Re: I feel so stressed with my new baby -- there's so much going on I can barely keep up with it all. How can I stay better organized?
Sometimes it is very helpful for new moms to write things down. When I work with new moms we put together a baby binder filled with all the important information for the new baby. First I would start with simply writing a schedule for the baby. You can begin by logging when the baby eats, sleeps, etc. Then once a pattern has been formed you can implement a schedule around the baby's needs. This will allow you to know when the baby needs to eat, when the baby needs a nap, and so on. This will also allow for a constancy of care between all caregivers.
In the binder, you can also place any important information for the baby. If the baby takes any medicine you can chart the dosing amount and times given. There can be a section for all medical records or concerns that you can bring to the doctor with you. You can also leave a blank section for notes and to-dos. If you are feeling overwhelmed I would recommend taking out a blank piece of paper and writing out everything in your head and everything that is stressing you. Try to tackle one item a day and enlist others to help, if possible. Set up a schedule for your baby and you that works best for your lifestyle. This will allow you to know the best times for errands, play dates and when to get home for naps. There are also many websites that have checklists and papers that you can download for organization tips in the home. Remember to keep realistic expectations of what "needs" to get done each day and what can wait for the next day.
Tammy Gold | May 12 , 2009 3:01 PM