Keep Your House Clean with a New Baby
You have a baby and your previously tidy house is now a disaster area. You could hire a maid, or rely on your mother-in-law, but but for one reason or another, those are just not options for you.
First, remind yourself and your spouse that the current state of your household is a consequence of having more important matters to attend to.
Cleaning and scrubbing can wait for tomorrow,
For babies grow up, I've learned, to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.
(Ruth Hulburt Hamilton)
When things really get out of hand, here are some ideas to help you get the job done.
Steps
- Be organized. (Ideally, work on this before delivery or adopting the baby!)You don't have lots of time to pick up additional clutter or rummage for misplaced items. Have a place for everything. Have any members of your family pick up after themselves.
- Prioritize. Baby's health and safety is first, your sanity and well-being is second, vital household tasks like food preparation and having toilet paper third, and everything else much less important.
- Do tasks in a chunk. It may be more effective to spend one whole Saturday evening doing laundry rather than two loads every day. Or go to a laundromat and get all the laundry done at once.
- Put away one thing every time you get up. Although this seems like a paltry amount, making sure things go back in place on a regular basis can make a big difference.
- Multi-task. While talking on the phone, unload the dishwasher or wipe a counter top. While watching TV, you can fold laundry, chop broccoli, or vacuum during a commercial break.
- When cooking or washing dishes for a prolonged period of time, place the baby in a car seat and put the car seat somewhere on the kitchen floor out of danger, for example a corner. This enables them to see you (and vice versa) and relaxes them because they know you're still close to them.
- Take advantage of time-savers. Get take-out. Buy baby food rather than trying to make everything yourself. Use paper plates when entertaining.
- Simplify when possible. Don't buy clothes that require ironing, for instance.
- Get help. Ask a friend or relative to babysit so you can clean. Even an hour can help.
- Use a baby carrier to bring Baby along. Wearing your baby frees your hands and may actually enable you to not only start, but actually--gasp!--complete a task. Your baby might just want company, and be fine with you folding laundry, washing dishes or using automatic mop on the floor as long as he or she is near you.
- Involve baby in chores. Cover Baby with warm clean clothes, play peek-a-boo while you fold towels, dance with him while dusting, have her watch the microwave turntable as you defrost peas. As you unload the dishwasher, hand him a plastic dish to wave around.
- Vacuum just before baby's bed or naptime--the droning of the vacuum may lull your little one to sleep. It solves two problems at once!
- Be realistic. Erma Bombeck said, "Cleaning the house while the children are growing is like shovelling the sidewalk before it stops snowing." You won't have a pristine house, but you can have a good-enough house. Visitors are coming to see the baby and won't care a bit about a bit of clutter. Relax into a sensible standard of cleanliness for a while to save your sanity, and don't be ashamed of the mess--you have one of the worthiest excuses going!
Tips
- Look into low-toxic cleaning products which are increasingly more available as well as easily made at home. It's safer for use around children and often just as good as harsher products.
- There are various carriers you can use to carry your baby on your back or front depending on the child's weight, development, and your own preferences. Check secondhand and consignment stores for children's wares or eBay.
Warnings
- Be careful with good lifting and carrying technique with your child. It's easy to hurt your back trying to juggle a baby with another task. If you are unable to do a task, place the baby in a safe playpen for the time being.
- Never cook while holding a baby or using a baby carrier. This is a real burn hazard. Also be careful with hot liquids like tea, coffee, soup, or oatmeal. Also, never try to juggle a hot cup while holding a baby; as he/she may squirm and you'll lose balance.
- Don't use harsh cleaning chemicals like bleach or ammonia with the baby in the immediate area. Either clean it later or use less-toxic products (a good idea anyway). If you are planning to use RAID or any pesticide spray, place the baby in the other room and try to avoid the sprayed area as much as possible for the day. Spray smell can linger for a few hours.
- Be sure your infant has good neck control before putting them on your back in an infant carrier. Be sure you are using it correctly, for you and your baby's safety.
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