Housework

A mom recently asked me how to manage the housework and take care of a high need baby. Her baby needs constant care and she cannot put her down for a moment. As a result, the whole day can go by and nothing else gets done. While caring for a baby with reflux is probably the most important job of all, it is also important to manage the household. I thought about how I kept the household humming while caring for my little ones with reflux and came up with a list.

My Top Tips for Dealing with Housework:

Low Standards:

I guess I had pretty low standards. I did very minimal housecleaning for a long, long time. Cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms took priority as well as vacuuming. Yes, my house suffered but it survived the lack of window washing and dusting. In time, I was able to add chores. A few lucky moms are able to hire outside help such as a cleaning service or a housekeeper. This is certainly recommended if you have the financial resources to do so.

Routine and Structure:

I dealt with each day by breaking it down into little parts. Yes, I can survive until lunch. Maybe the baby will take a nap. Dinner was made when dad came home so he could hold the baby and entertain the other children. I tried to set up a bit of a routine so that the basics got done.

Buying in Bulk:

Each week, I made one big trip to the food store and bought enough to last the entire week. This was about the only time I was alone and it allowed me to really concentrate on getting everything I needed. I also bought ahead and kept a well stocked pantry. When the kids were sick or it was cold or rainy, I could “shop” in my pantry and avoid the lines at the store. I even started buying the prescription medications in bulk by mail.

Baby on Board:

Some days, it was just me and the kids. No visits from Grandma or a knock on the door from Mary Poppins. So, I strapped the baby in the front carrier and made dinner. I found that I could even get the laundry done with the baby in the backpack.

Accepting Help

I accepted any and all offers for help. Neighbors made dinner or took the older kids on an outing. Grandparents came in for extended visits. It all made a big difference. Now I am always ready and willing to “pay it forward” to a friend in need.

In time, your baby will feel better and won’t require constant care. In the meantime, you may need to change your routine and perhaps accept a less than clean house. You have enough to worry about right now so why not place housework low on your worry list?

 

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