When do you get time??

[Feelingcrazy123]

I work full time and have a 3 year old. When I’m off he’s with me so I can use nursery for when we are working.

we need tk get prepped for baby number 2 arriving in October. My jobs list:

• steam clean pram and car seat
• rebuild Cot and clean mattress
• decorate and deep clean nursery
• clean all cushions from rocking chair and door rest
• sort wash and dry clothing from baby number 1.
• get out baby bath, bouncer, play mat and clean.
• ideally I want to organise and redecorate our bedroom as it’s very mismatched and not a comforting environment at all but that can wait if needs be.

we have stuff everywhere. I need to organise the house fully really but I don’t know if that is realistic at the moment unfortunately. every room and cupboard needs organising. I feel so stressed, overwhelmed and sad. My husband keeps saying it’ll get done - we’ll find the time but when???

Break it down. One job per weekend. And physically tick it off a list. Making a start will help you feel more in control

Have you got any annual leave? I’d take a couple of days while LO is in nursery and blitz it.
If not, break it down into smaller jobs and either you or DH take the little one out to the park/soft play or whatever and the other can crack on.
Washing baby clothes - a couple of hours in the launderette is your easiest option. If there’s anything else that can go in the big machine, like pram covers, cushions etc, do them while you’re there.

after toddler bedtime

You've plenty of time between now and October

The obvious answer is that DH takes little one out or looks after him while you do something from the list or vice versa....

Honestly, do you REALLY need to do all those things? Sounds like a very long to do list. Maybe just focus on absolutely critical things and let the redecorating wait?

Started my maternity leave a few months before the birth (can start from 29 weeks) so did all the preparation then and also rested as needed

I wonder if you think it could be a good idea to go through your list and see if anything can be removed? I know it would be amazing to have everything perfect but maybe it's worth getting to a state of "good enough" for now and then if there is time before baby, try to do more.

If you have family that might give you a hand you could delegate some things. Or are there any responsible neighbourhood teens that could be bossed about for a few pennies?

Honestly, most of those things I would just do with my 3 year old.
Bar paint walls when I would suggest one Saturday you take Ds out a few hours and dh paints ( only so you aren’t up ladder painting). But I would clear and prep room with 3 year old pottering around.

realistically half of those jobs can be done in an hour is so. Just get all stuff out and ready, bung all clothes in washing machine, bouncer and playmat fabric probably also can go in machine. Wipe over bath. That’s half list done

You don’t need to steam clean pram and car seat. Just clean with fairy washing up liquid and water in bowl. Rinse. Hang out to dry. They can’t be that dirty. My 3 year old is still using same car seat since he was newborn (0-4 years one), and it just gets a quick hoover and wet cloth occasionally.

Thank you everyone I really appreciate your comments and advice,

I totally spiralled this afternoon that why I asked for advice here for honest people to give me honest advice.

im struggling with MH at the min and my hormones are making me over think and worry about a lot that doesn’t need worrying about

thanks again 😊

Have you tried the team TOMM method? I use the app and its a game changer.

Apart from redecorating nursery, that can all be done in a day. Can you take a day AL whilst toddler at nursery and crack through. And can you pay someone to redecorate? We’re not even doing a nursery initially (it’s DH study), I don’t get the point when they sleep in your room for 6 months

Most of these things sound like small jobs OP. I'm expecting number 2 in early November and I'm not even thinking about any of this stuff. Yeah I'll give the baby bath and play mat etc a quick wipe down but I wouldn't see them as "To Do List" jobs.

Hugs.
IMHO ‘decorating the nursery’ is a thing from America/instagram and is 100% not necessary.
Baby will sleep in your room for months anyway, just do it when they’re a bit older with some helpful friends/relatives, or wait until the baby is three or four and decorate it together.

Does toddler nap still or have quiet time? During those moments! I'm afraid my jobs list was never completed when I was pregnant with baby number 2.

Spoiler: you get even less done when baby arrives. I'm 6 months in and between caring for him and my toddler, plus the day to day of putting a wash on, hoovering and wiping kitchen sides, there's little time to do anything else!

So I’ve managed to tick a few things off already!

thank you all for helping me see sense and chill out a lot 🥹