The list looks pretty good to me!! Nothing terribly compliacted or taxing, but if he manages to accomplish even a few of those things (and let's face it lol, men tend to 'forget' to do some things, or think that completing half the chores that have been set equals 'job well done' lol) it will give you a break and take a big weight off your shoulders!!
Good idea re the feeds too - yes, you will still have to go to the effort of expressing so you're not 'skipping' feeds, but at least you can go into another room, watch some TV in peace and quiet and relax while you're doing it, kwim??
I'd also look at getting him to do some baby-related things, like helping out with/taking charge of bathing after a while - bathing is something bubs usually LOVE doing, and it can really help with daddy-bonding to do an activity that not only serves a purpose, but keeps baby happy - it makes him feel more secure in his parenting ability if he can manage a task related to bubs without the baby cracking a tanty, kwim?? lol
And now that mine's older, she knows the routine - as soon as DH walks through the door and puts the kettle on in the afternoons, DD starts stripping her clothes off and getting ready for the shower with Dad she knows she's going to get once he's had a cuppa and a cigarette lol I still have to dress her, but she likes splashing around in the bathtub while dad cleans himself up, and it gives me a few minutes to start getting dinner prepared
So for the first few weeks, it's tricky because they're such tiny, slippery little things, try doing it together until you get the hang of it and Jade gets used to bathing (you may think you can trust DP but I promise as soon as she arrives you will be convinced he's going to find some accidental way to kill her!! So tackling bathtime together helps because you can watch him, correct him, monitor his 'progress' and then decide when he can do bathtime without you being there to rescue the baby hahah), and then if he is willing to do the evening bath, even just a few nights a week, there's some more free time and less work for yourself
I think it looks ok but I would put in more baby related stuff. Honestly sometimes you want to do housework just so you can get a small break from baby. Plus it is the day to day stuff that can really help him bond with the bub. I would put in something like:
Bathe the baby
Take the baby for 1/2 hour when he gets home
Burp and get the baby to sleep after the evening feed.
Or some things a long those lines. Hope this helps!
i would also add non-specific something - not sure how to word it, but if he sees something that needs doing, do it! if you give him a list, and he does what is on it and ONLY what is on it, you're still leaving yourself a hell of a lot to do... Ali's idea of the "full list" will help him and anyone else that turns up to help to have an idea what to do. it will also help YOU cos you can look at it and realise that, as much as it was done in dribs and drabs, you HAVE achieved things during the day - even if it's just loading and unloading the dishwasher or a load of washing...
i would also not restrict his "duties" around food to just reheating stuff you have prepared in advance - he may not know how to cook now (i haven't read much on this with your DP) - but he can sure as hell learn! even if he just peels vegies for you - those little bits and pieces help HEAPS. i have no drama making DH 6L of food in the slow cooker for him to take to work - but i'm more able to achieve it when he helps peel the vegies...
thanks for your feedback guys
i have alot of anxiety surrounding housework so i mainly made a housework list so that when baby arrives we can then decide how to split things up e.g.him bathing her etc.
i showed him the list when he got home from work and he groaned but agreed to it, and stuck it to the fridge himself,
as for the if you see something, do it, LOL
hes the kind of person who wouldnt mind wearing clothes that havent been washed in weeks and think the house only needs to be vacuumed before rent inspections.
maybe i am abit too anal about it all, cause he said 'i would get around to putting clothes in washing basket/doing dishes etc but you always do it straight away'... which is true, i cant walk in the house without it annoying me so much i fix it all...
maybe i will take out the EBM part and put bath baby instead. even though he thinks showering is only a weekly necessity im sure he will bath a stinky baby!!!
my dp isnt much of a housework person, but would quite happily cook dinner if i asked him. and i would prefer to do the washing and have him cook anyways! lol
good luck and i hope he sticks to his list! perhaps mention to him that eventually you'll take the list down and he'll have to remember what needs doing etc
I still have to dress her, but she likes splashing around in the bathtub while dad cleans himself up, and it gives me a few minutes to start getting dinner prepared
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