Tips to make housework less of a chore

 

Getting housework done can seem totally impossible now that you have a baby. While the first 12 weeks of new parent hood is probably the most challenging time of your life, living in a chaotic living space at the same time will make it much more difficult to cope! Here are some little tips to help you contain the mess.

1) Pre-baby Spring clean

Before baby arrives, use your nesting energy to have a big clean out. A clutter free home is MUCH easier to keep tidy.

2) Invest in some storage

Large clear plastic tubs with lids are invaluable in sorting excess toys, clothes that are too big and too small (for both mum and baby!).  Before you buy them, measure your storage cupboard to make sure they fit! Use a marker pen to label them clearly.

3) Use your networks

If a friend or family member says "just let me know what I can do to help" they actually mean it. So ask! A simple "Actually would you please turn the washing on for me?" or "Could you please watch the baby for 10 minutes while I put the washing out" is all you need to say. Mothers, sisters and best mates are probably the easiest to ask without feeling like you are a pest.

4) Get your older kids to help

Even a toddler can help do some simple dusting, or run their toys to their room. Try to make tidying a race or a game with afternoon tea as a prize at the end. Encourage your kids to put away one game before they start with another.

5) Use a baby carrier

A sling, or Moby wrap or a front pack are wonderful when you need to get a few things done but baby needs mummy time. This is great for vacuuming, getting groceries or folding washing. Some skilled mamma's even manage to feed while baby hangs out in a sling.
Tip: Avoid spraying nasty chemicals or hanging upside down while baby is being carried.

6) Don't waste your time

Instead of constantly tiding and going backwards and forwards all day, use a washing basket or similar and put things that need to go away into it. Then at the end of the day carry it room to room putting away things (or better yet, get someone else to do it!).
When folding washing take a little more time to have a pile for each drawer for each person, this makes putting away so much easier.

7) Get things done as you can

There's no rule that says you have to clean your house all one one day, all before lunch. Complete a few cleaning tasks each day to get housework done while still leaving you plenty of time for bonding with your newborn. For example: make Monday fold washing day, vacuum on Wednesday, shop on Thursday etc, this allows you to ignore it until then, knowing you have a time set aside for it.

8) Use the noise of the vacuum to help baby sleep.

Secure your newborn into a bouncer seat or bassinet and let the sounds of the vacuum send him off to sleep, Hopefully he'll get a good rest while within eyesight while you accomplish some household chores!

9) Spray and walk away
Spray your kitchen and bathroom down with white vingar and leave it for a while, when you go back the grime will have broken down and a simple wipe with a microfibre cloth and you are done!

10) Employ a cleaner

For busy mums who aren't comfortable accepting help from friends and family, consider hiring help. Paying a cleaning service to take care of household chores will let you focus on bonding with your newborn without the guilt of letting friends and family pitch in when there are chores to do.

At the end of the day, people come to see you (and baby) not your house, and most of us live day-to-day in more mess than we would like you to know. So RELAX and spend some time on you and baby, after all no one ever wishes they had spend more time cleaning and less time with their baby!