4 Tips to Keep Homeschooling on Track While Caring for a Newborn
Are you a homeschooling mom with another baby on the way or already in your arms? In 2024, around 3.6 million babies were born in the United States. That was a slight increase compared to the year prior.
A significant number of these children will be homeschooled since homeschooling has grown since the pandemic. Between 2023 and 2024, at least 19 states saw an uptick in homeschooled children.
Will we see the numbers rise further this year? They’re likely to, but mothers expecting their second, third, or fourth child may feel a bit overwhelmed. With an established homeschooling routine, how will they care for the newest member?
Can you relate to this dilemma? Worry not; this article will help relieve your stress. In other words, we will discuss four effective tips to keep homeschooling on track as you take care of a newborn.
Let the Newborn Be the Lesson
Once the newest member of the family has arrived, it will take some time for everyone to settle in. Most importantly, you will need time to heal and feel good enough to resume your homeschooling routine.
Until then, allow your newborn to be the curriculum for their siblings. This is a great opportunity to enlist their help and teach them practical life skills. For instance, you can teach your older kids how to gently bathe a newborn and change their diapers.
If you’re nursing, focus on bonding with your baby while the other kids engage in household chores. For bottle feeding, your older children can help sterilize the bottles, prepare the formula, and even feed the baby. However, be careful and supervise your child.
Teach them to avoid overfeeding and understand the baby’s cues. Whether it’s breast milk or formula, overfeeding can cause bloating, gas, and vomiting. However, overfeeding formula can cause worse outcomes given how tough these products already are on a baby’s digestive system.
TorHoerman Law shares how bovine formulas like Enfamil and Similac have caused a serious gastrointestinal condition called Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). The disease is potentially fatal but may have long-term implications like chronic digestive issues and developmental delays.
Families affected by this condition have filed the NEC lawsuit, alleging that manufacturers were aware of the health risks. Infant formulas tend to contain more protein than breast milk. Overfeeding disrupts the recommended composition of formula and may interfere with a baby’s developing intestines.
The best way to stay safe is to allow the baby to regulate their milk/formula intake. On that note, feed your newborn milk from a reliable local human milk bank.
Besides helping with feeding, the older siblings can teach younger ones a subject or two. If they have mastered the art of caring for a baby, they can start passing down that knowledge.
Homeschool Around the Baby’s Schedule
One great benefit of homeschooling is the flexibility it provides. Your schedule can accommodate the needs of your baby in several ways.
You can assign certain tasks to older children a day prior. They can get up early in the morning (before the newborn) to complete those tasks. If possible, you can join them to teach a part of the curriculum planned for the day.
Another well-known fact about babies is that they eat often. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that exclusively breastfed babies feed every two to four hours. The time difference may be slightly higher for formula-fed babies.
These feeding breaks can also be used to listen to children reading aloud, review assignments, or practice spelling. As for any toddler in the group, have them enjoy playtime in the meantime.
When your newborn naps, it’s the perfect opportunity to give undivided attention to their siblings. This way, all your little ones will feel seen and taken care of. Also, don’t forget to go on nature walks with a stroller.
As the baby naps or curiously gazes around, your older children can enjoy lessons from nature. On the way, allow them to exercise, run about, and play. Collectively, such outdoor sessions will provide fresh air and develop your children’s creativity and cognitive strength.
Glean Assistance From Others
In a previous point, we talked about gathering support from your older children in the early days. With time, or when things get tough, consider seeking help from friends and family.
Do not overstrain yourself; your body and mind have limitations that must be honored. The Time Magazine shares four major signs that indicate your body is asking you to take a break.
These include mood changes, strained relationships, a weakened immune system, and sleep issues. Do you feel like you’re constantly on the edge of lashing out? Is it getting too overwhelming to be around your children?
Address the stress before it spirals out of control. Perhaps your spouse can take up homeschooling lessons for a day or two. Maybe there is a homeschooling friend who would be willing to enroll your children for a few days.
You may even find homeschooling support groups that help fill any learning gaps during the adjustment period. Talk these things through with your spouse, family, and friends. Having a plan will prevent precious time from being lost.
You will have plenty of time to recover. In the meantime, your children will not miss out on any important lessons from their curriculum. Above all, your baby will get the undivided attention and care they need.
Utilize Available Technologies
Technologies have disrupted every walk of life, and for good reason. As a homeschooling mom, you have several tech tools and sources to maintain your schedule even with a newborn.
One example would be online learning platforms that offer your kids a virtual space for personalized education. On some days, a digital classroom may help you stay more organized.
On other days, interactive whiteboards and virtual reality (VR) tools may facilitate immersive learning experiences your kids enjoy. Our only advice is to not rely heavily on such tech resources.
If you are opposed to exposing your children to such apps and tools, there’s still hope. Simply invest in technologies designed for the newborn. No, you wouldn’t have to display a screen before them.
Smart and portable playpens and cribs are available to keep your baby content or asleep. As your baby is all comfortable, entertained, or peaceful, you can carry out homeschooling sessions.
When a new baby arrives, it’s a cause for rejoicing and adjustment for everyone. Besides the tips we discussed, don’t forget to live in the moment.
Keep reminding yourself that your newborn is not an interruption to your established homeschooling routine. You will never get these days back as babies tend to grow in the blink of an eye.
Just enjoy all the time you have and relax. School will always be there but watching your older children bond with your ‘newborn’ will not.
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