any young SAHMs?

[TayNRobbiesMom]

Just wondering how you all manage your time? Im 22 and a SAHM to Taylor (2.5) and Robert (8 wks tomorrow!!) and I am not very good at my housekeeping duties. My kids are happy and clean ect. but the keeping up of the housework is my downfall. Any ideas?

[oomaumau04]

I'm 22 as well, and managing time with children is always going to be a bit of a challenge. :) I just have to say....you have an 8 week old, so at that point, I wouldn't even be worrying about the housework. ;) Just concentrate on those kiddos...when they're 30 and on their own, they won't remember if the dishes were done or not, but they will remember how you sang them a song or read them a book. Do what you can, and don't feel guilty about the rest. You're doing the best you can, and that's all anyone can ask of you. I do housework when dd is entertaining herself. She loves to watch me fold laundry or play in the kitchen (in her chair) while I cook. I rarely do chores while she's sleeping. Lol

[chinapiggy]

What ooma said.

I am 24. My kids are 7, almost 22 months, and 6 months. I work from home part time in teh evenings. my house is always a mess. My hubby does no cleaning or cooking (it is out way) so it is all on me. He knows not to say a word though! LOL

anyway, I put the baby in the sling and have my toddler help me do chores. She loves to put the silverware away, change the laundry, and put clothes away. In fact, if I give my son stuff to put away, she comes up with her hand out to help! It is so cute. My son also has a few chores so that helps a bit. If my baby does not want the sling, I put her in a bouncy seat or something and put her right in teh mix. She cries if she cannot see me. I also used to just attach her to my breast and do what I could one handed. She is getting too heavy for that though.

I really would not worry about it. My mom does come over every once in a while to play with the kids so I use that time to clean a bit. My sis lives here and helps a bit when she is not working or hanging with her man.

One thing I recently learned that seems trivial is that you can do a tiny bit of cleaning without having to clean the whole thing. I used to tell myself that if I could not do all of the dishes at once, it was not worth starting. I learned that doing 5 minutes of cleaning at a time was pretty helpful even if I did not get all of it done at that time.

I am sorry. I have written a book. If I think of any more helpful tips, I will pass them along.

[Mom2LilnKev]

I'm 25 and have a 2yr old and a 6 month old. I am lucky to get the dishes done and a shower.

[stephie]

Nap times are my housecleaning time. I am a stay at home mom except 2 days a month. I take care of a few other kids as well. I have a routine that works great. I have 3 7yr olds and 1 10 month old and 1 eleven month old. Nap times are a great time to clean or if they are old enough put them in a highchair by the sink while you do dishes or I use a umbrella stroller for my 11 month old who is very clingy, we call it going for a walk around the house. While our pit stops are things that need done. like cleaning up the bathroom, picking up dirty clothes, dishes, ect. We make it a game we sing and dance the whole time. Great workout also.

[chinapiggy]

steph, I have done the strolller thing too! It really works. As long as all 3 of my kids can see me, they are okay for the most part. I really like to try to nap when the babies nap. It helps me stay sane!

[ergomamma]

The biggest help in making your house look clean (even if it isn't) is to pick up the clutter.

Put dishes in the dishwasher as soon as you can...make sure towels are hung up in the bathrooms....keep toys picked up.....make the beds in the mornings.

It is amazing how much JUST this makes your home look neat and clean...even if you havn't vacuumed in a week...or wiped down a counter...and the stuff I mentioned can be done (even the toys if you involve your older DC) in a matter of minutes.

Is DH making this an issue??? Do these thing a few minutes before he is home....it will look to him like the house is clean and he doesn't need to know that an hour before he came home breakfast dishes were all still on the tabe YK.

[JulieBaby]

I know this is old :)

Im 20 years old, with an almost 3 year old and 9 1/2 month old twins. I get all of the basic household chores done, including cooking before 6pm when SO gets home.

As soon as I get up in the mornings I make my bed and pick up the room. I have a no toys policy in my room, so at least that room is neat and tidy.

Also, I take advantage of even 5 minutes of quiet time to get some clean up done. I sweep and mop floors first thing in the morning before the kids get up so the twins can get some floor time while I clean up.

[MissesGoR]

I'm 20 and my DD is 6 months old. My husband helps me before going to work, he will take the baby and play while i clean up, make food, and/or shower. My mom is also a lot of help sometimes. She loves to spend time with her first grandbaby anyway.

Although, there is always some clutter, we just have too much stuff i guess

[juliekathleen2]

I'm 22 & I have a 6 month old. I try to keep things clean but then it just starts piling up. We try to clean everything at least once a month but we've missed the past few months. Oh well. Well we have to do a deep cleaning soon anyway, my son's starting to crawl & get into stuff. Babyproofing time!

[MadisonsMommy]

I'm 20 & have a 10 month old. I try to get as much done as I can during naps, or lunch. Maddie will nurse then sit in her high chair and eat finger foods and I work as fast as I can! It is a challenge and at the moment I am way behind in house work!

[mia83]

I am 25 with 3 year old and one on the way. I find that if you have a basket in every room it makes it easy for clean up if someone is coming by or for quck clean so things are up off the floor. We also use old disposable wipes containers for tiny toys, crayons and organizing cars and things like that. It works like a charm. Shoe boxes also work. Any moment of free time is spent just putting things in boxes. Night time is for dishes. It sucks doing it but, the more people the more clutter. Good luck!

[jessiehannan]

I am 24 and have a 6 year old, a 3 year old and a 4 week old. I get housework done when people come over and entertain the kids or I stay up later than everyone. Some times the house is clean, others a natural disaster. I am the only one who cares, so it falls to me to make sure it is clean. Most days I would rather get online and have contact with the real (adult) world than clean though...

[mama_moo4]

im a 23 mom to 4. yes 4 lol... i have stayed at home since i had my son jayden at 17.

[SabraLeane]

I am 24 and I have a 3 1/2 year old and a 15 week old.... and a 10 month old puppy and a husband..lol

At first I would stress my self out, but I just started letting it go a little. Your kids need you, your house can wait. I try to do 1 load of laundry a day. If I can do more than great, but if not that is good enough. When the kids go to bed I will run the dish washer, and unload it first thing in the morning so it wont pile up on me, I put the dishes in there as we use them. It is never to early to teach yor 2 year old to help clean up ther toys, make a game out of it... my son loves to help if I make it fun. I use my slow cooker alot for dinner. You can find websites with all kinds of ideas. with the slow cooker you just throw everything in there in the morning and its done.

Oh, my neighbor gave me a good tip. It seems people always show up to your house when it is at it worst. The dog needs a bath the baby pooped, the garbage needs to go out ect. She told me to get the cleaner called "Fabuloso" and poor a little down the sink drains and in all the trash cans. A little goes a long way. Your house may have toys all over the place but atleast it will smell good!!

[shehaights]

So much good advice, well, here's what we do-
I'm 25 (don't consider myself young anymore, lol) my son is 13mos. When he is in bed for the night, I throw in a load in the wash/dry and fold, throw the dishes in the dishwasher, run them and pick up toys. I sweep every day first thing in the morning when he's eating breakfast, that way in the morning the house is clean, we usually try to get out of the house, go to playgroups, the library, or the park. And the bathrooms have their scheduled nights instead of laundry.

[mama2twoluvbugs]

I am 23 and have an alomst 7 yr old and a 1 yr old, and i had have to go bit by bit for the most part, my oldest goes to school and when my youngest takes his nap i try to run all over the place getting as much done as possible, and then like while he is in his chair eating, ill do the dishes....so anyway just give yourself some time, when your babies are a little bit older it will be much easieryou just became a mopmmy of two, you need to give yourself time to get the hang of it!

[ASkipper03]

I am 19 and a SAHM to 3 DD 2 years, 1 year, and 3 weeks. I have found that my house stays pretty messy now that our third daughter was born and I dont have time to clean like I would have before. My DH does not do any cleaning but does cook so that helps out tremendously. I just pick up as I walk through. A toy or shirt picked up here and there seems to make a difference. After they go to bed at night, I may do the dishes or fold a load of laundry. Though nothing more because that is really the only "me" time I have now, and who wouldnt rather relax than do a chore.

[cherryzz]

Im 19 and have a 3 month old. My house is pretty much always a mess for some reason. The dishes are sky high, and it seems like neither mu husband or my self pick up after our self either. We probable do a pretty good cleaning once a month.

Im lucky to get a shower twice a week.

[RKeith]

I'm 22 with 5mnth old twins. I can't keep up with anything unless there is someone with me.

[sarahplustwo]

I have a few tricks I have a 2.5 year old and a 12 week old One is laundry seperaters you can get them at wal-mart they are a thing that hold three baskets so when you take off your clothes you can just toss the clothes into 1 of the three baskets colors whites and jeans that way when one gets full you just toss it in the washer no sorting. Next is putting a small basket (like an easter basket) in each room for toy clean up just through out the day as toy pile up toss them in the basket and when it gets full have your child or yourself just take it back to his or her room. and last but not least find things that take less time but do the same job like the swifter stuff