5 tips to make life easier for busy mums

The term busy should be assumed when referring to mums, because mums are always busy, particularly when baby is less than 12 months old. Add in older siblings, especially toddlers, and mum really does get busy! Busy mums need to take on the role of the Home General, organising everyone and prioritising everything that is done in the family so that life is as fluid and stress-free as possible. Tired, exhausted and overwhelmed are not uncommon feelings when you’re a busy mum. As a mother of two beautiful girls, I remember those feelings well. Your heart is full of love, but your body and mind can not keep up!

Here are 5 tips to make life easier for busy mums:

Tip 1 – Sleep and rest.

All the baby books and blogs out there say this, but let me reemphasise, you need to rest when your baby is resting. This is not always possible if there are toddlers around as well, so it might be advantageous to enlist the help of Dad or a close friend or nearby relative to give you a little downtime. Not only will you feel recharged but taking care of yourself will help you take better care of your baby. Plus, you will have an easier time accomplishing anything if you are not a zombie.

Tip 2 – Plan your meals.

You must plan what you are going to eat. We tend to make quick (often poor) decisions on meals when we leave that decision until the last minute. Prep salads, veggies, fruits ahead of time for a quick snack. Make larger quantities of meals you enjoy and freeze them.

Tip 3 – Ask for the help you need.

If you start to feel shaky and you need some help whether it be a meal, folding a load of laundry, some company, or something simple like your favourite cup of coffee, ask for it! The folks around you are just waiting for you to ask for help. I think sometimes mums are afraid to ask for help for fear those around her will think she can't handle things or maybe she feels if she asks for help it will look like she's complaining about motherhood. Listen to me ladies, all mums know how hard those first few months are and were grateful for any help they got.

Tip 4 – Get a planner/note taking app.

A planner, digital or hand-written, will allow you to keep track of doctors' appointments, play dates and even a much-needed night out with your girlfriends. Also write down any thoughts, ideas, dreams that cross your mind. We are so focussed on our little one that the great thought we have one minute will quickly disappear and quite possibly never return. Many call this “Mummy Brain”.

Tip 5 – Have an organised nappy bag.

The nappy bag; mum's most critical companion. Make sure that it is large enough for the job at hand and that it has shoulder straps so that both hands are available for baby, handbag, car keys, rounding up toddlers and the myriad other items a mum needs when going shopping, visiting or just down to the park. Here are some nappy bag content suggestions:

• Baby bottles and food – make sure the bottles are pre-filled with water and food is ready to mix and heat
• Spoons – in a side pocket so that they are easily found
• Nappies
• Nappy cream
• Bibs and wipes
• Multi-Use Cover – Mod and Tod’s 5 in 1 Multi-Use Covers are super versatile. They’re a nursing cover that allows you to breastfeed with confidence, but they can also transform into covers for baby capsules, highchairs, shopping trolleys, they can even be worn as a stylish scarf! We all know that space is valuable in our nappy bags when they’re full of baby essentials. These multi-functional covers are perfect for saving that extra space. I’ve even used mine as a make-shift changing mat when out on the go.
• Change of clothes – we all know how messy babies can be!

So, there are the five tips to make life easier for busy mums. Make sure to keep things simple; simple meals, simple days, and simple expectations. Enjoy every second, even the ones where you can barely keep your eyes open!

Written by
Josephine Leong
Founder of Mod & Tod