Watch, Read & Listen

The Best Shows to Binge-Watch on Maternity Leave (or Anytime!)

intro by AMANDA SHAPIN MICHELSON
Source: @alainakaz
Source: @alainakaz

Before you actually experience maternity leave, you probably have some expectations around what it’s going to be like. You may see yourself using the time to be super productive. Or you might envision yourself constantly out of the house, adventuring around town with your baby. And while that may be the case for some new moms, there’s a good chance that a big portion of your maternity leave will be spent at home recovering and adjusting to life with a newborn.

As hard as it can be, try not to create expectations for yourself during maternity leave. Taking the proper amount of time to recover is essential. And it’s OK to use this time to just hang at home and find your new normal.

So, what’s a mom to do with all this time during maternity leave? It’s an excellent time to do a little binge-watching. Newborns are notorious for sleeping all day (we hope that’s the case for yours!), which lends itself well to some mom TV time.

Now, what makes for a good maternity leave binge watch? We’ve selected our favorite shows that aren’t too serious or dark (postpartum hormones are a very real thing), and they’re watchable while multi-tasking (cleaning bottles, folding laundry, nursing, etc.).

Scroll down for a list of 30 shows worth watching.

Comedies

Schitt’s Creek

Where to Watch: Netflix (but moving to Hulu on October 3!)

Number of Seasons: 6

Abbott Elementary

Where to Watch: Hulu and HBO Max

Number of Seasons: 2 (Season 2 just premiered on September 21!)

The Good Place

Where to Watch: Netflix and Apple TV

Number of Seasons: 4

The Sex Lives of College Girls

Where to Watch: HBO Max

Number of Seasons: 1 (Season 2 coming soon!)

The Mindy Project

Where to Watch: Hulu

Number of Seasons: 6

Shrill

Where to Watch: Hulu

Number of Seasons: 3

Jane the Virgin

Where to Watch: Netflix

Number of Seasons: 5

Never Have I Ever

Where to Watch: Netflix

Number of Seasons: 3 (Season 4 coming in 2023!)

Grace and Frankie

Where to Watch: Netflix

Number of Seasons: 7

Workin’ Moms

Where to Watch: Netflix

Number of Seasons: 6 (Season 7 coming in 2023!)

Dramas

The Crown

Where to Watch: Netflix

Number of Seasons: 4 (Season 5 coming this November!)

Grey’s Anatomy

Where to Watch: Netflix and Hulu

Number of Seasons: 18 (Season 19 coming October 6!)

Only Murders in the Building

Where to Watch: Hulu

Number of Seasons: 2 (Season 3 coming soon!)

Mad Men

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video

Number of Seasons: 7

Bridgerton

Where to Watch: Netflix

Number of Seasons: 2 (Season 3 coming in 2023!)

Succession

Where to Watch: HBO Max

Number of Seasons: 3 (Season 4 coming in 2023!)

The Bold Type

Where to Watch: Hulu

Number of Seasons: 5

Suits

Where to Watch: Peacock and Amazon Prime Video

Number of Seasons: 9

The White Lotus

Where to Watch: HBO Max and Hulu

Number of Seasons: 1 (Season 2 coming October 30!)

Gilmore Girls

Where to Watch: Netflix

Number of Seasons: 7 (+ A Year in the Life revival episodes)

Reality TV

Queer Eye

Where to Watch: Netflix

Number of Seasons: 6 (Season 7 coming soon!)

Selling Sunset

Where to Watch: Netflix

Number of Seasons: 5 (Season 6 coming in 2023!)

Love Is Blind

Where to Watch: Netflix

Number of Seasons: 2 (Season 3 coming October 19!)

Making It

Where to Watch: Peacock

Number of Seasons: 3

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Where to Watch: Peacock

Number of Seasons: 12 (Season 13 coming soon!)

Survivor

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video

Number of Seasons: 42 (Season 43 just premiered on September 21!)

90 Day Fiancé

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video

Number of Seasons: 9

Below Deck

Where to Watch: Peacock

Number of Seasons: 9 (Season 10 coming soon!)

The Real Housewives of Potomac 

Where to Watch: Peacock

Number of Seasons: 6 (Season 7 coming October 9!)

Love Island

Where to Watch: Hulu

Number of Seasons: 8 (Season 9 coming in 2023!)

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