How’s a New Mom Supposed to Get a Shower?

“Do not leave child unattended.” We’ve seen it stamped on every piece of baby gear we own. We know that it makes sense, but is it realistic? If so, how on earth does a new mom ever get a shower?

This is an issue I’ve thought about since baby #1, and I still don’t have a straightforward answer. I can’t always wait until my husband is home, especially since he has a rotten work schedule. And if new moms were supposed to only shower when the spouse is home, then I guess military wives would go for months on end without bathing and single moms would never get clean. So are we only supposed to shower when the baby is napping? Not so convenient if you need to be somewhere in 45 minutes and naptime is 3 hours away.

The reality is I’ve had to use a lot of flexibility and creativity to keep myself clean through 3 babies, and, yes, I’ve bent the “Do not leave baby unattended” rule a couple of times. When my babies were super little, I’d put them in a bouncy seat on the bathroom floor and peek out of the shower curtain every few minutes. As toddlers, I’d set them up on my bed with toys and a sippy cup and shower with the bathroom door open. I also managed to cut my shower time to a few minutes, but I’m sure we all know how much trouble a toddler can get into in that short amount of time.

Ironically, as they got older, it got harder. I’ll never forget the time my then 4-year old daughter knocked on the bathroom door during my shower and presented me with an iced latte that she’d made for me. All by herself. With a steaming hot espresso machine. I nearly passed out from horror, but then revived myself with one of the most delicious iced lattes I’d ever tasted.

So, readers, I ask you, how have you managed to shower after having babies? Does a pack and play fit in your bathroom? What about when they outgrow it? Please let us know if you have any guidance to share.

(Image: Katie Steuernagle)