To ask how you did any housework when you had small children

[RosettaR]

I have twins who are 8 months and for various reasons not much support other than my husband who works full time. They have eczema so I really need to keep dust levels down and get rid of any mould. But even finding 5 minutes in a day to do some hoovering or dusting seems impossible. They are currently not napping without me or my husband there. They have moments of being quite chilled and happy to play but that gets taken up by basic things like washing and sterilising bottles, loading and unloading dish washer, and preparing all their meals. When am I supposed to hoover and dust? They are also not sleeping well at night so I can't face getting up an hour before them to get it done. After they go to bed is an option although recently we're not getting them down until 10 or so and by that point I'm knackered. I feel like I'm letting them down and they are suffering because of me. What am I supposed to do?

Sleep train.

@HelplesslyHoping

My daughter is 2 months old, I put her in the room I'm cleaning either pop her in her DockATot (completely supervised, I watch her constantly and am no less than 5 metres from her at any time) or in a sling. I mainly clean while she's asleep, even if it's at night. Thankfully she loves the sound of the hoover so I can put her in a sling while I do it.

I don't know how I'd cope without our cleaner though, even just 3 hours a week helps do the bulk of things.

2 months vs 8 months is a huge difference...

@Eastridingclub

Home start model parenting skills. They don't officially do chores.

They support parents. A Homestart volunteer would be more than happy to watch the babies while mum caught up on chores, phone calls or just had a shower in peace!

At 2 months mine slept or stayed in one spot, Ds was walking by 81/2 months so no laying on a Mat calmly on sofa.

Now 18 months I have only just started to be able to do the odd thing whilst he ‘helps’ I imagine with 2 it isn’t easy. Mine also napped on me at that age or only when waking in pram so no spare time.

Try not to worry about it, and just do the odd bit. But the robot vacuum will def help if you need to keep the dust down health wise. Ours managed to fill the little dust container often even with going on daily and up using manual as well. It’s like magic.