Some Days You Just Have To Shower!
Having a cat-napping four month old, a four year old, a busy husband, a crazy, messy household and a heap of paid work to do means I often have to make a hard call – eat or shower in any precious moments that I am not running around doing everything else. Being a breastfeeding mama who is always hungry, food always seems to win! That means I sometimes have to get creative when it comes to actually getting a shower.
One strategy from this week – having the four year old babysit 🙂 I set the girls up on Immy’s bed – AJ lying next to Immy who was ‘reading’ her a book and then I dashed across the hall to run around under the water for thirty seconds or so. As it turned out my babysitter did such a good job that I even had time to wash my hair!
I just had to snap this photo to show how Immy had lovingly placed a small blanket across AJ’s lap and had provided plenty of entertainment for her – an opened pop-up book, Minnie Mouse, soft toy giraffe and no less than three snow domes! And she was talking and singing to AJ the whole time 🙂
What are your tips for getting a shower with a new baby in the house?
P.S. In the interest of full disclosure – AJ is nowhere near rolling yet and our bathroom is directly across the hall from Immy’s room so I could keep an eye on the girls while I was in the bathroom.
P.P.S. Kate over at Picklebums is hosting a new, fun weekly meme, Real Life Wednesdays. Check out the other reality checks here.
My babies liked to chill on towel or bathmat while I got clean. Often when I was done they came in too for their washing.
So cute! This is one of the reasons I plan to space my little ones out. I was always the happy babysitter for my mom. Immy did a fabulous job! Wishing you well!
I was so thankful for putting our girl in preschool at 3. I could put babe in the bouncer let her watch a show and get a decent shower. Or I would wait for hubby and take one of those long hot baths that we all deserve.
I used to have a hard plastic infant seat… I would put it right in the tub in front of me! Babe got a little wet, but for the most, I blocked the water from them. Then when they got old enough to sit, they’d just sit in the tub with their toys!
That is such a cute photo – bless Immy for propping up a book 🙂
G was only 19mo when C was born so couldn’t be left unsupervised – I used to shower early in the morning before hubby left foe work. Now that they’re older I look them both into my bedroom while I shower in the en-suite with door open. They normally destroy the entire room – but at least I can keep an eye on them!
I’d bring the babies and sit them in their bouncy sit right outside the shower/bath. When I was nursing I’d nurse them while I was in the bath and then have my husband take them out and I’d finish off.
My saviour was a playgym that ended up permanently in our bathroom, (on top of a towel so it wasn’t too cold). My little boy would happily lay there while I had my shower – until he started to roll at five months old!
Baby on his changing mat on bathroom floor, me providing full on dancing entertainment with jazz hands around the shower door! Sometimes not enough and have to shower or bath with baby! Quite fun but then can’t get a hair wash!!
;))
Jolly Jumper on the bathroom door was my saviour! I still have it if you would like to borrow it 😉 xx
How gorgeous 🙂 we have 2 girls and when our youngest was a small baby she would lie in the bouncer in the bathroom while our 3 year old played on some kids apps on my phone (this was the only time she was allowed too so it was extra special!). Ever since our youngest was able to eat finger food (toast strips), they both eat their breakfast in the bathroom while I shower. At first they were both in high chairs. Now our youngest is in a high chair and our eldest on a dining chair in the bathroom (with a bowl of food on her lap). This works so well as I have plenty of time to shower while they eat. Sometimes I even get time to put some make-up on or do my hair while they are still eating! I have my brekkie afterwards when I am dressed and they can play. We eat all of our other meals at the table together but I find breakfast in the bathroom is a life saver!! 🙂
I used to put my daughters high chair in the bathroom and strap her in with some toys to play with ( throw off) or some finger food when she was old enough – meant I could have a decent length shower and not just a quick splash.
Ah that is real life at it’s most beautiful! And such a gorgeous photo too!
I used to put all my kids in their rockers and drag them into the bathroom with me. I have vivid memories of showering while both twins howled just outside the glass… but sometimes you just gotta shower right!?!?
Great idea! I used to do something similar, or else I would put the baby in the high chair/ rocker or swing & bring that into the bathroom while I showered. Otherwise I would have my shower at night before bed when my husband was home. Once the baby could sit up they often came in the shower with me & played on the floor while I showered. Or other times I would have a shower in the evening with the baby & pass them out to my husband for drying once they were clean & finish my shower in peace!
My baby girl is almost 8 months. She has a bath seat, so when I get in the tub to give her a bath, I use my detachable shower head to wash myself while she plays. Then I wash her 🙂
that is so cute! I am sure Immy delighted in the responsibility:)
When my daughter was really little (not rolling) I would put her in her bath seat, with some toys, facing the shower. Our shower is next to the bath so I coud see her through the glass. The taps were n the opposite end. So it worked great for a long time. When she got bigger I would either shower while my Husband would get ready for work, or bring her into the shower with me.
I loved reading all of your creative solutions! I am really enjoying what seems to be a trend of ‘real life’ blog posts! I read once that facebook and other women’s blog’s were the leading cause of depression in new moms. I could hardly believe it… until I started reading blogs myself. I found myself (a pretty good mom, and kinda creative even!) doubting myself constantly. I couldn’t believe these women had time for all these craft projects, cooking, baking, and all while their munchkins looked like children in magazines! I was barely getting in a bedtime story per kid! Thank you Christie for being ‘real’ so often, and for encouraging others to as well.
Thank you for saying so, Rebekah. I know what you mean about blogs (and Pinterest) showing lots of ‘perfect’ life scenarios. Whenever I find myself questioning myself I just try to remind myself that most people only show the best moments of their lives rather than the everyday or mundane…let alone the disastrous!