Looking after a baby and keeping on top of housework can sometimes seem like an impossible juggling act. Babies are very demanding and can quickly start crying if the attention isn’t on them. On top of this, they can create a lot of mess, which only adds to the list of chores. As the mountain of laundry grows and the dirty dishes multiply and the floor becomes a sea of toys, you may start to find yourself losing your sanity. But don’t worry – there is a way to keep on top of the mess. Below are a few tips for staying on top of household chores with a baby.

Contain and distract your little one

Every child has to learn that they can’t be the main focus 24/7. However, you can’t just leave them to cry for half an hour while you tidy up. So what is the solution?

Finding a way to distract your child is the best solution. This could include putting their favorite TV show on while you do the washing up or occupying them with a few toys while you do some vacuuming. 

Keeping them contained in a safe place is important – you can’t leave a newborn on the sofa as they might roll off. Baby bouncers are often a great solution for babies that can’t crawl or walk as you can strap them in and they’ll have fun bouncing. There’s also the option of playpens, which you can fill with special toys.

Make sure your child is still in eyesight or in a neighboring room and only give them toys that you know are safe. You may be able to reserve certain TV shows or special toys for chore time so that they appreciate them more.

Do chores when they are asleep

Another strategy is to simply wait until your baby is asleep to start doing chores. This has its advantages – you don’t have to worry about keeping your baby occupied and may be able to focus more on getting chores done. However, this could also be your time to catch up on sleep and personal time.

Generally, it’s a good idea to make the most of day naps rather than waiting until the evening when you’re exhausted. In the first year, many babies will have two or more naps per day. Use these naps to get stuck into tasks (if you start them as soon as your little one has fallen asleep, there’s more chance of finishing the chore before they wake up). 

When do babies go to one nap? Usually between 12 and 18 months. When they reach this stage, you’ll have less time to get chores done. However, at this point, they may start to nap at a predictable time, making it easier for you to plan housework. 

Unfortunately, you can’t do all tasks when your baby is asleep (vacuuming is likely to be a no-no, although some babies can sleep through a vacuum cleaner). However, for many relatively quiet tasks it’s a good way to get them done. 

Use a baby carrier

It may be possible to do some household tasks with your little one in a baby carrier or sling. Examples include vacuuming, sweeping, walking the dog or even putting away dishes. This allows you to keep them close and safe while getting on with housework. 

Anything that requires a lot of bending or strenuous movement could be trickier. For tasks like cooking or washing up, it may also be hard especially as they start learning to grab things, although using a back baby carrier may still be possible. Not everyone finds the baby carrier to be a practical solution (some babies really don’t like them), but it’s worth trying them. 

Let other people help

If you’ve got a partner, a simple solution is to take it in turns to do chores while the other looks after the baby. This means that you’re not having to monitor your little one and do housework.

Don’t be afraid to also let friends and family members help. This could include friends offering to cook dinner or a trusted family member offering to look after your little one while you do some housework. If you are struggling, jump at these opportunities, and don’t be afraid to reach out for support.

Develop a routine

Developing a routine when it comes to housework can also make things easier. You could plan to wash up at a certain time while your child is watching a certain TV show, or you could plan to tidy up at a certain time while they take a nap. You can also develop a schedule for your partner or family members to follow.

The key is developing certain positive rituals so that your little one looks forward to these times and does not resist. This could include treating them with certain toys they love or certain foods to occupy them while you clean (if they are old enough to eat by themselves)

Learn to embrace a bit of chaos

No-one is expecting you to keep your home spotless as a parent. In fact, most people will anticipate a bit of mess. It’s important that you embrace a little bit of disorder and realize that you cannot maintain your home the same way as you might have before you had a baby. Learn to prioritize the most important cleaning tasks – don’t stress yourself out trying to deep clean your kitchen or declutter.

One day, things will get easier again. It might seem like that time is in the distant future, but it will come sooner than you think, and you’ll be able to have a normal cleaning routine again, because your child will be able to safely occupy themselves. Young kids may even be able to join in with certain cleaning tasks and you can turn them into games. You may even be able to encourage kids to tidy up after themselves from the age of 3 by setting rewards or turning them into games.