Caring for a baby while having a crappy day?

Question

Ever have one of those days when your heart is just not in the game?

How do you get through it, keep your spirits up, and not let your bad mood affect your baby?

If anyone says I might have PPD, I'm gonna puke. It's not PPD, okay?

Answer 1

Everyone has an off day from time to time.  If you can't find someone to watch your little one for a while, put him in his crib/playpen for a little while, take a shower, use the good shower gel, put on some makeup, and get refreshed.  Then go somewhere...walk to the park, go shopping, visit a friend or a family member...anything for a change of scenery.  He will not remember in 10 years that you once had a bad day, so just keep perspective that this is only a little bump in the road...you'll make it through, and be a better mom, wife, and person because you let yourself be human.

Answer 2

Sometimes it does affect you little one.  It's o.k.!  Everyone has c**p days.  Put your baby down for a nap and read or sip of coffee or whatever you need to do to relax for a minute and go on about your day.  Your baby will forgive you if you don't feel like playing peek-a-boo 20 times today.  Have your bad day and be done with it.

Answer 3

if you can, but not always an option for us moms, get someone to watch the baby for a while to give you a break.  it really really helps.  

Answer 4

Yes!  It sure is hard - more than I imagined.  It surely gives a renewed and boosted respect towards your own mother and all of those successfully raising little ones all over.

My suggestion is to put baby in the stroller and get outside for a long (or short) walk and some fresh air.  This usually does the trick for me.

Answer 5

I might be able to answer this question for you because I have a 2 month old and my husband and I are going through a divorce. I have had plenty of bad days and when things get to rough for me I have my Mother help. She is wonderful with him. If you have a great support system such as family and friends then take advantage of it when you can. The baby will feel your mood and may become stressed or fussy himself.

We all have days like this and if you are feeling a little overwhelmed that is normal, you should never feel that asking for help from time to time will make you a bad mother. We as mothers do what is best for our children even if we do need a little help from time to time.

Good luck, hope this helps.

Answer 6

If you are having a bad day. I would have a friend or a family member come over. That is what i did when I was not having a good day. It helps...I would know.  

Answer 7

Oh my gosh, I feel your pain on the PPD thing. Every time a mother of an infant has a bad day, everyone automatically assumes she has PPD and when she says she doesn't, everyone assumes she is in denial. Mothers are allowed to have bad days too! Not everything is sunshine and roses! The baby is frustrated, we get frustrated, it doesn't mean we have PPD!

Now that that's out of the way, when the bad days happen to me, first, I make something chocolate. Then I put something on TV that I like and keep an ear on it while soothing a fussy baby or playing with her if she's in a good mood. I've found the happier I can make her, the happier I will be because she will be less fussy. When all else fails, we go window shopping. The car seat usually puts her to sleep for at least a little while and gives me some peace and quiet and It gets me out of the house and into a new environment that isn't so crappy. My mood has usually improved at least 50% by the time I get home.

Good luck, I hope your day gets better!

Answer 8

Yes I had one of those days on Tuesday, I had so much to do and just did not feel like doing it at all, I just wanted to lay around and be grouchy lol What you have to do is figure out the important stuff (making supper, bathing the baby..) and just do that, hold off the rest for another day.

I found a hot bath helped me to relax a little. Hope you feel better soon, and remember that every mother at one time or another gets these days.  

Answer 9

Are you sure it's not PPD?

(just kidding)

I just try to take it in stages. I wake up and say...just let me make it to lunch time...once lunch time hits I say...just let me make it to 5.....after 5 it becomes...just let me make it until Daddy gets home...and as soon as Daddy walks in it...can I have a hug?

I had one of these days yesterday because Ian was screaming at me for everything and anything and I just couldn't get him to lower his voice. I met Aaron at the door and asked for a hug and his response was "how about a hug and I'll take Ian so you can shower?" I almost burst into tears!

Answer 10

ya know, it could be PPD. lol sorry.

my baby usually puts me in a better mood, with her cute smile and laughter.

when that doesnt work, a good nap is alwys nice

Answer 11

Remember that if this is a bad day there must be good days that are so much better - count your blessings - lol.  Watch a Ricki Lake style chat show to help you realise that you are really lucky you are not them.

chocolate is another option, make some jewellery/craft so you can be productive whilst sitting there.  Do something daft and inappropriate.

Answer 12

Well if weather is good we go for a walk, go play outside, whatever to get me out of the house...I know its cloudy here so we probably won't go for a walk today..((HUGS))

I am sure it is PPD though.  You might need to get it checked out..KIDDING..I had to...you mentioned it so :P

Keep your head up and call whenever..My tornado is awake now so you won't have to worry about waking him...

Answer 13

typically when i have a bad day, i hand the baby off to my boyfriend and take a hot bath, if you cant do that put him down for a nap and do that, its a great way to relax! i call the bathtub a mothers bestfriend! especially if you are a new mom. and just remember that its not the babys fault why you are having a bad day. people get them all the time. things just dont go your way and it puts us in a bad mood. i strongly recommend a bath! good luck to you

Answer 14

drop him off at a baby sitter and go shopping.

Answer 15

Oh, did I ever have one of those days yesterday.  Not necessarily that I was in a bad mood but EVERYTHING seemed to go wrong!  First, on a 90F+ day, our a/c froze up.  By dinner time it was 82F in the house so I decided I wasn't going to cook anything and fed kiddo some jarred food.  I was stopping to get something to eat on the way to watch my husband play baseball and spent almost 20 minutes in the drive-thru (serves me right for eating junk I suppose!).  I finally get to the diamonds and I knocked my pop over in the parking lot.  I managed to get to a picnic table in one piece and start to eat.  Well, didn't a seagull decide to use me as target practice (at least it didn't get my food...I would have just got up and went home if it did!). Since it was so hot out I didn't think to bring sweatshirts for me and the boy and of course it got cool because a storm was rolling in so we ended up sitting in the car for the last part of the game.  Then to top it off, on the way home I realized I still needed to stop and get some milk for Brady's morning bottle and by that time he was wailing because he didn't want to sit in his car seat any longer.  Of course he didn't stop once I did take him out when we got to the grocery store or once we got in the grocery store.  It was one thing after another so I just kept telling myself, "It could be worse...!"

Oh, if you're going shopping you could also get one of those sweatshirts that have kittens and/or dolphins on them.  And a dickie to go with it.

Answer 16

Yes, I have those days for sure. It helps me to get out. I live near a mall and take the stroller and just walk around. It's heartwarming to hear strangers come up to me and talk about my baby, makes me appreciate what I have......and the exercise never hurts either :)

(and while shopping, you can go buy yourself a new pair of stirrup pants!!!!  hooray!!!)

Answer 17

I call those "lazy days" as opposed to "mommy is too crabby to deal with this" days :)

I usually change Em, dress her in cozy pajamas, spread out a blanket on the floor, and give her all of her favorite toys.

Then I get dressed (also in something comfy), make coffee, and just sit on the couch for a few minutes. Usually I feel better just being a blob for awhile!