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Original poster

How do people gets things done with an active baby in the house?

43 replies

Gateau · 09/07/2008 12:09

I mean essential things like going to the loo, having a shower, making dinner, cleaning the kitchen etc etc etc..
Our darling 14 month old DS is an extremely active little boy and is into EVERYTHING. He can't be left alone for a minute unsupervised.
I do as much as I can during his morning nap, but other than that put him in his playpen - for no more than 20 mins-30 mins at a time (twice a day at most).
He doesn't mind it as much as he used to (tho he gets peeved off after a while) and I feel it forces him to play independently with his toys - which he rarely does otherwise as he wants to be with me all the time. (often causing havoc!)

OP posts:
toddlerhip · 09/07/2008 12:37

Learning to play independently is good. I have this problem too. And it started from around 12-14mo. Around 14mo i was getting pretty frantic. We got rid of our pp about a 5 weeks ago (he is 16mo) as we had got our stairgates up and I was starting to feel it constrained him too much and we weren't using it as much. Also, i was starting to use it as a place to put him for a minute or two when he had been very naughty and i thought that was confusing.

You can't not do the chores so you don't have much choice. If he gets really whiny I found that if you play with him a little then go back to them, that does the trick for a bit.

Dinner is hard as they are tired so plan quick ones. Have shower when ds is asleep. Clean the kitchen when he has a nap. I do a lot of my chores when he naps or after he is in bed. But my dh is not around to help in the week, and he rests most of the w/e so i do get really tired. Most of the week i have between 5 and 6 hours sleep which isn't how i'd like it but am getting pretty used to it. I think looking after small children just is exhausting, and it's largely a matter of keeping adjusting to new ways of doing things.

Go out and about when your lo is awake as much as possible do the shopping, PO, anything that you need to do outside the house as they are calmer i find when outside and enjoy the stimulus. You will probably feel better too.

If you have a garden i would say do as much to make it low maint as poss - that takes up too much of my time. Try & do things little and often as you get a sec. It's better than leaving it as 1 huge job to get done.

toddlerhip · 09/07/2008 12:39

Invest in a good cleaner if you can, even for a couple of hours. We did this recently and it has been fabulous. Interview several though if poss. We tapped into the Polish community - much better and cheaper than the UK cleaners i met!

FAQ · 09/07/2008 12:39

to answer your thread title

I don't

  • I do any bits that he can't trash again (in the kitchen for example as I have a stairgate to stop him getting in). Then the rooms where he's allowed (the lounge/diner) I do after he's gone to bed
Pruners · 09/07/2008 12:40

Message withdrawn

toddlerhip · 09/07/2008 12:44

I have to admit, i feel pretty exhausted with my regime. People i know with 3 kids say that your standards drop with each one!

MrsTittleMouse · 09/07/2008 12:47

I don't. Before I was pregnant again I was pretty good, but the pregnancy is wiping me out. DH picks up the slack with the housework, but now he is exhausted too. It is a rare week when I shower every day.

CantSleepWontSleep · 09/07/2008 13:48

I shower or bath with dd, she always comes to the loo with me (by her choice!), dinners are low prep or prepared beforehand or in the morning and go in the slow cooker.

Cleaning was hit and miss (mostly miss!) for a long time, but now she goes to nursery school for a couple of hours twice a week I manage to get some done then.

Otherwise it's a bit in the evenings after she has gone to bed, but as I go only 2 hours after her, and that has to fit in all my relaxation time as well, it's a very limited amount that I do then.

hana · 09/07/2008 13:50

stick him in a travel cot

PinkTulips · 09/07/2008 13:54

travel cot for most things

bring him to the loo with you

baby proof the bathroom and let him trash around during your shower, better yet if you have an en suite and can leave the door open and lock the bedroom door.

MummyToOneForNow · 09/07/2008 13:54

toddlerhip - am a bit worried if my standards are going to drop even further when dc2 arrives . Find it pretty much impossible to do anything with dd following me around all day...

PinkTulips · 09/07/2008 13:56

oh, and forget cleaning..... do the things that really bug you right after he's gone to bed and ignore the rest.

elmoandella · 09/07/2008 13:57

loo - with them watchin

shower - with them watchin. it helps to draw on the steam on the glass.

ironing - with them watchin,while their in high chairs with morning snack

cooking dinner - this is only time my kids get to watch cartoons instead of me.

toddlerhip · 09/07/2008 14:33

LOL! Yes, i have tried asking dh if we can have a tv in the kitchen (he said no). I have always felt that would be a copout boon. What the hell, doesn't have to be on all the time. And you can catch up on daytime tv the news.

sophiebbb · 09/07/2008 14:40

Sympathy here(DS 19 months, DD 9 weeks). It is impossible.

I also invested in a cleaner for 3 hours a week who does the basics eg cleans the floors, hoovers the carpets, changes my bedlinen (luxury) and washes down the kitchen thoroughly. This leaves me to do the quick and easy things like throwing the washing on, dusting, tidying up, cooking etc. I love knowing that once a week the house will get a good clean down.

I never go out anymore so the money I save there I spend on the cleaner!!

Fillyjonk · 09/07/2008 15:10

ok top tip

have another one REALLY soon

then they play together and you can do what you want

that said, they create much more mess imo so ho hum, not sure.

I find taking my glasses off always works a treat

Pavlovthecat · 09/07/2008 15:14

DD is just 2, and has been like you LO, active for a long time! These things I have done from about 18 months (some before) onwards. DD has her own broom and pan/brush and she helps to sweep.

I leave the hoover on for her to 'hoover' while I put the clean clothes away, and I give some clothes to 'fold' while I hoover, although she prefers to hoover with me! (She has a baby dyson but prefers the real thing). I give her a sponge to clean the table while I wash the floor. I put water in a bowl and let her 'wash up' while I cook dinner and give her some cups and bowls to give her dolls a 'tea party' while I clear up from tea. I do as much as I can when she has a nap.

Its not easy, she is very active and has always been in to everything. I try not to put too much pressure on myself to get things done these days.

Pavlovthecat · 09/07/2008 15:15

oh and shower - i put the plug in the bath and put DD in it, have my shower while she sits in the water filling up, and then she plays in the water with toys while I get dressed. Going to the loo - she comes in with me and passed me the toilet paper, flushes the chain for me!

PinkTulips · 09/07/2008 15:17

buy toys that other toys fit into filly.... that way you can just pile everything into a few prams and shopping trollies and it all looks much tidier

Fillyjonk · 09/07/2008 15:17

tbh also i say

"now I am doing x, you can help or you can go and play"

and they make their choice

and I stick to it

It took some perseverance at first but has payed off splendidly

cocolepew · 09/07/2008 15:19

travel cot or bouncy chair

Fillyjonk · 09/07/2008 15:19

lol at pink tulips

i have been trying to get them to play "defrost and clean the fridge"

but no, teletubies wins

(aaargh i meant paid btw not payed )

StarlightMcKenzie · 09/07/2008 15:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Fillyjonk · 09/07/2008 15:20

TELETUBBIES

my spelling brain is today

DustyTV · 09/07/2008 15:20

I don't lol , until DD is in bed at which point DH and I rond round like people possesed to tidy kitchen and do other stuff.

I generally make really quick dinners so that DH can occupy DD while I get on with cooking.

toddlerhip · 09/07/2008 15:29

Agree with Pavlov - encourage helping / imitating in the garden / cleaning. All good training

Someone with a dog & kids says that keeps them occupied - and in company - for hours, but it's a big commitment & could take up more time than you have.

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