10 Tips to Make Your House Clean for Your Baby
Guest Post: findyourmomtribe.com
I had a million things on my mind during the early stages of my first pregnancy, but cleaning wasn’t one of them. Giving birth, baby names, baby essentials, breastfeeding, the list goes on and on. Sure, I was cleaning enough to keep my home presentable and me, my husband, and our cats all healthy.
However, the closer I came to my first baby’s due date, the more I realized that cleanliness can’t be so broad when there’s a new baby in tow. Their mouths might be adorable, but communication is difficult, and you don’t want to deal with a sick baby.
That’s why I’ve made these 10 tips to make your house clean for your baby. These are practical solutions that anyone can appreciate, whether you’re living in a big house or a modest apartment. They’re ones I keep using as my daughter and my son grow up and learn their way around the world.
- Get rid of clutter
You should be decluttering no matter what, but it’s urgent when you have a baby. When they start moving around, you’ll start being vigilant for any possible hazards they could get their hands on, but why wait until then? Get help from your partner or a friend by going through things that you just don’t need. Not only will it help to keep your home clean and safe, but it can also be very relaxing.
- Deal with dust
Just because you’ve gone over your tables and shelves with a feather duster doesn’t mean your home is suitable for your baby. But, on the other hand, you won’t have time to clean the dust every morning. Just make sure that all the places that your baby touches are dust-free. And always make sure to air the room before you bring your little one into it. That way, the air quality will be much better, which is extremely important for your baby.
- Have a place for everything
Your house can be cluttered even if you’ve gotten rid of everything you don’t want or need. Letting things pile up can make it difficult for your baby to get around. In my house, we have a strict policy of putting things exactly where they need to be when we’re not using them. That means books go on bookshelves and clothes go in drawers. Our kids are gradually learning the importance of putting their toys away. One item out of place doesn’t look too bad. The problem is that it’s rarely just one item.
- Practice pet cleanliness
Babies and pets can share adorable bonding moments, but it’s important to be careful about sickness. I’ve been sure to keep in check regarding my cat’s health, because I’ve heard enough horror stories about illnesses transferring from animal to infant. One major way to do this is by keeping your pet’s possessions clean, such as regularly laundering blankets and beds and not letting any dirt be tracked in.
- Clean up messes ASAP
ASAP doesn’t necessarily mean right away. It just means at your earliest possible convenience. With a baby, you might have a spill that you can’t take care of for at least an hour, due to all the other things you have to do. I know what it’s like to feel like you have so much to do, you don’t know where to start. I like to take a deep breath and take any kind of action, be it putting my daughter down, grabbing a cloth, or doing whatever I need to. A house doesn’t get any cleaner with fretting.
- Take progress pictures
This is more of a way to encourage yourself than a tip on actually cleaning, but aren’t those both pretty similar? I remember when I was doing my first deep-clean before giving birth. I started by taking a picture of each room I was cleaning, because I knew that seeing how far I’d come would keep me motivated, and it worked. There are definitely days when my house looks anything but clean, but I’m happy to report that it’s just as easy to get out of a mess as it is to get into one.
- Have good tools on deck
Part of why I was putting off cleaning was because I knew that my broom with the frayed bristles and my mop with the flimsy handle weren’t going to do the trick. That’s why I sprung for a whole new cleaning set. Well, actually, it was my husband, who bought it out of total generosity. He also helped amazingly well, jumping in to get to places I couldn’t quite reach. Don’t let yourself suffer with substandard tools. It’ll make your cleaning way more enjoyable if you give yourself a break with some brand-new ones.
- Get help from others
I wouldn’t have been able to get through all the cleaning and other parts of raising a child without help from my husband and close friends. When you need help, you shouldn’t be shy about asking for it. You can speak up without being rude, of course. I’m privileged enough to associate myself with people who are responsive to needs even when I’m not vocalizing them. Sometimes, I have to be a little forthright, but I know my loved ones know that I only do so because of how important the health of my baby is.
- Clean out your refrigerator
Your baby might not be able to eat lots of what’s in your fridge, but spoiled food is unappetizing at best and dangerous at worst. Make sure that jars of baby food are checked for their expiration dates and that they’re being tossed at any sign of spoilage. You should also make sure that you don’t let any perishables go bad before you use them. Give your fridge a thorough cleaning, including disinfecting it.
- Clean your bathroom
So many microorganisms can exist within a bathroom. You should keep this as clean as you can, because it can be easy for germs to reach and hitch a ride on your baby. Washing your hands is always vital, but I also like to scrub the tub, toilet, and sink, as well as the tiles. You don’t realize what a sparkling bathroom does for your sense of homeowner self-esteem until you go through with it.
Okay mama, those were my tips that can help you keep your house clean for your bundle of joy! But you don’t need to freak out if the house is not like you want it to be. Always ask for help around the house and dedicate yourself to the most important job that exists – the one of being a mom!
Author’s bio:
Ivana Davies is an educator turned stay-at-home mom. She’s a proud mom of a beautiful 7 year old girl and a playful 5 year old boy. Since she didn’t have a clue about raising kids, she had to learn it all in a hard way. Ivana managed to find so much information online and it inspired her to turn to blogging to share her experiences and struggles as a mom. Being a mom is not easy. In fact, it can sometimes be pretty isolating. Her blog, Find Your Mom Tribe, is here to help you connect with other moms, as well as to share mom hacks, information, and tools to help you on this parenting journey. You can catch up with her on Facebook and Pinterest.1
