Keeping on top of things!

[firstimemamma]

Hi, I was just wondering how many people can relate to struggling to keep on top of the housework / getting everything done with a baby in tow.

Context - when my fiancé is around he is brilliant and very helpful but he's often at work or if he's on night shifts he obviously needs to sleep. Ds is 10 months, a very happy, chilled baby but fiancé works long hours and no family nearby to help so while I do have friends I find a lot of the time it is just me and the baby. I previously struggled with this (did an old thread!) energy-wise but sleep has improved and this aspect of things has generally got easier, I feel happy and like I'm coping well with the baby.

The housework is a different story! I follow my own version of TOMM which is spaced out over 6 days instead of 5. I find that on some days if the baby is teething or anything I don't have the time to do my weekly chore. Or today for example I'm meant to be doing my focus job but once I've washed up after tea, got the washing in etc... I just can't be arsed! I just want to go to bed after a day of keeping a baby happy in a heatwave!

My house is tidy and clean-ish but not as clean as I'd personally like. Not after advice as I know there isn't really anything anyone can say as it's really just down to me, it would just be good to know if anyone else feels the same?! Tia.

I can totally relate to everything you have said. Exactly the same situation. We have tried cleaners but it's actually more hassle trying to organise them; the last one couldn't get on with it without asking me for each task so I had to be in the house while she was there so i might as well do it myself.

Like you my house is clean enough but could be cleaner.

What is your modified TOMM routine?

@DateBanana thanks for your reply. That cleaner sounds like a pain!
Mon - bathroom
Tues - kitchen
Weds - dusting / cleaning upstairs (bedrooms, landing)
Thurs - dusting / cleaning stairs / downstairs
Fri - change bedsheets
Sat - day off
Sun - focus (there are 9 jobs)
Hoovering I can do downstairs on thurs as ds sleeps through it upstairs in his cot, but I have to do stairs & upstairs on a different day each week depending on when my fiancé can look after ds. What routine do you have or are you still trying to make it work with a cleaner?

Same boat. If the dishes are washed, everyone has clean clothes on, the toilet is clean, I do the hoovering once a week, and I strip the beds once a week then I feel like I'm winning.

I can totally relate! My house also is tidy and cleanish but no as clean as I would like.

I've decided with 3 kids it's probably not going to be really clean for years! I'll have plenty of time to clean when they move out and are older, just now I just set it aside in my head and enjoy the cuddles.

I've tried different methods such as doing everything in one day, doing certain tasks on certain days etc. What works best for me now is my basic housework tasks each day and I just do other things when I see they need done. When I tried to have a strict routine I found it stressful if I didn't get round to it

Thank you! Glad I am normal!

We take an hour each one day a week and blitz while the other watches our 7 month old, I keep on top of things in between, so put laundry on while I make our lunch. Whizz round with hoover/mop when DH baths DS (he works some lates so it's not every night). I tidy up as I go and don't leave toys, clothing, muslins etc around. I stripped the beds this morning before DH left for work. I sit DS in his high chair in the kitchen for twenty minutes in the afternoon, give him some food (cold cucumber sucks to gum on are the current teething favourite) while I prep as much at I can for dinner, marinade chicken, or make a salad and so on. I take DS out every day too, that way I'm giving him my full attention, he naps better (I can get bits done) and if we're out the house doesn't get messy. I don't set an arbitrary schedule though I do what needs doing when I see it needs doing. We blitzed Saturday morning this week as we weren't out until the afternoon, next week we are so it'll be Friday evening or Sunday.

We do have a dishwasher which helps and our cleaner will be back when I go back to work. I'm not crazy

Sorry for my slow reply @firstimemamma.

Your routine sounds great. At the moment my routine is to clean the downstairs floors and kitchen surfaces everyday and wipe over the bathroom each day then clean each area every week. The task I find hard is hoovering the stairs as I can't do it while my child is asleep (wake up) or awake (because I can't leave her unsupervised) so either my DH or I are doing that while the other watches DC.

I tend to cook for the evening in either the morning or afternoon nap but DC (14 months) is moving to one nap a day I think.

I think we will try and look for a cleaner, it's not very easy to find a reliable one in this area it seems.

I am currently working 2 days a week but I am giving up work in a couple of weeks so looking forward to not being out of the house so early in the morning.

Thanks for your reply @DateBanana I hate hoovering the stairs too! Enjoy your upcoming time off work

Thank you. I think I will give your routine a try, it sounds like an organised one.