Logistics of growing with a newborn

The funny thing about the newborn stage is that there isn't really a point at which one day ends and another begins. They are all strung together by the small, frequent activities necessary for serving a new and small person. This means deciding when to slot in Bible and prayer can be awkward. Even if we have the desire to do these things, the logistics can easily bring us unstuck.

I am trying a scheme is "multi pronged". This means that when newborn life doesn't go according to plan there should be something somewhere in my day that nourishes me in the gospel of Jesus. Of the following ideas, I don't expect all of them will happen every day, but something could realistically happen everyday.

• Choosing in advance (ie. now!) what I plan to read and listen to eliminates one step in the process. I can just sit down and do it without debating what I should be reading.
  

• Reading the Bible while I feed my baby. I expect it will be most useful to tie my Bible reading to a feed that won't be dropped in a hurry (the "first" feed of the day for me). I can plan to make this happen before the other kids are up. Eventually the rest of the routine can work around it (this would not work for all approaches to feeding and sleeping!).
  

• It sounds trivial, but I have bought a "Bookseat". It is like a mini bean bag that holds a book open and upright on any surface (couch, bed, table). This means I can read my Bible with my hands free for the baby. This is one practical thing that can make the whole process of reading the Bible with full hands easier. I have already found it really useful in recent months when cuddling sick children.

• Having my feeding/Bible/praying space permanently set up so that I can just sit down and get into it (rather than trying to find my Bible and notepad and juggle a hungry baby etc...). Have everything I need for baby and me handy. This will have easy access to my laptop as well, so I can listen to sermons without earplugs (it could be awkward to juggle a baby and cords, and it also feels a bit rude to my little person!).

• For middle of the night feeds, I have found that TV is bad and I am too tired to read. The feed seems too long if I am not distracted. I found with my first two babies that listening to a sermon (even across a couple of nights) can add something useful to focus on and nourish spiritually. It is passive but not wasteful. This middle of the night listening has become a tradition that I look forward to - I get a bit disappointed when the feeding becomes more efficient or baby starts sleeping through!

• In the first weeks, if I get to go out for a 15 min walk on my own (or maybe sit out in the sun while kids are preoccupied), I might take my mp3 player and listen to a Psalm on repeat, or the book of the Bible (Philippians) I am simmering in (from NIV audio Bible).

• Whether or not the baby is feeding at the time, I plan to use the "Playschool" half hour to pray. This can also be a back up Bible reading time if things didn't go well a few hours earlier! This is my current pattern if I don't do it before the kids are up for breakfast.

• Taking the opportunity to talk about what other people are learning from the Bible. It is encouraging to hear how others are growing. Praying with others, even if briefly.

• When other Christians are around to help out, asking if they mind me "disappearing" for 15 minutes to pray or read while they mind the children, if I have been finding it hard to make it happen any other way.

• A breastfeeding poncho. My sister in law is making me one. Her designs look really good and will allow me to feed my baby in church or Bible study without fear of distracting or embarrassing anyone. This might give me one more chance of hearing God's word in the company of God's people!

Generally, because persevering in loving and trusting Jesus is essential, I will need to become comfortable with leaving other things undone so I can make time for gospel nourishment. This will mean not filling up my diary with outings. It will mean going to bed and getting some sleep instead of finishing a blog post. It will mean planning meals ahead and doing some bulk cooking for the freezer to alleviate pressure on days that could otherwise become impossible. It means not panicking when it takes longer to get around to the vacuuming than I would like. There will be things that have to give and that is fine. It's all part of embracing the smallness!

Do you have any other practical suggestions?