Stress Due to Child Care

Child care can be a tiring and stressing time, especially when the child is just beginning to move around and explore his/her surroundings. Apart from the daily routine of the child like feeding, bathing, playing, putting him/her to sleep, washing and arranging their clothes, taking care about their safety and health, being alert and attentive towards the whereabouts of the child once he/she starts movements can create additional stress.

Women left on their own for child care and looking after the household may feel extremely exhausted and tired due to constant work, mental alertness, disturbance in sleep, inadequate resting time etc.

Women take up the entire responsibility for child care and feel that they have to devote all their energy and attention to the child. They may feel guilty taking out some time for themselves and unwinding. They may feel that by taking off time for their well being, they are compromising with the care the child requires.

Women may get stressed but may ignore it completely, thinking they have to bear all stresses and discomfort. However, apathy towards their own health, neglecting the ill effects of lack of adequate rest on the mind and body can have negative implications on physical and mental health.

The process of bringing up the child and caring for him/her can be shared with experienced and trustworthy people. For example, taking help of in-laws or mother for child care will help to reduce the load you undertake.

Also engaging a household help will ease the stress created due to work like cleaning, washing clothes, maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in the house, replacing bedding etc.

It will also help if you engage a help for household work so that you can just look after the kid.

You may also use the support of your husband, in-laws or other adult family members for taking the child outdoors or playing with him/her so that you get time off to relax.