Last time, we covered some hacks for achieving things around the house. I feel that trying to get housework done when you have a baby poses some unique challenges however. It can be especially difficult if you have fussy baby or one that refuses anybody that isn’t Mum. My hope is you can find some tools to add to your toolbox that will help make things a little more manageable in this special but often difficult stage of life.
Invest in a Comfortable Baby Carrier
My baby carrier was a life saver. My second child screamed whenever anybody other than myself tried to hold him. He did not nap in his bassinet very consistently, resulting in an over tired, grumpy baby. I had a wrap from when my daughter was a baby and he lived in it for the first three months of his life. It was the only way for him to settle and the only way I got any house work done. I vacuumed, I mopped, I did laundry, I washed dishes, I tidied the house – all with him in a carrier.
If you don’t have one, I highly recommend getting one. Ask your mum friends for recommendations on ergonomic carriers or slings. You can wear your precious bundle while you work on your mental health by staying on top of your environment. A tidy living space has been proven to improve mental health, something that often takes a hit when you have a baby. There are just a few things to be mindful of when wearing your little one in a carrier while doing some house chores. Please don’t use cleaning chemicals (or any chemicals) while baby wearing and be very mindful of baby’s feet while cooking. Make sure you are wearing the carrier in the correct position and that baby’s knees are higher than their hips.
Include Baby
Another tool to managing housework with a baby is to include him or her in what you are doing. Pick out a few different textures from the laundry basket and give them one at a time to baby while you fold the rest. As an added bonus, you are giving your baby some different sensory experiences with nothing more than a fluffy sock, a stretchy shirt and a silky pyjama top. If you are doing dishes and your baby is old enough to hold items in his or her hands, give them a couple plastic containers and a spoon while you wash the dishes.
Maybe you can put baby on a rug in a playpen on the grass while you are gardening or hanging out washing. Of course, be mindful of the sun on baby’s delicate skin and choose a shady spot to set up the playpen. If your baby has started solids, give them some soft foods to try while you make dinner. They can experiment under your watch and may even try new foods when there isn’t the pressure of trying to eat a proper meal.
Break Larger Jobs into Smaller Pieces
Another tool you can use is one I mentioned in my previous post (you can find that here) and that is breaking up larger jobs. Make the most of 5-10 minutes when your baby is happy playing, doing tummy time or sleeping. Fold half the basket of laundry and do the rest next time. Cut up the vegetables for dinner during the morning nap. Make the rest of dinner later so that you can still have a few minutes to yourself before your little one is awake again. Clean one part of the bathroom or vacuum the house in halves. Wash up after every meal instead of only once a day and divide your ironing over several days – these are just a few ways to break up your necessary work to make it more achievable.
Ask for Help
This is a tricky one. Some of us like to think we can do it all or that we should do it all. We feel that somehow we are failing in our duties if someone helps us with work we think we should have done. But a family is a partnership. This applies just as much to doing the housework with a baby as to juggling any other tasks. It takes work to make a household run well. However, asking for help will look different for everyone. Not every mum has a partner to help; not every mum has family nearby. You might need to be creative and think outside the box. You might need to have a talk to your husband or partner about how you can both work together to make the household function well. We’ve all heard the saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Who can be part of your little village?
I hope these ideas give you some tools in your back pocket for managing housework when you have a baby. Do you have any other tricks I haven’t mentioned? I’d love to hear them!
