With the arrival of a baby, it seems as though your household chores triple while your free time disappears. After all, babies require a lot of time, devotion, love, and care. And they also cause a lot of mess such as bottles to wash and nappies to clean. And while you enjoy every moment with your baby, those household chores are not going to do themselves.
Believe it or not, there are some ways you can do both. Here are some useful tips on how to manage your household chores when you have a baby!
Put your baby in a baby swing
One of the best ways to manage your household chores when you have a baby is to buy a swing or siilar item. Babies want constant care and attention and will cry if left unattended. However, you can easily solve this problem simply by investing in a baby swing. This will allow you to put your baby in the swing and continue with the chores. Your baby will be close to you and comfortable in the swing.
What’s more, your baby won’t be able to get out of it and move around, so you don’t have to worry that he or she will get hurt. Your only worry now is to choose a baby swing that your baby will like the most. Once you get it, you may find it surprising how much you can do with your baby next to you.
Manage your chores while the baby is napping
Another way to manage your household chores when you have a baby is to take advantage of naptime and bedtime. Given the fact babies are in a critical formative age, they have an urge to move. This is because their little bodies are actively developing so they feel restless.
At the same time, babies also have to sleep a lot. As they sleep, their little bodies are working on growing and thriving.
Naptime can be one of the best times for you to catch up with all the chores in the house. Use their daily naptimes to do the chores that require the most precision and accuracy, because once your baby wakes up, you will certainly be distracted.
The same goes for bedtime sleeping. When it comes to how to manage household chores when you have a baby, you will find it very helpful to establish a bedtime routine early on so that any other children you have, and the baby will hopefully sleep at the same time each night.
This will give you a bit more time to allocate to cleaning, washing, and perhaps even taking a break for yourself.
Another idea is to start waking up 30 minutes before your children and use that time to quickly do the bulk of your chores.
Buy groceries online
Buying groceries and other items online is a great way to manage your household chores when you have a baby. Shopping is often both money- and time-consuming. But shopping online will save you a lot of time that can be dedicated to other household chores.
It will also save you some frustration. All moms know how frustrating it can be trying to grocery shop with a crying baby! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten items on my list because of this!
In addition, shopping online also saves you from having to dress your baby and go out. Instead, you can simply buy everything you need from the comfort of your home.
Get some help from your partner
Sometimes partners need to be kindly reminded that they also share responsibility when it comes to house chores and babysitting. To that end, give your partner your baby to keep ithim or her occupied, and use that time to sort out some chores.
This time can be used productively since your baby is in good hands and you don’t have to worry about it or check on it often. Instead, you can focus on the chores and get them out of the way so you can take some time to relax.
Engage your toddlers in the chores
Once your child is a bit older, you can start teaching him or her to help you out with your chores. Not only will this keep your toddler occupied and within site, but it can also double as bonding time.
For instance, if you are cleaning the floor, you can give your child a small mop and teach him how to mop the floor. Indeed, teaching your baby to do the most basic cleaning can be a lot of fun and also give you some time to devote to doing the chores.
Final Thoughts on How to Manage Household Chores When You Have a Baby
Always remember: work smarter, not harder! Being a parent is a wonderful experience, but it can be difficult to balance your time between your baby’s requirements and household tasks. Hopefully the above tips on ways to manage your household chores when you have a baby will help you strike a balance and making parenting a delightful experience, as it should be.