Ever since my daughter was born, about 3 months ago My sister has been staying with me and my husband. She was out of work so she moved in with us to help me out with the baby. But now she is returning to the work place! I always just handed my daughter off to her if I needed a shower, to do laundry, etc, ect...
So how do you Moms do these sort of things when Its just you & the kids?!
2007-02-20 07:33:39 · 38 answers · asked by mcm 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
my husband works long shifts By the time he is home, we are sleeping and by the time we wake up, he's getting ready for work again!
2007-02-20 07:34:59 · update #1
I brought the swing or bouncy seat into the bathroom and played peek a boo, or just opened the door periodically to look and talk to her.
2007-02-20 07:36:31 · answer #1 · answered by Melissa 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
LOL--it ain't always easy. Do you remeber there was a commerical a few years ago that featured a mom with a couple of kids running around and she said "some days I don't even have time to shower" LOL I rememebr think "yeah-right" then I just had baby #2 3 months ago . . . now I get it! There has been the occasional day that I didn't get a shower.
My hubby works 10-12 hour days too. I have a 3 year old and a 3 month old (11/17/06) and I have a home based business and I have 'extra' laundry since we use cloth diapers (which I love by the way!)
I've learned to do what I can when I can. I do laundry daily (usually 2-3 loads, one load of diapers, and one load of clothes and one load of sheets on days that beds get changed) and I don't have a dishwasher.
Some days the house is nearly spotless and some days it's a wreck. Some days I get a shower, some days I don't.
Our plan is the kids get a bath (together) every other night. DH takes a bath while I nurse the baby to sleep, I take one after both the kids are in bed.
Never go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink--this might mean investing ina crock pot (throw in meat and veggies before noon and dinner is ready at 5:00 and only one dish to wash!) and get some paper plates, and bowl and plastic forks and spoon and plastic cups (this is what I had to do after #2 was born!)
And could you aford to pay someone (even a teenager) to come to your home an hour or two a day, a few days a week? I just hired a 19 year old to come and help out for 2 hours a day 3 days a week for $30/week. I'm still in the house but she will help fold laundry and do dishes while I play witht he kids or if mommy needs some alone time then she can play with the kids while I lock myself int he laundry room! LOL
and not al children nap--my oldest was a great napper--slept all the time--my 3 month old--rarely naps.
Invest ing a sling/pouch/wrap--you can caryy baby and get things done. A wrap is great fro housework as you can wear baby on your back (even a newborn!)
check out http://wearyourbaby.com for how to make you own (no-sew) wrap and if you want a pouch sling Jewels_84601 makes a nice little one that usually goes for around $16 (I bought one from her and LOVE it--use it everyday--my son sleeps in it while I grocery shop, do dishes, fold laundry, ect)
It gets better--I promise! Although it did seem quite impossable there for a while! :) We'e all been there! We all survived, you will too!
(((((hugs)))))
2007-02-20 07:52:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have three children, ages 6, 3, and 5 months, and there are days when I don't shower. Most nights, I wait until the kids are settled in bed and the baby has had her last feed, and then I take a shower. I just can't manage it in the mornings when everyone's full of energy. When I only had one, I would sit him beside me (bouncer) and take a bath. I could sing or talk to him while I bathed.
My laundry isn't always folded, either. While my house is usually clean, it isn't always tidy. The dishes are done, and the clothes are clean, but they're usually not put up. It's rough, but I won't always have these precious people at these ages to enjoy. I figure I'll have plenty of time for taking care of the house when they grow up. As for taking showers, I just do the best I can! You'll find a routine that works after doing it a few times, and there WILL be times when the baby cries while you bathe! It's ok. It happens to all of us!
2007-02-20 07:43:19 · answer #3 · answered by momof3 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think your just feeling a little scared now that your sister is going back to work, and i cant blame you cos it is a scary prospect! don't worry, you will soon have your routine worked out and wonder why you ever needed help. there are plenty of excellent suggestions on here for you and I'm sure you'll find one to suit, my advice would be after you've gotten baby fed and bathed in the morning to put her in her crib and take you're shower, it wont be the perfect answer cos sometimes she'll wake and need you but this will help get you both into a good routine. i had 3 kids all under 4 yrs and now that I'm a gran and my granddaughter comes to stay i wonder how i ever managed in those days! you'll get there. and well done to your lovely sister for helping you! happy showering!! sue
2007-02-20 08:58:31 · answer #4 · answered by sue brew 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Place your baby in front of the tv in a swing or bouncy chair & put on some colorful sing along. I loved sing along videos when my daughter was a baby. She learned how the tv & vcr worked before she started walking. She would crawl over to the tv & play her video when I would be napping or cleaning.
Or try to get things done during baby's nap time. But if all else fails take a bath together.
2007-02-20 09:58:42 · answer #5 · answered by Angela 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well my daughter is 18 months now, so i just bring her in the shower with me, but when she was that little, i would take one when she was napping or put a little bouncy chair in the bathroom and talk to her while i showered. as for getting everything else done, it can be tough but you will get a good routine down and it will be a piece of cake. you dont have to be holding the baby 24 hours a day. and if you have a baby who just insists on being held you can put her in a sling or something so you can carry her and still have free hands to do whatever it is you need to do.
2007-02-20 09:17:41 · answer #6 · answered by krystal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I shower during his naps. He's a toddler now and has a safe playroom so if I can't do that. I'll just shower with the door open so I can still hear him (and peek out to see him if I need to).
Laundry usually waits until after he's in bed. Or I just do it during the day when I can.
Also, when both spouses help out equally it helps a lot too. If you can't get to the laundry, there's nothing wrong with asking your hubby to do it. Or if you can't make dinner, have him pick up take-out on his way home.
Just do things when you can and don't stress out about your house looking perfect. :)
2007-02-20 07:41:16 · answer #7 · answered by Jen 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i had a similar situation where my husband works overnight long shifts and my mother-in-law would watch the baby and i'm too paranoid to even leave baby alone so either i would wait till my husband woke up or during the time when baby is sleeping and put him with my husband when he got older and was able to sit up on his own i would take a shower together, kills two birds with one stone i can watch him & get clean besides he likes taking bathes or you can do what my husband did put them in their little bouncy chair by you in the bathroom while you shower put some toys for distractions! hope it helps and don't worry you'll get the hang of it1
2007-02-20 07:40:38 · answer #8 · answered by teinegurl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 5 year old and a 7month old foster child who just moved in...she was on no schedule, but that didn't take long. Both of the kids are fed, bathed, and in bed by 8:00 p.m. (the baby 8:30) at the latest. You need a routine and that's all there is to it!
2007-02-20 09:15:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do it with them. I have a friend who usually will take a bath with her two daughters because all of them need it anyways and your getting clean, your kids are getting clean, and your supervising your kids in the tub. When you vaccuum or do laundry just put them in their little swing chair, or anything safe that you just watch them in and they wont fall out. Or if your back can tolerate get a baby sling and put the baby in it and clean the house and watch the kid at the same time. Its not easy but after a little while of doing it yourself you'll get the hang of it and you will find something that works for you and allows you the time to do what you need to do, allows you to come an eye on your baby, and is safe for your baby.
2007-02-20 07:40:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
well, I shower when my daughter is napping, I just make it quick. If I need to be somewhere or my daughter isn't sleeping, I simply put her in her chair and bring her in the bathroom with me. I have a stand up shower so I can still see her, talk to her etc and have my shower. I leave the door open so it doesn't get steamy or stuffy in the bathroom though.
2007-02-20 15:08:22 · answer #11 · answered by Newmomofone 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋