If you’re a parent with a little one in tow and find yourself struggling to accomplish anything, rest assured, you are totally normal. It’s perfectly acceptable to only manage the essentials right now. If your baby is fed and content while your dishes stack up, you’re doing just fine.
Did you and your kids make it to work and daycare in clean clothes this week, but you came home and flopped into the same old sweats because you didn’t have the energy to tackle your laundry? You’re definitely not alone in that. If you can manage a shower each day, then don’t worry about being your most creative self right now. We’re all here in our leggings with questionable stains, and we understand.
When you have a baby, embracing a bare-minimum lifestyle may be necessary for a while. Grant yourself some grace—looking after a baby is a monumental task. Your body has changed, and you’re operating on little sleep. There’s also a unique level of exhaustion that comes from being constantly aware of someone else’s needs. A baby simply cannot supervise themselves for even a moment.
If you’re unable to do everything you used to do pre-baby, that’s a completely normal experience, and you’re handling it well. Take shortcuts where you can, simplify your routines, and don’t dwell on it.
Of course, none of us can solely focus on our babies around the clock. Many parents have jobs, and we all need to keep our homes somewhat livable and wash ourselves occasionally. This is why embracing the bare minimum is crucial. Some things absolutely must get done, and we all recognize that. But now is not the time to push yourself to the limit. Allow yourself the freedom to just get through the day. You can strive for perfection later when your child isn’t in need every waking moment.
If you feel any pressure—whether from yourself or others—to be hyper-productive while raising an infant, let me reassure you that it’s okay to let some things slide.
Now, there’s always that one person who reads this and can’t help but try to one-up us bare-minimum parents.
Well, Mrs. Perfect Parent, before you start listing everything you manage to accomplish with your baby at your feet, save your breath.
Some people thrive under pressure, and if doing it all feels effortless or mandatory for you, then go for it. Just remember, it’s not the same for everyone. Some of us don’t perform well under stress, and that’s okay.
It’s not that I can’t manage it all. I could fill my days with tasks, striving to balance everything without dropping a single ball. We all know that sometimes that’s the only choice we have, and like many determined parents, I can pull it off when necessary.
But here’s the thing: I refuse to do it all right now. Caring for a baby is a significant commitment, and I believe it’s my primary responsibility. Everything else? Just a side venture.
My partner isn’t expecting me to act like a 1950s housewife. He doesn’t want me to be stressed and busy all the time. If I spend hours cuddling with our baby, reading stories, and enjoying that time instead of cleaning or working, he sees that as valuable, and so do I.
This advice isn’t only for first-time parents who are navigating new territory. Each time you add a baby to your family, you’re a new parent again. You need time to recover and adapt after each new arrival, and you deserve to take that time in whatever way works for you.
I balance working from home with two school-aged kids and a baby. Right now, I’m sitting cross-legged on my bed with my laptop resting on a pillow, while my baby sleeps beside me. When I began working from home, I envisioned a quiet space at my great-grandmother’s antique desk, completing tasks without interruption. My older kids usually play independently; I thought this job would be perfect for our family.
But just weeks into it, I found out I was expecting my third child. Now a year has passed, and I’m only just starting to regain my footing—not that everything is back to how it was before. I’m merely beginning to see a glimmer of normalcy ahead. My baby is growing, and the chaos isn’t forever.
A year might sound like a long time, but from what I hear, I’m not alone. Almost every new parent I know faces challenges in productivity after welcoming a baby. I’m not shy about admitting that I’ve had to adopt a bare-minimum approach for a significant period—sometimes up to a year and a half after each child. I focus on providing quality care for my children and ensuring I’m not failing at work. Everything else? Just good enough, or ignored entirely.
I’ve learned to identify my non-negotiable tasks each day and devote my energy to those. The rest is optional. I used to feel guilty about this but realized that the expectations placed on new parents are unrealistic. We are not obligated to exhaust ourselves, trying to maintain everything as if a new life change doesn’t affect us at all. For now, I’m just making sure nothing collapses completely, and that’s perfectly okay. This bare-minimum lifestyle works for me. I’ll ramp things back up when my baby is a bit older.
For more insights on this journey, consider exploring this blog post or check out resources like Healthline’s guide on intrauterine insemination, and visit Make A Mom for expert advice on home insemination kits.
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In summary, navigating life with a baby can be overwhelming, and it’s completely normal to feel like you can’t accomplish much. Embracing a bare-minimum lifestyle allows you to focus on what truly matters: caring for your child while giving yourself grace. Remember, this phase won’t last forever.
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