed and out of the house before 10. Loneliness is a problem in those early months, for many woman it's the first time they haven't had work or education to get them out of the house all day.

I never forgot the best piece of advice when my son came along - forget the housework! If you're too busy cleaning, hoovering and scrubbing, you're missing out on precious moments! When my so was able to support himself, the high hair was invaluable - watching me cook, eating together, whilst I nipped to the loo....!

Holding, cuddling, singing and talking. As soon as they can focus I make a ring binder book (covered in laminate) of every day items and show them a picture of for example a car and then point to cars we see out and about. I do the same when shopping ie. show a picture of a banana and then point to a real one. Every baby I have had and/or looked after seem to love this and it makes shopping more interesting.

For when your toddler starts to sleep in a big bed... and fells out of it! Place the duvet sideways and tuck under the matters ... a good night sleep for the whole of the family.

I loved buggyfit when my little one was tiny. Space for me to feel a bit like me again and socialising with like minded new mothers

As I was on maternity leave I chose just to relax and watch some tv whilst playing with my baby, rather than putting pressure on myself to try to do something 'fulfilling' and missing out on just simply being together. I would have probably had a different outlook if I were going to be a SAHM, but I just needed a break from rushing about.

With my first DC I spent a significant amount of time worrying if I was doing it right, trying to establish a routine, but not rigidly follow a routine, and go to baby groups to stimulate my (poor little newborn) baby and get a cup of tea.

Several DC later I spent the newborn stage snuggled on the sofa whilst the older children were in school, with coffee, cake and TV. Or we went to cafés and did the same but without the tv.
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1st baby, enjoy the alone time and sleet cuddles, not quite the same with the next. Tip if breastfeeding. I had a basket next to my seat with to remote, pads and nipped cream, water bottle, kindle, snacks etc

We try and go to local groups in our area so we are not in the house all day.

With my older son I made the effort to get outside everyday, if only for a walk, it was more for my own sanity! Later joined mums and tots and any activities leading from there. Also baby swimming and gym classes.

Lots of walks, whatever the weather, and found the nicest coffee bars with sofas where one could spend time with just one coffee and let the baby play a little. Museum and galleries were generally good and child friendly. Baby cinema was a godsend. We also have a child-focused park near us - no adults without children in tow - and that had drop ins and was lovely. Sure Start helped a lot - dont think it is there in the same way any more.