Trying to Clean with a Baby in the House?
With extra laundry, bottles to clean, and a new baby to care for, keeping up with the housework with a baby in the house can feel overwhelming.
Today we’re sharing some super sneaky ways to get the housework done!
It’s possible!
From investing in a quality baby monitor to utilizing a “catch-all” basket, these tips are sure to help you conquer the clutter and complete the housework during this busy season of motherhood.
Take it from a mom who has been there and done that — it is possible to stay on top of the housework with a baby in the house.
How to Clean Your House When There’s a Baby at Home
Yes, there are days when it feels like all you’ve accomplished in a day is soothing a fussy baby.
What an accomplishment, though!
Just remember, the baby stage is fleeting.
And with a few tips and tricks up your sleeve, you can effectively and efficiently knock out the housework while still having tons of time to cuddle that new bundle of joy!
So let’s do this!
Let’s use these tips to tackle the housework and get back to those cute baby coos and cuddles.
14 Sneaky Ways to Get Housework Done with a Baby in the House
Use a baby monitor.
A quality monitor allows you to keep a close eye on your sleeping baby while you get work done around the house.
Any movements of your baby can be captured remotely from the monitor unit, giving you peace of mind while your baby is napping.
Multi-task.
And since we’re on the subject of multi-tasking, that’s our next tip.
Fold and put away laundry while you’re watching and talking to your baby.
Wash dishes, load the dishwasher or wipe counters while you’re making necessary phone calls.
Clean sinks when you wash your hands.
Work on chores while your baby naps.
Declutter before the baby arrives.
One of the best ways to stay on top of the housework after the baby arrives is to pare down unnecessary items and clutter before the baby is even born.
Less stuff equals less clutter.
Put those nesting instincts to good use.
Go through the house one room at a time and get rid of things you don’t need. When you get to your closet, be sure to check out genius tips on cleaning out and organizing your closet the easy way!
This is a great opportunity to have a yard sale.
The money you earn can help with the extra expenses a new baby brings.
Create a schedule where you complete tasks in bulk.
Maybe it’s cleaning the kitchen every Monday, bathrooms on Tuesdays, or doing all the laundry every Saturday.
Here’s a simple home system you can follow. :)
Create a realistic schedule that assigns one task or one room to each day.
Jot down each day’s cleaning goal on a calendar or planner.
Plan a few catch-up days too.
You may need them with a new baby in the house.
Having a plan will help you stay on top of the housework.
Set a timer.
On your mark…get set…go!
You’d be amazed at how much you can accomplish in just 15 minutes.
Set a timer and stay focused.
Try to get as much done as you can in that time frame.
This strategy is awesome to do with older siblings.
A timer turns chores into a game of trying to beat the clock.
Get the whole family involved.
Get the husband and other kids involved in the cleaning.
Many hands really do make light work.
For more tips on getting the whole family involved, be sure to read more about our daily “house swoops” here.
Make cleaning a game.
This strategy works great when there are older siblings in the home.
Have a cleaning contest, turn on music, set goals, and offer rewards.
There are so many ways to turn housework into a game.
For more ideas on making cleaning fun for kids, take a look at this post.
Have a catch-all basket.
Keep a basket at the end of a hallway or on the stairs.
Use it to pick up items that are out of place.
Go through the basket once each day to sort the items back into their proper place.
Take care of one thing each time you get up or move to a new room.
If you’re getting up to go to the kitchen, take a dish with you.
Leaving a room?
Grab one item that is out of place, and carry it with you to the catch-all basket or to its proper place.
You’d be amazed at how much gets done with this simple tip.
Focus on the main areas.
A new baby in the house may mean a season where you just focus on the most important parts of the home.
Focus on keeping the kitchen, laundry room, and living room tidy.
Contain toys in bedrooms and playrooms so they don’t creep out into the main areas.
Prepare simple, healthy freezer meals.
You can stock your freezer full of meals before the baby arrives or spend one day each week to prep easy meals for the rest of the week.
Being efficient with meal times can free you up to complete other tasks and spend even more time with your precious baby.
These ham and turkey pockets are perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They’re great fresh or perfect for a freezer meal.
Keep things smelling fresh.
Even if you aren’t able to keep things quite as tidy as you did before the baby arrived, keeping the air smelling fresh can go a long way to making the house feel clean.
Spritz a natural air freshener throughout the main area before guests arrive.
Even if you aren’t able to keep things quite as tidy as you did before the baby arrived, keeping the air smelling fresh can go a long way to making the house feel clean.
Spritz a natural air freshener throughout the main area before guests arrive.
Keep the diaper changing area smelling fresh with a homemade deodorizer.
Fill a mason jar halfway with baking soda.
Tie twine or a cute ribbon around the jar and you have a natural, decorative deodorizer that’ll cut down on those unpleasant diaper odors.
Have a designated spot for everything.
Making sure that everything has a proper place in your home makes it much easier to keep things tidy.
Mail, magazines, receipts, and children’s artwork are some of the main clutter culprits.
Designate a place for these items.
New babies come with a lot of new gear.
Make sure you find a place for diapers, wipes, toys, and bottles too!
Keep a cleaning caddy handy in each room.
Put together a small basket with dusting cloths, disinfecting wipes, and cleaners that you’ll need for each room.
Having your cleaning supplies handy is a huge timesaver.
Is the baby happily rocking in their swing in their living room?
With a fully stocked cleaning caddy nearby, you won’t even have to leave the room to hunt down cleaning supplies to start dusting.
More Tips To Clean a House With a New Baby At Home (From Readers!)
Make a game of it!
Wear your baby in a baby wrap so you can still talk to and love on your baby while also being productive.
Find routines that work for your family and try to stick to them.
-Krista, teacher and mother of 2 girls
When my kids were babies, I would get a lot of the chores done while they were sleeping.
I used a monitor to watch and listen for them to wake up.
The monitor gave me peace of mind while I was working on laundry or cleaning around the house.
When they were awake, I’d let them play in a baby-proofed area if I needed to get things done. I’d usually complete my cleaning in sections, so I’d have them with me in that space while I cleaned.
-Jennifer, homeschool mom, a former teacher, blogger, and mother of 3
I’d set the timer for 15 minutes and have everyone get as much done as possible in that time.
I usually put on some fun music to get everyone motivated.
-Adrienne, homeschool mom, business owner, and mother of 4
I used to put my boys in a bouncer in front of the full-length mirror when I cleaned the bathroom.
They could watch what I was doing behind them and also entertain themselves!
-Sarah, teacher and mother of 2 boys
Use bouncy seats (when they are newborn) and activity centers/exersaucers when they are a few months older.
The activity centers/bouncers allow for a little independent playtime and exploration and are easily portable from room to room so Mom can be hands-free to clean while her baby is right in the room, perfectly safe, and working on developmental skills.
-Heather, accountant and mother of 2 girls
I can remember doing projects in the house after bedtime — especially home projects.
I also relied on the glider for naps while I would clean and cook.
-Deb, decorator, creator of the blog Seeking Lavender Lane, and mother of 2
Use a baby carrier!
The only way I was able to get housework done with a newborn was to put him/her in my baby carrier and wear them while I worked.
-Britany, teacher and mother of 1 girl and 1 boy
White noise is a must!
From the time we brought the girls home from the hospital, I would run the vacuum and make my usual “noise” while they were napping. This got them used to the noise and sleeping through it. I was able to get so much cleaning and chores done during nap time because I wasn’t constantly worried about waking them.
-Brooke, emergency dispatcher and mother of 2 girls
I cleaned when my babies were asleep.
I would put them in a baby swing which they loved. I also kept them occupied with a playpen and toys.
-Sharon, mother of 2 and grandmother of 3
Your turn!
What Tips Do you Have for Getting Housework Done with a Newborn?
What advice would you give a new mom?
Chat with us about it on our Facebook page or in our group All Things Mommy.
