by Michelle Stein posted in Parenting

In my experience, having a baby turns you into a multitasking machine. Feeding myself lunch with one hand while holding a breastfeeding infant in the other arm" Check. Watching my kindergartner's soccer game while keeping an eye on my 3-year-old and wrangling a baby by myself" Check. Pushing a grocery cart with one hand while balancing a baby on my hip" Check. Mama's gotta get stuff done!

As a been-there-done-that mom of three, here are my tips for being productive with a baby:
1. Wear your baby. I didn't truly discover the awesomeness of baby-wearing until my third child. But man, that would have been so helpful with my first two kiddos. With two hands free and my baby snuggled up to me and snoozing in a carrier, I was a productivity machine. I could type. I could clean. Heck, I could vacuum, do dishes, do the hokey pokey -- and even breastfeed while waiting in the checkout line at the store.
2. Shop at Walmart. Navigating a shopping trip with a baby can be tricky, but I've learned that Walmart can make it easier -- and cheaper, without skimping on quality. Walmart's Parent's Choice has been a go-to brand for my family. (Plus, Walmart has a wide selection of other brands, too.)  Fragrance-free wipes -- two huge boxes at a time, of course, because children -- diaper rash cream, safety cotton swabs, baby wash, diapers, puffs and yogurt bites, and bottles are all Parent's Choice items we have loved over the years.Â...