Your Self-Care Doesn’t Have to Wait for Nap Time

As parents, it feels natural to tie our baby and toddler’s sleep to our time for self-care (or getting through a to-do list). Unfortunately, this can lead to you feeling resentful of your little one when they don’t sleep on schedule, or when they are prone to catnaps, which is perfectly normal. It also means that unless you are one of the lucky few whose babies take two-hour naps, nap time will never feel long enough. 

The truth is, we don’t need to revolve our days around our child’s sleep. Yes, we need to take their needs into account and it does limit our options, but babies are much more portable and adaptable than we often give them credit for. And it’s ok for them to grow up seeing you look after yourself too.

If you feel trapped spending hours at home entertaining your baby or toddler between nap times, try getting creative. Call a friend to go for a coffee or a walk with your baby in the stroller or carrier. If you loved to run before becoming a parent, invest in a running stroller and get back out there. You may find your little one loves being out and about and will settle easily, letting you stay out even longer. Your toddler might find your home workout entertaining and want to join in! As your little one gets older, the possibilities will change and expand.

Try planning your week in advance and call on whatever help you can access, paid or otherwise. Help can be as simple as companionship or something more involved like watching the baby so you can get meal prep done, have a nap, or take a long shower. There really are more possibilities once you accept that naps on the go are just as good as naps in a cot. Or that an activity that is baby-friendly doesn’t have to be a “baby activity”. Sometimes you just need help getting creative to meet your baby’s needs as well as your own.