The Baby Honey-Do List

Man oh man! What a whirlwind couple of days! We just brought home baby #2 and it’s been a huge reminder as to how much work having a newborn is. I’m so grateful that my husband is taking off three weeks to be home with us this time. While I was fine on my own after two weeks with baby #1, I couldn’t imagine trying to acclimate our two year old daughter to our new life (nor imagine recovering enough to do so) in such a short amount of time this time around.

While we all have our gripes about our spouses, when it comes down to it, mine is my hero. I’m very quickly reminded of this in situations — like right now — when I absolutely need him.

If you’re about to be a new mom or are looking to become pregnant and want to give your significant other a heads up on how they can be your hero, here’s a list of some of the many things that my husband does that help ease my mind and recovery.

1. He preps for baby.
   Painting walls, assembling furniture, and taking on small projects to make sure the nursery is just as we’d envisioned.
2. He does all the heavy lifting.
   Mowing, shoveling, raking, rearranging furniture, even carrying the car seat for the month or so post-childbirth. He also does some of the smaller things that I couldn’t do when I’m giant-pregnant or unable to bend to do like bathe the kid(s) and dog(s) or scrub the floor and tub.
3. He wakes up with the other kid(s).
   Newborns haven’t developed their circadian rhythm and won’t for a few months, so this is crucial to ensuring you’ve had enough sleep.
4. He keeps me sane and routinely asks how I’m feeling.
   He encourages naps if needed or takes on additional tasks to make sure I’m not too overwhelmed.
5. He makes meals.
   I did a fair amount of prep pre-baby, but he’s responsible for getting it on the table.
6. He goes grocery shopping.
   I may make the list, but he does the running.
7. He cleans.
   He vacuums. He picks up toys. He dusts. He’s always been good about doing his fair share here, but it’s nice to know that the house won’t fall to shambles in an afternoon.
8. He does dishes.
   This help is crucial, not just in meal making, but also in breastfeeding. All those pump parts add up fast! Especially if you work and you’ve already put in a full day, too.
9. He doesn’t drink.
   Yes, he’ll have a beer at the end of the day, but he knows that if I go into labor or need to go somewhere in those first few weeks post-birth, we’re relying on him for transportation, and he takes his responsibility as dad, husband, and chauffeur very seriously.
10. He’s at my beck and call when I’m nursing.
    Water? A pillow? The Haakaa? Until you figure out all the comforts needed at your nursing station and/or how to carry and nurse baby while accomplishing tasks, a gracious runner is so nice to have.

Does it sound like my husband is too good to be true? He is pretty spectacular, but here’s the thing, while he may be my hero, he’s not perfect. Women everywhere were thrilled to finally have our suspicions confirmed when Time wrote about our invisible workload, and our house is no different (sorry, honey). So Mama, fill the pets’ prescriptions, stock up on shampoo and paper products, balance the checkbook, and do as much meal prep as you can pre-baby. Anything else? Write down directions.

Good luck and congratulations!

— Funky Crunchy Mama

Need easy meals to keep on hand? Here are several items that I made ahead and froze or stocked up on for post-baby life.

Also, we hosted Thanksgiving five days after baby’s arrival. Here’s how we did it!