Ironing with a young baby / toddler… how?

[Am99]

How does one find the time to iron with a young baby?! As he’s getting older (6 months) I’m finding I have more time to do stuff - cook more elaborately, clean more, but ironing is still a no go because 1. He’s starting to move now and so it’s a real hazard. 2. It is more effort than just loading the dishwasher, hoovering , mopping the floor? 3. I obviously can’t baby wear when ironing.

thankfully we don’t wear many clothes that require ironing often, but I’m sure my mother and grandmother managed to iron and I’m feeling a bit of a failure because of it…. Our baby cosleeps so about 50% time when I leave him for a nap he wakes up so I can’t even do it in nap time.

its a non-issue as like I say, unless we have an event it’s not a big deal to have ironed clothes but just wondering if anyone had any tips?

I can only imagine it’s gonna get more tricky when he starts toddling

Playpen. Seems obvious really. You can see them, hear them and they are out of harms way while you iron. I used to put toddler in his playpen with his drums...a couple of.old saucepans and a wooden spoon. Bit noisy but you can't have everything.

I’m 42 and I’ve never owned an iron in my life

Hand Steamer. An iron is too risky.

If it was a reasonable-sized load but infrequently (for holidays) then I would just pay someone else to do it honestly. We have a couple of people in the village who do ironing. But our iron is used almost exclusively for hama beads!

Lenor crease release spray is really good too (but it is scented so not if you don’t like that sort of thing)

Do you have a travel cot? We used ours as a playpen when DC were babies, popped them in there with some toys if we needed them in one place while we got stuff done (not for ironing though, I don't iron).

At weekends (if you have a partner).

I have a 5y and a 2.5y and I haven't ironed anything since the covid lockdown in 2020. Make your life easy and just stop doing it. Noone has ever commented at work and i hang everything in the wardrobe so creases drop out. DH wears shirts for work and he irons his at about 10pm after I've gone to bed (we also coslept for 2yrs).

If u can baby gate a area or room off
Stick anytjing that needs ironed in the bsthroom while you shower to drop the creases.
Throw out ironing types of clothing?
I used to find it relaxing to iron.

I never stayed with my dd when she napped or slept overnight even as a newborn (although I shared a room with her so was with her for part of the night) - I’m a lone mum and have stuff to do. Why is your mum ironing and packing your holiday clothes? Why isn’t your husband doing stuff around the house?

I do it in the evening when mine are in bed

Do it at the weekends when your DH is around

Or I had the travel cot permanently set up as a playpen in the living room for about 6 months when DD2 was little, or get an upright activity chair thing.

A baby is actually easier than a toddler, toddlers can climb out of things!!
Weekend ironing is probably better long term!

Stop wasting your life ironing would be my advice. I’ve managed to reach the age of 37 without ever once picking one up!

I bought a steamer. No ironing board needed and it’s quicker. I only iron dc school shirts or holiday dresses.

I simply ✨ do not ✨
I have plenty enough to do without ironing too, much to my mother in laws disgust (who’d still be ironing DHs pants if given only half a chance 😂)
If you really feel it’s a priority, which is your prerogative, the playpen suggestion seems most sensible. Or to crack on during naptime.

This is what I did once I had DC. A quick steam before work if needed, especially if you hang them up straight from the dryer/washing machine to dry.

Do not compare yourself to your mother and grandmother who lived in different times. What about the men too? It is not your duty to have pristine clothing without a crease in sight. Enjoy your baby and a bit of chaos and let others step up.

Evenings on a Wednesday when listening to the moral maze or on a Friday while listening to any questions.

Ironing is a waste of time except for work shirts or weddings etc
I’ve got the odd piece of clothing that does need ironing, just do it in the evening or while they’re asleep etc takes 5 mins to get those done.

I probably iron about 4 times a year.

But what about time for you? You deserve to sit down and chill when they’re in bed!

Our mothers and grandmothers weren't wearing babies and family life didn't revolve around babies and children. They just fitted in. [whether or not that was better is a whole different thread!]

Actually my mum ironed on the landing so she could supervise bedtime at arm's length.

I don't have DC and I like ironing. Probably no coincidence!

nap times or a travel cot/playpen (we had a travel cot in the kitchen from 6-12m)

personally I bought a washer with a steam setting which unwrinkles things enough if you give them a shake and then hang. It takes 25 mins, but it’s soooo easy and low energy apparently.

I’m surprised anyone young enough to have a baby does any ironing at all! I thought it had died out with my generation (35, never owned an iron).

During naps, playpen

older siblings to mind the baby. Mum ironed in the evening once we were in bed. If I ever had to do it baby went in the high chair or bouncy chair or jumperoo so they were restrained.