Cleaning Up After Your Baby: A First-Time Parent’s Guide
Congratulations on becoming a first-time parent! A big part of being a parent is meeting your newborn’s needs. And one way to show your care is by cleaning up after your baby. Most cleaning will include laundry, changing diapers, cleaning up spills, and running baths.
Although this cleaning is key to keeping your baby’s health and house in order, it can get overwhelming. It’s especially true for first-time moms who are new to the experience of caring for a baby.
But who can blame you? Taking care of a baby can be both physically and emotionally exhausting. It doesn’t help that newborns wake up frequently throughout the night. This lack of sleep and exhaustion can make staying on top of cleaning tasks hard.
Fortunately, you can get ahead of cleaning as a first-time parent. But the first step is to be patient with yourself and practice cleaning up after your baby. The second and vital step is knowing all the cleaning tips and tricks without feeling overwhelmed. Here’s a guide to help you get started.
Spills And Stains
It’s no secret that babies can be messy, and spills often happen. For new parents, cleaning after your baby can be challenging as you may not be used to cleaning up after them. So, to reduce this, get waterproof, child-friendly, and absorbent baby essentials for spills and stains.
Whether it’s sheets, baby clothes, or feeding essentials, anything from spewy.com.au will be a safer bet to making cleaning a breeze. In most instances, getting stains out will be easy, and spills can be wiped off without staining your baby’s clothing.
In addition to getting waterproof baby essentials, you need to act fast when it comes to spills. Remember that the longer you wait, the harder it’ll be to remove the stain.
Therefore, in case of a spill, the best way to clean it would be to blot it out. To do this, use a clean cloth or paper towel and absorb as much as possible. Avoid rubbing the spill as it causes the spill to spread and go deeper into the fabric.
If this spill turns into a stain, use cold water to treat it. Unlike hot water, cold water doesn’t set the stain, making it harder to remove. However, if this doesn’t help, the best bet is to apply stain remover directly and allow it to sit for a few minutes.
It’s important to follow the instructions on the stain remover and test it on a small area of the fabric. This test will avoid damaging your fabric in the long run. After letting the remover settle, wash it with cold water and mild detergent.
Diaper Changes
Changing diapers will be a big part of your routine, and preparing is important. To do this, ensure you have all the necessary supplies before starting the changing process. A great tip to having all the essentials is getting a moveable cart to roll into any room. This means you won’t have to move into another room to change your baby.
Your cart should have clean diapers, wipes, diaper creams, and a changing pad. Invest in a changing table in your nursery, making the process easier. Use a wipe warmer for a more pleasant diaper change, and always be gentle when wiping your baby.
During the changing process, be ready for accidents by having a set of clothes and diapers. Finally, take your time, breathe, and remember that it’ll get easier with practice.
Laundry
Babies will fill up your laundry basket quickly. And if you don’t stay on top of laundry, it can get overwhelming. Therefore, consider having a laundry basket in each room to collect dirty clothes.
To save you time during laundry, sort it ahead of time into piles of whites, darks, and colors. Find those heavily soiled and stained in each pile, then apply a pre-treatment stain remover to prevent them from setting in.
Once you wash your clothes, use a high spin cycle to reduce the drying time. Alternatively, you can use a dryer ball to allow for more even drying. The next step that might feel stressful is folding the clothes. However, doing it immediately prevents wrinkles and your clothes from piling up. If you are great with staying on schedule, have a designated day for laundry to keep up with the workload.
Bath Time
Bathing your baby doesn’t have to be a chore. Once your baby is ready for baths, you can make this time fun for your baby and increase your bonding. Create a routine that will establish a sense of consistency and comfort for your baby.
To achieve a relaxing bath, create a soothing environment by playing soft music, warm water, and dimming lights. To make bath times easier for you and your baby, be sure to use a baby bathtub.
Have essentials such as a gentle soap and soft washcloth designed for the baby so as not to irritate your baby’s skin. Once your baby is clean, wrap them in a towel and dry them off.
Bottom Line
Cleaning after your baby can be exhausting if you don’t have some tips to rely on. Some of these cleaning tips can be perfected with practice, making cleaning after your baby a breeze. So, take time to find cleaning supplies that are child friendly and efficient.
