Welcome to the world of new parenting. This can be a challenging time as everything in your life has just been turned on its head. At this new stage, even the simplest of tasks, like grocery shopping, can seem incredibly overwhelming.

Thankfully, you are not alone in this process and many moms have come before that have figured out some genius strategies and hacks to make your life easier. Some of these hacks will help make shopping with your little one a little bit easier.

Here are some of those tips:

• Learn to delegate – If you simply don’t have the time or inclination to head out to the shops, or perhaps you have a colicky baby that just cries all the time, then the solution is simple, don’t go. Learn to delegate this task to those willing people who have offered to lend a hand, be it your mother-in-law or sister. Just equip them with a list, being sure to provide alternatives for anything that might not be available and get someone else to do the weekly shop for you.

• Shop online – Sometimes you might not know exactly what you want and just want to browse around a bit before making a final decision, for example with clothes, baby goodies or even furniture. The good news is most shops now have very well set up online stores where you can do the browsing from the comfort of your home. Click and collect or get your goods delivered to your door if you don’t even want to get out of your pyjamas. While Amazon is a good resource, if you’re shopping at a site you don’t know or a smaller online store just be sure you research their return and refund policies before placing an order just in case its not quite what you expected when it arrives.

• Go by yourself – If you have a handy granny on hand, why not head to the shops without baby? Use your shopping time as an opportunity to spend a few hours by yourself like you’d do when you play Bingo Australia games, while your mom, dad or even hubby looks after the little one for a bit. You could even use the time to catch up over a coffee with your pre-kid friends or get yourself a manicure. Treasure these small moments as a happy, healthy mom equals a happy, healthy child.

• Have a plan – If you absolutely must take baby with you to the shops then ensure you have a solid plan in place. The first step in your plan should be picking the perfect time and setting your smartwatch, being sure not to go when your baby is likely to be hungry or the shops will be packed, like on pay day or during the after-school rush. Always write down a list, making it clear, simple, and easy to follow around the store so you don’t waste time rushing back and forth in frustration or choosing things you really don’t need.

Finally, make sure your bags and cards are easy to get to and that you have a toy to keep baby entertained and something to carry them in easily so your hands can be free.