To say I’m not using Nap Time to do housework?

[QueenofmyPrinces]

I have a 4 year old and a 10 month old and currently on Maternity Leave.

For three days a week my 4 year old is in childcare all day so I only have both children at home two days a week. On those two days trying to do any form of housework beyond washing up and sorting out laundry is near impossible.

My 10 month old is good with his naps, sleeping an hour in the morning and then 1.5 hours in the afternoon.

During this time I probably should do some of the housework that can’t be done when he’s awake like cleaning the kitchen floors, cleaning the bathrooms, cleaning windows, polishing etc etc but I have no inclination to do so.

I’m usually knackered from a bad night with the baby and I see Nap Time as my only down time. I also use it to pursue my own interest which is writing.

There are lots of things that need doing around the house that I could do whilst my 10 month sleeps but then when would I have me time?

I’m actually considering getting a cleaner even on Maternity Leave which must be lazy of me? I don’t know?

How does everyone else balance doing housework and having down time?

AuditQueen I put that brush thing on the pipe and use that all around the frames and the sills and it just gets rid of all the dust and cobwebs etc. A wet wipe gets rid of anything more stubborn (I don't know if it'd work with damp or mould though).
Rustic! I like that word! That describes our house and sounds much nicer than the words I've used in the past

My dd is 11 months and I still nap with her. House isn't perfect but isn't very messy either. We're happy

Ironically enough I was that tired yesterday I fell asleep on the sofa yesterday afternoon whilst the baby napped and my 4 year old watched Paw Patrol. I didn’t meant to and felt awful thinking about what could have happened to my 4 year old but I was just so tired.

I had another awful night with the baby and feel like I’m running on empty this morning so I definitely have no housework planned for today!!

If you have a bit of spare cash I’d recommend a roomba - he trundles around hoovering whilst I sit on my arse.

I’d rather be a writer than a cleaner - who wouldn’t! Hope you can get some rest

Get a cleaner, I have two of a similar age and any spare time is taken with tidying, cooking or laundry, letting someone else do the cleaning is a massive help!

Oh gosh, forget the deep clean jobs until youngest is five at least. If you are keeping on top of the washing up and baby related housework and looking after both the dc you are doing well. I expect dh does and can do his bit when he is home. Personally I would please myself during nap time but I would try and hoover/wash up/clean floors while 10 month old sits in high chair or similar for a short while with a few plastic pans to bash. In short bursts.

I found its gotten a lot harder since he’s been more mobile as before he’s be quite happy in his walker or standing up in his stationery play centre whilst I cleaned/tidied but now he just goes mental and screams until I take him out.

I use meal times to try and get some housework done by having his high chair in the kitchen as opposed to eating in the dining room.

I’m so tempted to book a cleaner to do a full deep clean of the house. I’ve contacted one and it’s £60 for a basic clean and then you can pay extra to have extra jobs done.

I’m cutting back my hours when I return after maternity that and alongside having childcare costs for the baby means we probably can’t afford a regular cleaner but a once monthly deep clean wouldn’t be so bad.

I’d say it would be £60 well spent. It sounds like you’re on top of the day to day jobs which need doing. But it’s nice to know all the bigger jobs are being done regularly too. With such a small baby and broken sleep your relaxation time is very important.

I also like the suggestions of doing things as needed in small bursts, it means the build up of jobs is less.

Me and my 7 month old twins nurse and nap together. It's lovely, and frankly I would be in a complete mess otherwise. They sleep really well because I am there, and then they are cheerful and more willing to be put down to play for a bit afterwards so I can get a few things done. Rest is by far the most important thing.

No you're not. I have a pile of ironing to do sat upstairs, older DDs bed needs making but because she's at school and youngest DD is at her grandparents for the day I'm currently sitting my lazy, pregnant bum on the sofa and drinking coffee and eating biscuits while I watch Netflix. It's the only time I can. Enjoy a break!

I think having a clean house is more important than writing whatever it is you're writing

Not for me it isn't. When I was writing my first book, I let the house go to rack and ruin! Bathroom cleaned according to Flylady, takes about 5 min, and dishwasher on and just didn't look at the floors for a month or so.

I'd rather have an interesting career, or have produced something tangible than have a super-clean house. It sounds like you are on top of the laundry and washing up, so it's the rest that needs outsourcing- get the cleaner, every two weeks to do that and pay a windowcleaner and relish your writing time.

I don't regret one jot that I wrote instead of cleaning (the house wasn't a pit, and the toilets had bleach down them but I didn't dust or mop for a long time). I have an interesting career involving writing and for me it seems much more valuable.

In my experience, a sleep deprived parent makes for a mardy / grumpy / miserable parent. If you need to catch up on sleep - do it.

You may find that when your sleep levels even out, you actually have more energy for housework etc

If you can afford a cleaner, go for it. I hired a cleaner when my LOs were 3 & 1 and I was coming to the end of maternity leave and it was a godsend.

Houses just need to be hygienic. If it’s basically clean then don’t sweat the small stuff! Enjoy your time off. I found I needed a break for my mental health, still do.

I had a 30 minute power nap this morning when the baby napped which just shows how tired I am because I can normally never nap in the day.

I gave since been out because I find that if I stay at home whilst I’m shattered it just makes me feel worse.

I’ve just looked round at all the washing that still needs sorting, all the recycling that needs sorting and a pile of washing up that still needs doing and I’ve decided it can all wait.

My son will be having his other nap soon and I’m hoping to get some more sleep myself then. I’ve been drained for the last two weeks with his poor sleep so I need to recharge.

I feel so much better after reading all these replies. I thought I would get lynched for being a SAHP (of sorts) but not doing lots of housework.

My husband often leaves for work in the morning and tells me he doesn’t want me doing anything around the house and to just rest but it’s still hard. The guilt is always there a little bit isn’t it...

You're knackered. Your sleep and therefore physical and mental health come first. Get a cleaner. With more sleep you might feel able to do more. If you're a really motivated cleaning type, then maybe cleaning is how you'd prefer to spend your time. Otherwise nap guilt free.

baby nap time is your nap/down time . I always used to nap when they did, also cant understand those who are out walking with sleeping baby in pram - have a rest ffs!

YANBU my ten month old has and still is quite a poor sleeper and can wake every hour some nights. I do what I can around him but get my rest when he naps (which isn’t long) I’m about to go to a gym class for 30 mins ill be needing a cleaner too lol

I haven’t read the whole thread, but look at it this way; you could nap when the baby naps and then feel refreshed and happy to enjoy the time with your family with a slightly “lived in” looking house...
Or...
You could run on empty on broken sleep, feel slightly shit all day, looking forward to bed time as soon as you get up and just have a bit less fun with your young kids, but a nicer looking house.
If you can afford a cleaner, get one. You’ll always get the chance to make more money, but you’ll never get this time back (shocking PND taught me this) You are maintaining the house (yes, you still are even if it’s a bit messy), jaunting the kids...what about you? You need maintenance too, to do all of those things, so have as much sleep as possible whenever possible! Enjoy life. You only get one.

Have a nap in the afternoon. You'll really appreciate it.

I wonder if anyone told J.K Rowling that a clean house was more important than writing
I'm 5 months pregnant and every spare moment is nap time for me. You're not being at all unreasonable. If I could afford it I'd have a cleaner in here like a shot.

My DD is 2.5 and stil naps in the afternoon for a good few hours.
I work 3 days a week. So on the days I am home with her I always think "I'll do the housework while she sleeps".... and never do!!
I sit on my backside, eat chocolate in peace and watch ER! Sometimes I have a nap! 😂

So you certainly have nothing to feel bad about ...

My opinion is jut lazy. I had chronic morning sickness and still walked the school run all 9 months puking in bushes looking like a peeping tom. 2 hours after giving birth i ironed the school uniforms and did all 12 pieces of homework. My baby is 6 months has not slept for 5 nights making me at day 6 no sleep and is sch till do my housework and cook and school runs. I will never ever understand lazy peopted who have children. Your home home does not need to be immaculate but it needs to be clean. And your interests can take a hike whilst you actually be a mother. Some people and here and there 3rd world problems

On that amount of crappy sleep I'm surprised you have the brain for writing! I like PP idea of Greys anatomy and Swiss roll
If you can afford it get the cleaner. I tried to 'do it all' and now have health issues that I'm sort are to do with years of poor sleep... nap whenever you can. If not defo chill!

Get the cleaner and enjoy your down time. I spent too many hours cleaning and tidying when my dcs were small and missed out on a lot with them.