Surviving the Holidays

Dec 20

****It’s the most wonderful time of the year**** right? Family gatherings, work, and school parties, social groups, present exchanges, the lists go on and on.

As a mother, this exciting and busy time of the year can be a bit anxiety-evoking or worrisome as we gather with family and friends. Often this means that we need set boundaries for our children, ensure their safety, and remind them not to upset Aunt Jo. These extra chores all add to our already-full plates.

In this article, we provide a few tips to help as we enter this holiday season:

Take time as you both need. I think sometimes we tend to forget that our littles may act up or that our normally quiet baby gets easily fussy because they get just as overstimulated as we do. If you or your child needs a few quiet moments just to be, take them. This could be a brief walk in the sunshine, a quiet room, or taking a break in the car to reset and help ease everyone's tensions.
Breastfeed as you please. Your baby still has to eat. Yes, even at your spouse’s work party. At Leva, we understand you may not feel comfortable nursing your baby in public (but if you do, we support that too, you go, mama!), so don’t feel bad for stepping aside to tend to your baby's needs!
Set boundaries for what people feed your children. “No, Karen, he can’t have mashed potatoes yet” I remember this being one of my biggest holiday stressors. Why does everyone feel the need to feed my baby food? If your baby isn’t taking solids, avoiding allergens, etc., do not feel bad for setting that boundary for your baby. You are the mama, and you know what’s best for your child.
Take time out to nurse your baby. Your distracted baby won’t nurse? Been there, friend. Try a dark, quiet room. Your baby is excited to see everyone, and there is so much new to take in. A familiar space, such as your car, may help. Or use an empty room with your baby facing you (think Koala or side-lying) can help to keep their attention on your breast.
Babywearing. Keeping your baby close in a sling, carrier, etc., helps to avoid the unwanted touching and the awkward “Can I hold him?” question you will undoubtedly get a hundred times.
Leaving your baby for the first time? Talk about mixed emotions! Leave a list of phone numbers where you can be reached and detailed instructions on when and how your infant eats. For example, my baby needs a breastmilk bottle at 6 pm and a formula bottle at 8:30 pm, warmed in a bottle warmer for 2 minutes, via paced bottle feeding. I always provide printed handouts for paced bottle feeding. You may also want to lay out extra clothes, pajamas, bibs, etc. (Helicopter mom? Who? Me?)
Pump it up! If you’re breastfeeding and will be away from your baby, plan on pumping. Pack your pump, parts, and a small lunch bag with ice packs. Remember, supply and demand here! So, if you’re baby is eating twice while you’re out, you’ll need to pump twice for those feedings.