Words by Sashi Howton // photo by Trung Nhan Tran
If you’ve got a baby in the house, you probably know that mornings can be unpredictable. Some days I’m showered, dressed, and drinking a hot coffee nice and early, and other days I’m still in pyjamas at lunchtime, wondering where the hours went. It’s not just about being organised either because the fact is that babies have their own plans, and they don’t always match yours.
But the good news is there are ways to make mornings feel less frantic. I don’t mean perfect (let’s be honest, perfection is gone for now), but I do mean calmer, more manageable, and maybe even enjoyable. With that in mind, here’s what’s been helping me lately.
The easiest mornings usually start the evening before, and a few minutes spent getting things ready can save you a lot of rushing around when you’re half-asleep. That could be laying out clothes for both me and the baby, packing the nappy bag or even just making sure the kettle’s filled so my first coffee is easier to make. Of course, it’s tempting to skip this if I’m exhausted, but it’s worth it, and I’m doing my morning self a favour.
One of the quickest ways to make mornings stressful is to expect too much for your day. The fact is that before the baby, maybe I could go for a run, have a full breakfast, tidy the kitchen, and even read a chapter of my favourite book, but now it’s best to pick one or two priorities and let the rest wait. Some mornings are smoother, and I can fit in more. Others are slow. And if I plan for slow, it means I don’t feel like I’ve failed – it’s better to assume I won’t get everything done and do more than I planned than the other way around.
When I’ve got a baby in one arm, cooking something elaborate isn’t realistic, which is why it’s wise to have a few breakfasts I can prepare in minutes, ideally with one hand. Some great ideas include overnight oats, yoghurt and fruit, peanut butter on toast, and so on, and if the baby’s happy in a bouncer or highchair for ten minutes, I make the most of it. The point is, I feel a lot better starting the day with something more than coffee.
It’s one of the unwritten rules of parenthood – leaving the house with a baby takes at least twice as long as you expect, and even if I start getting ready early, there’ll be a last-minute nappy change, a sudden feed, or a lost shoe. Rather than fighting it, I just allow the extra time and make sure it’s part of my plan so I’m not panicking when I’m supposed to be somewhere. You do get used to it, eventually.
Nappy changes, feeds, dressing… these are my non-negotiables in the morning. Anything else is optional – I don’t have to give them a full bath unless it’s needed, I don’t have to change their outfit unless there’s been an incident, and the reality is that a quick, comfortable change and feed can be enough to get everyone started without adding pressure.
Not all morning hacks work for everyone, so I’ve had to find mine. Some people swear by waking up before the baby, but others say it’s impossible. Some prefer a full routine, and others just do whatever works in the moment. I’ve learned to pay attention to what genuinely makes my mornings better and stick to that, even if it doesn’t match anyone else’s advice. For example, if I find the whole day goes better when I’ve showered first thing, I make that a priority, and if it’s more important to have the kitchen tidy, I do that – these are personal choices.
While mornings start when you wake up, how they feel often depends on the night before, and if I’m running on two hours of broken sleep, even the simplest morning will feel like a challenge. That’s why a lot of parents put effort into improving nighttime routines. At some point, I found myself looking into how to get your baby to sleep through the night because better nights usually mean easier mornings. Of course, it doesn’t happen instantly, and it doesn’t happen the same way for every family, but even small improvements in rest can make a big difference to my patience, energy, and mood when the day starts.
An anchor is something small and consistent I do every morning that makes me feel better, and it could be drinking a glass of water before anything else, playing the same song while I get dressed, or taking a few deep breaths before I pick the baby up. You can see what I mean, and in the end, these little moments act as signals to my brain that the day is starting.
I do not want to be running upstairs all the time because I forgot wipes or the baby’s socks or anything else they might need, so keeping duplicates of essentials in the rooms I use most in the morning saves time and stops me feeling flustered. A small basket with nappies, wipes, a change of clothes, and a muslin in both the bedroom and living room, and anywhere else I might feel I need it, can make a huge difference.
At the end of the day, mornings with a baby are never going to be flawless. There will still be nappy blowouts five minutes before you leave, and at least one cup of tea that goes cold before you’ve had a sip. But if you can shave off a little chaos here and there, and give yourself a fighting chance of feeling vaguely human before 9 a.m., that’s a win. And on the truly wild mornings? Well, that’s what coffee, dry shampoo, and forgiving friends are for.
This is a partnered post, which helps keep Ramona running on good vibes and internet juice. Partnerships keep the lights on (and the site live), so thanks for supporting independent media!
