11 TV Shows to Binge Watch on Maternity Leave

I've just come back from a maternity leave, and here's my advice for new parents everywhere: get some fun, light things to watch while you're feeding your kid. You'll spend a crazy amount of hours parked on the couch, not able (or unwilling) to focus on anything with much depth. The library makes a great first outing for a new family - there are changing tables and a private lactation room in the children's area, and parking is free at the Sheraton for an hour. Here are a few shows I'd recommend grabbing the next time you're here.

Alias - College student is super secret spy on her days off. Bradley Cooper takes his shirt off. 'Nuff said.

Arrested Development - Dysfunctional formerly rich family loses everything when their dad goes to jail. This show lends itself to binge watching because jokes build on themselves throughout the episodes.

Broad City - If you want some very adult humor to keep you going, this is your show. It is modern and totally funny.

The Good Wife - Former attorney who's been a stay at home mom for years has to start over when her husband, the State's Attorney for Cook County, Illinois, gets caught up in a sex scandal and is sent to jail. Surprisingly high quality for a "murder of the week" type show.

IT Crowd - British sitcom about three lazy people who work in an IT department. If you're a little bit nerdy, you'll love this show.

Louie - A comedian aptly named Louie lives in New York and shares custody of his two young daughters. As the seasons have gone on, this relatively simple show from standup comedian Louis CK has matured and now each episode is almost a short film.

The Mindy Project - a lighthearted sitcom about Dr. Mindy Lahiri, a single gynecologist who lives in New York. Of course there's a will they/won't they plot with her handsome colleague.

Orange is the New Black - suburban girl/former drug smuggler goes to prison. Kind of a comedy, kind of a drama. It's easy to get hooked on this show.

Parks and Recreation - The main character is a woman who accomplishes terrific things for a small town using her brain and with the help of her friends. This show is terribly funny and the kind of thing I would be okay with my daughter watching one day. Skip the first season and start with the second.

Scandal - A DC "fixer" who is also secretly the President's former mistress. This show is plot heavy and full of overacting. Lots of twists and mysteries without being super deep. Just the thing for a sleep deprived parent.

Silicon Valley - A comedy about a brilliant programmer who comes up with an algorithm that's going to "change everything" and how he and his friends try to build a start-up company. Again, over-the-top adult humor (This show aired on HBO), but very funny.