I should have prepared more. I should have known it was going to be virtually impossible to cook with new babies while supervising my older children. This list of suggestions is what I wish I had known to get dinner on the table after having a baby (or babies).
Also in this post, tips and ideas from multiple bloggers sharing ways to help a new mom, or prepare as a new mom. Let’s talk making meals after baby.
Getting Dinner on the Table After Having a Baby
Double Everything
On a side note, doubling breakfast recipes is a great idea as well. Since you may be a bit sleep-deprived with a new little one (or in my case, two) in the house having a breakfast you can pop in the oven is so helpful. >>>Here are some simple and yummy ideas for breakfast recipes from other moms.<<<
Cook with a crock pot
Purchase a chest freezer
Life saver. Hands down. This was my Christmas present before the twins were born-my choice. (Yes, I am ok with getting appliances as gifts.) It has been so valuable.
Even if you do not have a large family, think of the benefit to stocking up on some extra groceries so you have items on hand if you just can not get out of the house to get groceries when sleep-deprived, shower-deprived, or just plain deprived of the ability to leave the house.
I am not the only one with days like that, I know!
Use a freezer inventory
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| Used with permission from Sarah at My Joy-Filled Life. |
I printed one out and slipped it into a plastic sleeve so it could be used with dry erase markers. At one glance you will know what meals and how many are in your freezer-so handy!
Pumping and Bottles
Buy a breast pump, if you are not formula-feeding, and prepare a bottle so dad can feed the baby while you cook dinner. I had the Avent manual pump for the first two babies-it worked well. I wish I had purchased the Medela fancy schmancy pump back then, but we could not afford it.
I do highly recommend it. I have it now for the twins. But go with what your budget will allow.
If you are already bottle feeding, let dad take this feeding, and then you can get dinner ready. Or you can feed baby and he can cook. I know some babies are not happy with bottles.
My second baby was like this. But, if your baby is willing, it can buy you some time to prepare a meal.
Accept Help
On another side note: Write and send thank you notes to friends and family who bring you a meal. It is such a blessing to receive help and to receive thoughtful thanks for help.
What tips helped you get dinner (or any meal) on the table with a new baby in the house? Comment below-you never know who may be helped by your tip!
Congratulations! That is wonderful. Enjoy them all! 🙂
I just became a grandmother for the seventh time
love the post and helped me a lot as i will be delivering this september
Sweta, I am so glad to read that! Congratulations and I wish you all the best with your new little one. 🙂
I love the freezer printable! Pinning this post, for sure. We definitely rely on leftovers, and use our chest freezer a lot (mostly for meat and components of meals, though).
Chest freezers are awesome! 🙂 I am so glad you like the printable-it is fun to share if for Sarah from My Joy-Filled Life. I just love her ideas!