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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

How am I supposed to do housework when BF...?

33 replies

Sparrowlegs248 · 17/08/2015 10:40

I'm on maternity leave with first child, 24 days old. He is breast fed and hungry!!

How on earth am I supposed to Di anything around the house? I know its early days but some days he won't be put down, wakes immediately etc.

I am struggling to even wash up, do laundry let alone any actual cleaning. Any tips?

OP posts:
ecuse · 18/08/2015 09:28

Keep a cloth in the shower and wipe round when in there. Keep cleaning wipes on hand and do a quick swipe of the sink when you get a chance.

Lower your standards.

Run the dishwasher anyway.

When people come round to see the baby, jump up and do a quick job whilst they're having a snuggle (better yet - take a nap!).

BiddyPop · 18/08/2015 09:46

We are a 3 person family so don't fill the dishwasher daily. But we do use it - it's full in 2-3 days, and we run it as needed. And fill it with pots if we need to, or just run it half empty sometimes. USE THE DISHWASHER!

Get a sling. Baby is close to you but you still have arms free for some things, like a load of washing etc. And get a bag as well - so you can carry things with you easily to return to right places etc. Just any kind of bag that will go over your shoulder and carry a few bits.

Put the baby down, let them wake and settle them back again in the crib. Take it slow, and initially just concentrate on letting the baby get used to sleeping in the crib rather than always being in your arms. Once asleep, the first few times catch up on yourself - a nap, a shower, read a newspaper or a chapter in your book etc. Then look to do one small job at a time - so brush the floor, or tidy the table, or start dinner preparations (find ingredients or peel veg etc) to be able to just turn on pots later.

Things like making the bed can be a game with baby involved. Settle baby in the middle of the bed, lying down between the pillows or propped up supported by them, and make the bad, including flapping sheets around and making a wind, and enjoy it. Have a few tickles and snuggles too.

And don't have silence in the house. Have the radio on in the background (or the tv), run the hoover/dishwasher/hairdryer etc as needed, chatter to the baby (or yourself). Partly to keep in touch with the world, and enjoy your time, and partly so the baby gets used to noise and is not disturbed from a nap just because you turn on an appliance to do some work while they are asleep.

Get out for a walk with the baby in a pram every day.

And while your DH may work long hours, he should also be taking up some of the slack as your job at the moment is to nurture the new baby and recover. So getting the shopping on the way home, or folding the laundry at night, or doing the washing up when he gets in and has eaten his dinner etc.

PotteringAlong · 18/08/2015 09:52

Lots of stuff can go in the dishwasher; pots, pans etc - you can't cook all your food for the day every day in one saucepan. Throw it all in and run it!

annatha · 18/08/2015 10:20

Babies won't fall out of slings if they are worn properly and are suitable for the age/weight of the baby. If you head down to a sling library (find your local on Facebook) they'll be able to show you different kinds of sling and how to put them on securely.

I know its frustrating when the housework is piling up around you and baby is stuck to you for what seems like 24/7 feeding, but remember that this stage won't last forever. In a few months baby will become quicker and more efficient at feeding and you can bf in some slings too. I found that it helped for me to always have my phone on me when bf and I'd make to-do lists and order things in priority, so if I got a minute I knew what needed doing first instead of frantically looking round the piles of pots etc wondering where to start. Also good for when dh got home, he could either take the baby or work through my list of jobs.

It will get easier though Flowers

Ilovecrapcrafts · 18/08/2015 10:38

They do annatha. How could you possibly know the circumstances of every baby falling out of a sling?

Sparrowlegs248 · 18/08/2015 10:50

Thanks everyone, more helpful than 'just leave it!'

DS has just had a great big 2.5hrs sleep but it was snuggled next to me in bed. Not sure he would have slept like that alone. But if he had i could have got quite a bit done. As it is i got about 2 hrs sleep last night so slept while he did.

OP posts:
Peppasmate · 18/08/2015 14:36

I remember how hard the early weeks were...I've 6dc, youngest is 18 months.

Remember you & dh are a team. Your baby can't move yet & this is a temporary situation!

I clean as I go. Did extras when exdp got in. Online shopping. Do stuff like a wash a day even if machine wasn't full. Batch cook. Concentrated on main areas such as kitchen, loo & living room. Every other door is kept shut!

Once a week. You & dp work together for a couple of hours to keep on top of it all. Get him to hoover & do any heavy stuff until your FULLY recovered.

I always smile when people advise new mums to do nothing...sadly not a realistic option for many.

Roseybee10 · 20/08/2015 19:24

Sling or swing!!

One washing a day.
Wipe bathroom with a dettol wipe before bed every night.
Wipe kitchen counters with wipe after dinner.

I find that stops the place getting ridiculously manky.

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