Before I had a baby, my husband always woke up before I did and often left for work or classes before I had started my day. I really enjoyed my little morning routine by myself, but after I had my son, my routine was turned on its head. Now that I’m seven months postpartum, and as my husband still leaves for work pretty early, I’ve found a few different gentle rhythms to start my day with my tiny best friend.
1. For the pre-dawn wake-up: Gentle lighting and calm music
When my baby wakes up before the sun is up, and I want to let my husband get another hour of sleep before he goes to work, I take the baby to the living room, turn on a warm lamp, and play some gentle music. Sometimes we relax on his playmat together, or I nurse him, but either way, it helps us both ease into the day.
2. Coffee, tummy time, and prayer
At first I struggled to fit in my morning prayers when the baby wanted to get up early, until I realized that I can pray along with a recording! I would listen to a daily Mass readings podcast on Spotify. This year I began the Bible in a Year podcast. I listen and pray along while I sip my coffee or eat my oatmeal and set my son up with his tummy time toys (though that is rapidly turning into crawling time!)
3. For the mornings I need to get out the door: Baby in the bathroom
For mornings that I need to look presentable to leave the house, I put my baby’s swing in the bathroom so I can keep an eye on him while I shower. The warm bathroom is relaxing for him, and sometimes he even falls asleep. If he’s fussing when I’m doing my hair and makeup, I put him in my baby carrier.
4. Morning exercise: A few different options
If you’re freshly postpartum, you really should be resting and recovering! But after you get the okay from your doctor or midwife, there are some fun, gentle exercises you can do with your baby. You can take a walk or run with your baby in the carrier or stroller. In addition, YouTube has some great postpartum workout routines, like this fun babywearing workout!
For the first few weeks after you have a baby, it’ll probably be hard to establish a routine. But once you’ve rested, recovered, and feel ready to get in a steady routine, I hope these ideas help!