How do you get cleaning done with a baby?

[Immycho]

Hi everyone,

I have a 1 year old who's my first, I live in a very small studio so no bedrooms just one small area which includes living room and kitchen then the bathroom is separate. So basically as you can imagine we're in the same tiny space all day long. During nap time which is usually in the morning I would love to be getting on top of housework and cooking, but instead I have to sit down silently in the dark with the curtains closed and not making a sound, any bit of noise and her eyes open. Once she wakes from her nap I'm occupied with feeding, changing nappies, playing with her etc and she is not happy when I place her down, she just cries and cries and it's too stressful for me to do anything.

I'm just wondering how on earth can I get anything done, and if anyone has any tips or advice I would be very grateful ☺️.

bump anyone there?

Cleaning happens in our house when there's a second person to watch the baby/child.
At 12 months I dealt with the washing as and when I could during the day. I emptied the dishwasher when I could. Everything else my partner did when he got home from work or we did jointly at the weekend. This is broadly what happens now at 3 except we can now do a bit more in the evenings as she will go to sleep on her own without being held which wasn't the case at 1.

For toys we had a rotation system in place. A few toys that stayed out. A foot stool for stuff that could come out and every thing else went into a cupboard. The different toys moved in and out of rotation depending on her preference or skills we wanted to improve. It meant there was never too many to put away at the end of the day

Hi @Immycho have you tried putting white noise on while your baby sleeps? You should then be able to make some noise!
I tend to hoover with my 1yo in my arms and he enjoys the ride 😂

Have you tried baby on your back in the sling? Good exercise too with all the squats required for dishwasher emptying!

I do cleaning and batch cooking when baby has gone to sleep in the evening. But we have a 2 bed flat and I don't attempt to clean our room where she sleeps. I don't think she'd sleep through it, I have to tiptoe around the kitchen as it is.

Do you have a partner?

At age 1 she can start to "help". Give her a duster and show her how to use it (maybe a clean cloth would do if you think it will end up in her mouth). Let her shake the pillowcases and play peekaboo with them

It's not a quick process, but it does improve over time and it's also good for their learning.

We use white noise and it covers up the noise of the vacuum. When DS was younger I used the carrier where he spent most of his time. Now that he’s older (2) he likes to participate in housework. He helps me unload the dishwasher (RIP to the many plates and mugs we have lost in the process), he likes to hold the vacuum, helps me put things in the bin/back in the toy box.

Mine went to their rooms for naps by 1 so this was easier. I think white noise is a good suggestion, stick a load of washing on, sort the dishes out etc.
It’s okay for them to have a cry sometimes, if you’re in a studio I’m sure she can see you, just talk to her calmly explaining what you’re doing and get it done. Don’t be beholden to a crying baby, you’ll never get anything done! (Obviously I just mean some washing up or something like that and she’s having a cry about not being held, I’m not suggesting anyone leaving a screaming baby in the own room for half an hour while you sit and read a book leisurely 😂).

Mine have never slept in dark or quiet during the day? Always in moses basket or on the sofa in the living room, I wanted them to get used to sleeping in any scenario. So I'd just clean around them. I think you need to work towards her 'helping' you, or playing independently whilst you clean. You don't have to comply every time she cries, she can clearly see you're there and talking to her, whilst you do whatever.

Background noise is your friend here. My younger ones mapped in their rooms with white noise to drown out siblings, but my eldest had severe sleep apnoea so had to be monitored at all times. Conversational TV on - Downton Abbey worked best for her! If they fall asleep to silence you have to stay silent. Try a white noise machine and adim light.

When she'sawake there are still some things you might manage.

I've always done cleaning and hovering when they've been asleep, we're in a small flat and the sound doesn't wake them.

My solution was to pay someone to do it...

My DD (2) has a little hoover and follows me around with hers whilst I vacuum. The same with Dusting. She helps me unpack the dishwasher. Your baby might not be old enough to do these things yet but soon will be. I'd give them abit of cbeebies time to get it done until then.

Stick the telly on some cartoons while you do the cleaning when she's awake.

I just put them somewhere safe and cleaned. Had a little playpen I could move from room to room and they went in there while I cleaned round them.

OP I have a 1yr old too and the truth is when she's here I struggle to get much done at all honestly.

She quite enjoys watching me hoover so I can do that with her around, and she likes to help get things in and out of the washing machine so I can manage bits like that too. But actual cleaning the bathroom, washing up, unloading the dishwasher etc is not easy at all to do with her around and I always do it when she's either out or in bed.

I massively second the white noise though, we are in a flat too (although with a separate bedroom) and white noise helps cover up all noise so she doesn't wake if we open the front door/use the bathroom/are crashing around in the kitchen.

I sympathise with being in the same room as my DD wouldn't sleep anywhere but in my arms for months and so she had to graduate to the sofa next to me and then finally into the bedroom so I spent months sitting next to her sleeping. I always used to have the TV on as well, another bit of background noise.

PS. She has also never been very interested in TV so that never helped to give me some time. Only now at 17 months is she interested in one person and one person only...Mr Tumble 😂

Mine only slept if she was touching me and screamed whenever I set her down. Eventually diagnosed ASD. DH cleaned in the evenings and on weekends.

Get a baby carrier she likes put her in it, playpen, etc. But maybe rethink storage so it's easier to put things away. Most children will sleep with light if they are tired enough.

How long are you likely to live in this studio? It doesn't sound sustainable.

Can you get her down with some kind of white noise/TV on so that you don't have to sit in the silence to begin with? That way you could tidy up if not quite hoover or do the dishes.

I will strap my 10 month old into his high chair and give him finger foods to occupy him while I unload the dishwasher etc. I don't clean when he's asleep, I make a point to relax, have lunch, go on my phone, play a game etc. DP and I will take turns cleaning/doing chores while the other plays with the baby.

Thanks everyone for your replies very much appreciated! Will definitely be giving a go at all of the things mentioned above, thanks once again!!