Hello World! Welcome Friends! Raising children is one of the most rewarding and simultaneously challenging jobs in life. Nothing can really prepare you for it. The elation, the joy, the frustration, the celebrations, the lamentations – all await you as a new parent. Yet it’s somehow all worthwhile when you look into your child’s eyes or see their smile in the morning.
Yet life doesn’t stop because you have a kid (or two). You’ll still need to work, whether that’s at your job or home. The chores can pile up and your house can quickly become a bomb site with kids around, especially as they get older. Let’s explore a few ways you can avoid clutter as a new parent.
Organization is Key
Everything should have its place in your home so that things can get put away neatly. A shoe cabinet is a great way to organize your footwear and placed strategically near the door, it can prompt you to put away your shoes when you walk inside. As well as reducing clutter, this also means your floors will remain cleaner for longer, as you’re not tracking in dirt and debris on your shoes as you walk through the rest of the house.
Make Use of Naptime
Newborns do three things well – they eat a lot, they sleep a lot and they give you lots of chances to change their nappies. Take advantage of one of these times, when they’re sleeping, to zip around and do some chores.
You might only have an hour or two, but that’s enough time to whip around and wipe some benches, run the vacuum, or mop the floors, or fold some clothes and put away toys.
Share the Load
No matter your gender as a stay-at-home parent, your partner has a role to play as well. Even if they’re working full-time to support the family while you raise the child, they should still pitch in to help keep the house tidy. It won’t take much – just half an hour or so either in the morning before they leave for work or when they get home. But every little bit matters. Some laundry here or emptying the dishwasher there, make sure that they share the load.
Have a Dedicated Play Space
Instead of letting your child play or do tummy time just anywhere, you happen to be, why not dedicate an area for baby playtime? This could be the nursery, or an area in the living space cordoned off with a playpen. The idea is to create a single space where all the baby toys and bits and pieces stay, to avoid the clutter spilling into other rooms in your home.
Avoid Impulse Buys
You may feel the need to shower your baby with toys and gifts. It’s only natural, you want to provide for your child and bring them joy. But all those little purchases add up and can contribute towards clutter in your home. So, curb your tendency to buy a little something every time you’re at the shops.
In a similar vein, try to discourage all your friends and family from bringing items when they visit. Instead ask for them to cook a meal or bake a treat – something you can eat, instead of something that will take up space in your house.
A Cute Conclusion
Make sure your space is organized, with everything having a place in your home. Make strategic use of your baby’s naptime to clean and tidy up. Ensure your partner shares the load, and create a dedicated play space. Finally, avoid the tendency to buy lots of toys and items, and discourage visitors from bringing gifts.
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Toodles,
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