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There are times when I sit down on the playmat with my baby and my toddler, but there are other times when I need to get things done.
How am I able to do any housework with a 7-month-old and a 2-year-old you ask? With practice, patience, and a little creativity.
Do I get everything done when I want it to get done? Nope. But I get pretty darn close.
I’m here to tell you the tricks I use to get things done around the house. I hope you find these tricks helpful, or that you can at least find inspiration so you can get things done, too!
Naptime
The obvious time to get things done around the house is during naptime.
My 2-year-old takes one nap a day and I’ve had my baby nap during this same time since she was 4 months old. You can read more about how I got them to nap at the same time (every day!) in my post “Schedule for 2 Under 2“.
I use this time to do things that I would have a hard time doing with both of them. Things like cleaning bathrooms, reorganizing, writing, or deep cleaning specific rooms.
Other things like folding laundry, cooking (nothing elaborate), cleaning up, or reorganizing toys can be done when my girls are awake or with their help. Yes, they do help me with these things – I will get to this in a little bit!
Every child is different, so you’ll see what you can accomplish with your own kids.
How to clean the house
1. Keep it simple
I’ve seen many suggestions about having a cleaning schedule, which essentially means you clean the bathroom on Mondays, the kitchen on Tuesdays, do laundry on Wednesdays, and so on. This sounds like a great method (that I would love to try), but right now, my day-to-day is too variable to have that kind of consistency (when it comes to housework). For now, I clean when I can.
I mean that if my kids are playing wonderfully by themselves in the family room, that’s when I’ll clean the kitchen. If the kids are playing quietly in the playroom, I’ll clean the entryway and dining room. I’ll put myself to work in the rooms nearby so they can learn to be independent and I can get things done while keeping a close eye on them.
I also keep the routine cleaning simple. I will dust, clean windows, vacuum, and mop the floor. Everyone’s definition of simple is different, but as long as you feel like your space is clean, then what you’ve done is perfect.
2. Involve the kids
I have two Swiffers – one for me and one for my toddler. Every child is different, but luckily, mine likes to clean. Maybe it’s because she sees me cleaning and picking things up all the time.
If my toddler isn’t playing independently and I want to get some cleaning done, I will bring out both Swiffers and she will automatically join me in dusting. Even if I am not dusting, I sometimes give her the small Swiffer (that’s the one she uses) and she cleans with that while I continue my own cleaning.
My toddler also has a Melissa and Doug cleaning set that she uses when I clean or when she is playing independently (you can see it in the picture where we are vacuuming).
My toddler also has her own Dyson toy vacuum. I’m a little embarrassed to say that I vacuum 2 or 3 times a day (mostly after meals and in high-traffic areas). Every time I take the vacuum out my toddler runs to get hers. We both vacuum together – she’s having fun and I’m getting things done (I also love seeing her follow me around with her little vacuum).
Also, I would consider getting a robot vacuum. I love mine (I have a Eufy) because it keeps the floors clean on those in-between days. I used to see hair build up in corners of the entryway before getting the robot vacuum, but I don’t anymore. It allows me to vacuum when I have the time, not out of complete necessity. The vacuum also keeps my toddler quite entertained.
My toddler also helps me unload the dishwasher. I give her all the plastic containers and any other items that are safe for her to carry and I ask her to put them on the counter across from the dishwasher.
When I cook dinner, we put out her steps, and she helps me cook. I’ll set her up on the large counter and put out a couple of plastic containers. I’ll ask her to transfer ingredients from one to another or put them into a pot. I sometimes give her a spoon or scoop to do this so she can practice using these tools.
I will sometimes also put her steps in front of the kitchen sink and she will “help” me wash produce or dishes (always plastic or silicone things). She’ll pretend to turn on the water or pump soap into the sponge.
I also do laundry with my toddler. She helps me load the washer and presses the buttons to turn it on. She helps me load the drier, and then helps me fold the laundry. Folding the laundry typically consists of wearing my undergarments as necklaces, but nevertheless, she stays occupied while I quickly fold.
Involving my daughter not only helps me get things done but also teaches her how to do everyday household chores. I love that it also makes her see that she’s part of a team at home and that she can help. Quiet honestly, she loves to do these things! I love hearing her say “I help you mama” when I’m about to do something.
3. Wear the baby
I used the Boba Baby Wrap when my baby was very young. She stayed happy bundled up close to me while I was able to use both hands to clean. When my baby got older, I used the Moby Ring Sling carrier and the Ergobaby Embrace carrier for the same reason.
Wearing your baby is especially helpful if they are clingy.
Related: “7 Essential Tips for How to Deal With a Clingy Baby“
4. Organize toys in accessible bins
We have bins in an 8-cube organizer in our playroom that my toddler can easily access. They are organized by Mega Bloks, puzzles, books, pretend play, wooden toys, 2 bins with toys that have small pieces, and a bin with baby-safe toys. The heavier bins are on the bottom and the lighter ones are on top.
My toddler knows where to find the toys she is looking for independently. She also knows how to browse for toys to play with. If I notice she seems bored, I might say something like, “Do you want to go get the bottle for your baby? She might be hungry.” This will set her off to the bin that has the bottle and she will start pretend-playing with her doll.
If I need my baby to play in the playroom, I will pick out a couple of toys from the baby-safe bin and scatter them around her on the mat. This will encourage her to move around and she’ll stay engaged with the toys since I often pick different ones for her. My toddler has also learned how to pick out toys from the baby-safe bin so she can give the baby new things to play with. I always supervise her choices.
Related: “The Ultimate Checklist for Baby Must-Haves“
5. Have toys they can walk around the house
My toddler loves to play with her baby stroller, her scoot-around elephant, her golf cart (which she also pretends is a vacuum), and her shopping cart. She’ll fill these with toys, tell me “Bye-bye, mama, I’m going to Target. Be right back”, and then walk around the house with her belongings. This will also keep my baby very entertained. She loves watching her sister.
6. Set up a designated area for activities
We have two kid-sized tables – a plastic table set in the playroom and a wooden table set in the family room. If I need to get things done near the family room, I’ll put out activities that my toddler can do independently on the table. These are some things I’ll put out:
- crayons
- stickers
- Melissa and Doug Activity pad
- Reusable stickers
Other times I will set up some activities on one of our mats in the playroom or the family room – depending on where I’m trying to clean.
With a crawling (and very curious) baby and a toddler, the tricky part is finding toys that they can both play with. I’ll put out things like LeapFrog Learning Friends books, Mega Bloks, or plastic cars (large enough so they are safe for the baby).
We also have a Little People interactive dollhouse that my toddler has always loved (since she was around 18 months old) and now my 7-month-old likes it, too. My toddler will dance around the room every time one of the songs plays.
I also keep a basket with lots of baby-safe toys on the mat in the family room. My baby has learned that she can tip this basket over and access all her toys (as I said, she’s very curious).
When you really need to keep the kids in a designated area, you can use a playpen. We have this Large Playpen that was super helpful for my toddler when she was around 10 months old. We always had the doorway open so she could go in and out when she wanted, but it kept all her toys in one area and encouraged her to play independently since she was contained in a space. You can keep a bin in the playpen with safe and independent toys that your baby or toddler can choose from.
This playpen also comes with a mat that I am now using in my family room for the time being for my baby.
How to take a shower with a baby and toddler
If you have a baby and a toddler (or even just one of the two), you’ll understand why this is on this list. It’s not easy finding the time or the way to take a shower when you have little ones.
1. Set up toys in the bathroom
My toddler has a couple of bins filled with toys in her room that I use as “bathroom toys”. Whenever I take a shower, I’ll grab a couple and bring them into the bathroom with us.
Make sure these toys can be played with independently.
I’ve also brought books into the bathroom. My toddler will sit on the bathmat and I’ll read the book to her as I shower. To clarify, I’ve memorized a lot of her books since we read together very often. Even if I can’t see the pages, she recognizes the words and turns the pages as I talk.
2. Put the baby in a bouncer or activity center
I would be lost without my BabyBjörn bouncer. Even though my baby is 7 months old and very mobile, I still put her in this whenever I need her to stay safe in one spot. I always put her in this bouncer when I take a shower because she still can’t be trusted on the bathroom floor!
I use a pacifier clip to attach her pacifier to the bouncer in case she gets antsy, give her a toy (that she will eventually drop), and she’s good to go for a bit. She’ll play with the toy bar if she drops the toy I gave her. I’ve also attached toys to a pacifier clip to she doesn’t drop them.
We also have the Skip Hop activity center that my baby loves. I’ve put her in this once or twice when taking a shower, but we now keep it downstairs. The BabyBjörn bouncer is much easier to carry up and down stairs. If you are able to bring an activity center to the bathroom, I would recommend doing so.
How to get yardwork done with a baby and a toddler
Yard work can be tricky to do with littles. I keep my yard work jobs very small and short when I have my kids outside with me. I’ll do things like weed, water plants, or clean patio furniture. I choose days that are not too hot, and I have the kids stay in the shade the whole time. Be sure to put sunscreen on them even if they are in the shade.
Related: “12 No-Prep and Fun Outdoor Activities for Toddlers“
1. Set up a designated play area
Just like indoor chores. I put an oversized beach blanket on the shady grass and put some independent toys on it. You can put out building blocks or books. I find it helpful to have a variety of things for them to choose from and alternate between.
For the baby, I put out toys that can be mouthed like teether rings, teething keys, or silicone teethers with bristles. Hands-on discovery toys like scarves are also great.
2. Water pails
Setting up a water activity depends on how independent your toddler is.
I was able to pull weeds from my patio while my toddler transferred water from one beach pail to another with a scoop. I also laid out other water toys that she could dip into the pails to play with. I set up these pails on the patio where I was weeding. Always make sure to supervise any water activity your toddler does.
3. Bubbles
Bubbles are typically a hit with kids. My baby loves to watch our automatic bubble machine (just make sure to keep it out of the baby’s reach). I sometimes put it on a table where she can see it but can’t get to it.
My toddler can’t blow bubbles by herself yet, but we have a handheld bubble stick blower that she can use on her own. I just fill a little tray with bubble solution and she dips the fan into the tray. She can make her own bubbles while I do some simple yard work. These refillable bubble guns are also a great idea.
4. Involve them
You can wear the baby if you have very simple things to do in the yard, such as sweeping the steps.
You can involve a toddler a lot more when doing yard work. My toddler has helped me rake leaves, pick up sticks (she puts them in her wagon), water plants, or sweep the steps. She puts on one glove and I put on the other and we get to work.
Just make sure to keep a close eye on what they are touching outside – especially if you are dealing with plants. I always check my kids for bugs or ticks after spending time outside.
Related: “How to Easily Get Your Yard Ready for the Spring“
To sum it up
When setting up designated activities for your kids, take the time to teach them how to do the activity. When I set out two pails of water outside for my toddler, I showed her how I scooped the water and put it in the other pail. Just seeing me doing this once or twice made her want to try it herself. I also try to put out familiar activities that they have played with before. Alternate these activities so they don’t become tired of them.
One thing I’ve learned is that when you have the time to do something, don’t overthink it – just do it. Don’t contemplate whether you should clean the bathroom now or wait until tomorrow, if you have a moment to do it – do it. Because that moment might not come tomorrow. Trust me, you’ll be glad you got it done. You’ve got this.
