Parenting guide: Time management

From teeth-grinding to time management, all the tips and tricks you need to stay on top.

How can I get more “me time” with an infant?

The consensus is clear: Having a little time to yourself means you’ll have a clearer head and feel refreshed, which will make you a better mom. But with a baby requiring frequent feeding and nappy changes how are you supposed to get that alone time you so desperately need?

-Let your in-laws finally get their grandbaby alone. While they spoil him rotten, you can catch up on some extra sleep, or plan a date night with hubby to finally watch that movie you’ve been dying to see.

-Convince your sister-in-law to swap “me time” afternoons. Take all the kids and play with them while she goes out for lunch with her friends, and have her return the favour the following week.

-Follow the age old advice: sleep when the baby sleeps. Forget the state of disrepair that your house is in — simply ask the maid to stay a bit later, compensating her financially of course.

-Take one night off from cooking every week. Have daddy order in a pizza, or call for some take out. With the extra time you could indulge in something you haven’t had the time for, like a pedicure.

-Hide. Let daddy play with baby while you spend an extra 20 minutes in the bathroom reading the last chapter of that book you couldn’t stop thinking about. If he asks what you were doing, just lie.  “Gosh, my stomach was so upset!”

How to stop kids from:

Grinding their teeth There’s nothing quite as disconcerting as the sound of your baby grinding his teeth while sleeping.

The facts: Many babies grind their teeth when they’re first teething. It’s unlikely that your child is doing any real damage to his teeth and he will probably outgrow the habit himself. Consult your doctor when your child complains of having difficulty chewing. The doctor might  suspect a pinworm infection. Pinworms are a parasite easily transmitted from person to person that cause itching, particularly at night.

How to solve the problem You can check for adult pinworms (they’ll look like white threads) when you’re changing your baby’s diaper, or do a quick and easy scotch-tape test: Press the sticky side to your baby’s bottom.  Your doctor can check the tape under a microscope for pinworm eggs later.

Talk to your pediatrician about a night guard—a special mouthpiece, moulded to your child’s teeth.

Check with your dentist. She can check his teeth for wear, and any problems like cavities, fractures, and pulp exposure.

4 ways to get toddlers to help with household chores

These little chores might not seem like much but they go a long way towards ingraining a habit of neatness and responsibility in kids — which is very useful for parents in the long run!

1. Make them pick up after themselves. All toddlers love to empty out the play-bins, so make putting everything back as fun as taking things out.

2. Encourage them to help with laundry. Whether it’s folding their pajamas, or putting their dirty underwear in the hamper, make them take responsibility for their clothes.

3. Get them into a routine.  Designate a clear “clean-up” time, during which all activity stops and clean-up begins. Feel free to pull a Barney rendition out on command.

4. Give them a paper towel and tell them to wipe up the messes they make during meals.  Make accidents fun for both of you!

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, September 23^rd, 2012.

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