This is a guest post written by Jamie Jarecki from Mom Wife Homeschool Life for our Welcoming Baby Series. Read more about Jamie at the end of this post.

In January I had my fifth baby. This is the second time I’ve added a newborn into our homeschool schedule. Homeschooling with a newborn can seem a bit overwhelming, but if I can do it, you can do it!

I’ve had a lot of people say to me: “I just don’t know how you do it!” I’ll be honest with you, sometimes I don’t know how I do it either but by the grace of God. He is my strength!

I am no one special. I’m just a mom, like you, trying to do my best. So, let’s get into my favorite tips for homeschooling with a newborn!

7 Quick Tips for Homeschooling With a Newborn

Tip #1: Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is the first and most important tip in this post! Each time I am pregnant, I sit down and make a new homeschool plan for the year. You may have to scratch the plans that you already made, and that’s completely ok.

Don’t be afraid to take some time off of school. And if you really need some more time off, take it! A newborn can bring so many new changes to your routine, so don’t be too discouraged if you feel a little “off”. 

I recommend taking off at least a month after the baby is born. This seems like a lot, but you will need to have time to adjust to adding a new little one to your family.

Use that month to bond with your new baby, and let your other children bond with them, too.

When we brought home baby #5, we took every bit of that month plus some to adjust. We didn’t fall way “behind” with our school work either. We were able to get right back on track, and finish right when we needed to!

Tip #2: Go Slow

Whenever you do decide to start school again, take it slow. Start off doing only a couple of subjects first. Then slowly add in one new subject or activity per week.

We always start off with Language Arts and Math, and then we add in a few subjects once we get back into the swing of things.

Read-alouds and audiobooks are a mom’s best friend when there’s a new baby in the house!

Tip #3: Adjust Your Homeschool Schedule

Homeschool around the baby’s schedule. Newborns will need to eat a lot, and they’ll need their diaper changed pretty often, too. So, it may feel like you can’t get much accomplished throughout the day. Doing school while the baby is napping can help you get more accomplished.

Read my post on how to make a 4-day homeschool schedule work for your family.

Tip #4: Opt for a More Independent Curriculum

This year we decided to go with a more independent curriculum in our homeschool. Since I knew I was going to be adding a new baby into the mix, I decided that using something that promotes independence was a good idea. 

Using a Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling really helps a lot when you have a newborn because you’ll be doing a lot of reading aloud to your younger children. It has been great that my older kids are able to do most of their work without much help.

You can have your children sit down in your room, or wherever you are most comfortable and read to them while the baby is asleep. Who knows, maybe homeschooling with a newborn has some hidden perks?

Tip #5: Don’t Feel Tied Down to the Table

This tip ties right in with what I was just talking about. Don’t feel like you need to be sitting at the table in order to do school. Choose to do school wherever you feel comfortable.

You need time to adjust to the new baby, and sitting on the couch, laying in your bed, or even sitting in a recliner may be more practical for you while you are taking care of a newborn.

When I had my 4th baby, we moved school into my bedroom for the first month or two. My kids sat on the floor, and I sat or laid in my bed.

All of these compromises made feeding sessions, diaper changes, and naps so much easier to handle.

Tip #6: Get Help From Your Older Children

Let your older children help you out! There is nothing wrong with asking for a little help when you’re trying to adjust to homeschooling with a newborn in the house.

While I was pregnant with my 5th baby, I sat the kids down and we had a talk about them helping out more around the house. We assigned them each some chores that they’d be responsible for like dishes, laundry, sweeping, and taking out the trash.

It was a huge blessing whenever I had the baby because I didn’t have to worry about falling way behind on the household chores.

Your older kids can also help the younger ones with their schoolwork. Every now and then I will still use my older kids to help out with the younger ones as we are doing school. Even if it is just going over flashcards or explaining how to do a math problem.

You can even let your older kids read aloud to their siblings. It kills two birds with one stone. They are practicing their reading, and the other children are getting in a lesson!

Tip #7: Wear Your Baby

I have a boba wrap and I love it! It’s the perfect carrier for a newborn baby. All of my babies have loved being in the wrap carrier.

Wearing your baby, whether it’s in a wrap or structured carrier, is a great way to get things done around the house. Homeschooling is no exception here.

I found that my little ones slept for longer stretches while I was wearing them. Which is another bonus if you are teaching your kids their lessons.

What are Your Tips for Homeschooling With a Newborn?

I’ve shared my 7 favorite tips for homeschooling with a newborn, now it’s your turn! Share some of the things you do that make it easier while homeschooling with a newborn?

This was a guest post contributed to The Fervent Mama from Jamie Jarecki who blogs at Mom Wife Homeschool Life.

 

Jamie Jarecki is a wife and a Charlotte Mason inspired homeschooling mother of 5. She blogs at momwifehomeschoollife.com about Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschooling, marriage, and parenting.