Managing Your Household When Your Newborn Arrives

Congratulations, Mom and Dad! Your little one has finally arrived, and as I am sure everyone and their brother has told you--"Your life will never be the same!" Clichéd as it sounds, it is true. So amidst all the joy, the nerves, and the exhaustion--there will be new routines to incorporate and new rhythms to your life. And yet--meals will need to be prepped, floors will need to be mopped, and laundry will need to be washed, dried, folded, and put away. Before you succumb to total overwhelm, let me offer some suggestions on how to get your household chores and errands done.

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First, A Caveat

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I have a confession to make--I am not a parent. My suggestions are not rooted in experience, but rather gleaned from many of the available online resources--and from the experiences of the moms I know! I have filtered the information, and have added things that I find helpful from the task and errand standpoint. These suggestions may become more applicable as your baby grows and develops.

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General Tips

• Stock up before baby arrives. Toiletries, paper goods, cleaning supplies, diaper pail liners, baby wipes, and canned goods generally have a long shelf-life. Purchase them just before your delivery date, so that you will have one less thing to think about when you welcome your newborn.
• Get as much as you can done during your baby's nap time--and make use of your baby monitor. Using nap time for chores seems to be conventional wisdom, but I'm going to assign a different chore for this time--self-care! Many moms shower while their baby naps, or when the sleep-deprivation is in overdrive--take naps themselves. No matter how you spend that time, using the baby monitor can provide peace of mind if you're not in the same room with your little one.
• For tasks where this can be done safely, use a baby carrier or sling. Chores that don't involve a lot of bending or spraying of chemicals come to mind. You can sing or talk your baby as you chop vegetables or hang clothing in the closet. Describe the colors; make sound effects!
• Strategize in a way that works for you. Maybe you're the person who puts things away as soon as your done using them; if it works for you, go for it! If you're not, freelance writer Michelle Maffei recommends having a catch-all basket, where things can be kept until you find an appropriate time to put these items away. That said, it is important to find a time each day to put these items away--so that you don't become overwhelmed by an overflowing basket.
• Short and sweet is the name of the game. Do a little each day. One load of laundry; vacuum the living room; mop the kitchen. One task accomplished is better than none.
• Give yourself grace. My mother-in-law had a plaque in her kitchen that read, "This house is clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy." That's the standard I suggest aiming for, not that of House Beautiful.

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Tidying/Organizing

• A place for everything. Invest in baskets or storage containers that are both functional and attractive. Personally, I love cubbies! Cubbies can house the baskets themselves, or the traditional cloth drawers. Bookcases and bookshelves are another option that I have seen moms use for storing baby bedding, those adorable hooded towels, shoes, and hats.
• Your Nightly Ritual. Take ten to fifteen minutes after your baby has gone to sleep and before your bedtime to put away the items in your "catch-all" basket, pick up the toys, or to sort the mail.
• Wash 'n' go. Your dishes, that is. As you cook dinner, load that mixing bowl into the dishwasher once you've finished using it. Wash any knives or whisks. Baby can watch from the safety of his or her portable pack 'n' play, carrier, or bouncer/swing.
• Double duty. Unload the dishwasher or bottle sterilizer while the coffee brews, or while microwaving leftovers for lunch.

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Laundry and Cleaning

• Do a load of laundry daily. One day might be towels; another could be underwear; the next might be dark items or light-colored items.
• Have a basket/hamper for each category you sort by. While I have seen this suggestion be for having a hamper or basket for each member of the family, I like having one for each category--or as close to it as I can get. For me, that means a hamper for towels and anything else I'll be washing in hot water--socks, workout gear, underwear; another for dark-colored clothing and one for light-colored clothing. I know of moms who sort by fabric--where sweaters are washed separately from dress shirts or T-shirts, but those T-shirts might get washed with pajamas. How you sort is up to you; a basket or hamper for each category makes the sorting less time consuming.
• Create a cleaning schedule or routine, and stick to it. Adhering to a cleaning routine or schedule pretty much builds in task completion. If it is "Bathroom Monday," or "Living Room Thursday," it leaves no question as to when a room will get cleaned. Notice that it does not specify a specific time frame--just a day. That means that you might clean the bathroom sink after you finish brushing your teeth in the morning, or take care of the toilet during baby's nap. It is fine to clean in a piecemeal fashion. If scheduling by room is too daunting, you might want to pick a particular task to take care of each day--dusting in the living room on Tuesday, and vacuuming on Wednesdays. Find whatever routine is manageable for you.

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Final Thoughts

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Every source I consulted included these two options for dealing with your household as a parent of a young child--whether that is a newborn, a toddler, or beyond:

• Delegate
• Hire Help

If you're fortunate enough to have (willing) family nearby, they may be able to assist you as a new parent until you find your footing. They may be able to help you perform the task or errand itself, do the task or errand for you while you tend to your baby, or watch your baby while you take care of the task or errand. While family may or may not be willing (or able) to help on a daily or weekly basis, they may very well be willing to do what they can, when they can. It never hurts to ask!

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With regard to delegating, if you're not a single parent--your partner or spouse may also be willing to step up in a way that they haven't previously. Have an honest discussion about how you can divvy-up household tasks and 'baby-time' equitably. Consider your strengths and weaknesses, as well as where you might be willing to step outside your comfort zone. If at all possible, have this conversation when you are relatively calm, well-rested, and have had a satisfying meal.

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Lastly, the options for hiring help are vast. Post-partum doulas, nannies, housecleaning services, lawncare, and of course--personal concierge services can greatly improve the quality of life for new moms and dads! Again, conversations around assessing your needs as a family, your budget, and how you see integrating these services into your lifestyle must be had.

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Whether you are handling parenthood and household management on your own or are considering getting some help, I hope that you have found these tips and suggestions useful. If you would like to explore how personal concierge services can help new parents, I'd love to have a conversation with you! You can book a chat here, or call (201)707-5813 directly.