There’s no two ways about it, being a mum is hard work. Especially when it’s to a baby or toddler, lack of sleep on top of everything else doesn’t make getting from day to day any easier. Don’t get me wrong, being a mum is the best thing that you could ever do, but, and it’s a big but, it’s seriously hard work.
The good news is that while being a mummy can be stressful at times, there are ways that you can make life easier for yourself. I’m talking little things that you can do to make getting through the day that little bit easier. So here’s my list of all the essentials that us mums need to make life that little bit less stressful.
Breakfast and a cup of coffee
Being a mum requires a lot of energy, so it’s crucial that you always have breakfast and a cup of coffee to start the day. I know when you’ve got to keep both eyes on your little one, making breakfast and coffee can be tricky. However, skipping your morning energy boost is a big no-no.
Prepare your breakfast the night before and then all you’ve got to do is concentrate on eating it. Overnight oats are healthy, filling and packed full of energy, so are ideal for us mums. All you need to do is mix some oats, yogurt, chopped fruit, seeds and nuts into a container and place it in the fridge. Then, come morning, you’ll have a delicious breakfast to enjoy. Or, if all else fails, a banana makes a fantastic breakfast. Just make sure that you eat something, even if it’s just a piece of fruit or a cereal bar.
As for your morning coffee, why not treat yourself to a state of the art coffee machine? Or for a more affordable option, what about a coffee dripper, like the Hario v60? This works a bit like a cafetiere, brewing the coffee freshly for you. All you need to do is add the coffee and some boiling water, wait a few minutes, and you’ll have lovely fresh coffee to enjoy. (While your coffee’s brewing you could be dressing your little one.)
Healthy snacks for your little one
Kids get grumpy when they’re hungry, so it’s important always to keep their tummies well stocked up. While this is easy at home, when we’re out and about, often chocolate and sweets seem to be the only option. Instead of giving yourself a hyper child - every mum’s worst nightmare, pack snacks and drinks before leaving the house.
Chunks of apple, carrot and cucumber batons, and sliced grapes all make ideal on-the-go snacks for kids. Dried fruit is also ideal, as are mini bags of vegetable crisps and organic baby crisps. Pineapple sticks and mango chunks also make great snacks. There are plenty of healthy foods that make ideal on-the-go snacks for kids, you just need to find the ones that work for you.
Wet wipes and hand sanitizer
Kids get messy; it’s a fact of life. If you want to keep yourself and your little ones looking half presentable, carrying wet wipes and hand sanitizer is a must. Sticky hands, spilt yogurt, questionable substance on your child’s hands, all you need is a wet wipe. Oh, and maybe some hand sanitizer too.
A tablet
You know those moments where you just need a couple of minutes to yourself? Well, that’s what tablets are for - why else would they make special tablet covers for kids? Every mummy needs a tablet packed full of children’s games (educational, of course), movies and TV shows. You probably don’t want your little ones sat glued to a tablet 24/7 but a few minutes a day won’t hurt. Plus, it’ll give you a few much-needed minutes of relaxation time.
There you have it, the essentials that us mums need to make it through the day. Have I missed anything - what are your mummy survival items?
*Guestpost
