Baby/Housework/Work/Exercise.....how do you do it?

[Swanny]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to manage fitting everything in?

I've basically put everything into looking after LO over the past 9 months but now I'm due to return to work and thinking about also fitting in some exercise to try to get into shape for a holiday in July.

I struggle to even get housework done with these dark nights, once LO goes go bed I cook tea, wash up, do nighttime bottles etc then I'm poop'd and just sit down and relax.

I guess the answer really is to do excercise once LO has gone to bed but I'm just soooooo tired.

 

[XJessicaX]

I taught LO to self amuse and she has 2 naps a day. She can play by herself for an hour+. I have baby proofed the lounge. Now that she is standing and cruising a little its become more difficult but I used to put her up in the lounge and then shower, do housework and then play with her a bit, put her down for a nap and know that I will get 1.5 hours to myself while she sleeps. As for exercise I either put LO in a baby carrier and go for a long walk or go to gym and OH takes her when he gets back from work. Mostly I just walk carrying her though. She's over 19lb so a good weight to lug around!

 

[sun]

It's hard with a newborn and a toddler, but I get it done. Sometimes things have to wait a while, but we manage. I have my daughter in the carrier at least 5-6h out of the day, so I can play with my son/cook/clean/laundry/shovel the walk etc without waking her. I plan meals ahead based on how much prep is involved, prep the night before for lunches/dinner. I used to exercise once my son was in bed for the night (9pm) and will be doing that again once the temp gets out of the -30Cs LOL! Come spring I'll be running with them - I have a double running stroller. So it will be easier to fit exercise in then! Apart from that I have way less time with 2, but getting a routine is the key!

A typical day would be:

Feed DD, put her in the carrier
Make breakfast
Wake up LO for toddler preschool (2h in the mornings)
Get both kiddos ready and walk to preschool
Home - wash up, load of diapers in, prep for lunch
Feed & change DD
Pick up DS from school
Play outside
Lunch and games
DS naps while I sort DD, laundry, cleaning, washing, errands, or try and get some work done (OH and I have a side business) The time when DS naps is gold! I just wear DD and I can do everything else.
Feed/change DD
Wake DS for snack/play
OH gets home and he takes DD while I get dinner
Eat, Feed/change DD
Clean up while OH watches the kids
Bed for DS
Clean up - toddlers require constant cleaning LOL

 

[Experiment13]

I work full-time and workout over lunch hour. That gives me 30-50 minutes every day where I can run/lift weights/do exercise videos. I try to do high impact/quick workout (tabatas, HIIT training) stuff so I get the most out of it. I am not concerned with being sweaty at work - my coworkers can suck it as far as that goes. It is the best time to workout since your willpower has not been depleted and it's a nice re-energizer for the rest of the day.

I detail-clean my house every other week and tidy up every day. I do this with lightning speeds and my mom helps every other week so we can breeze through the house within 3-4 hours. I usually cook every three days and then we eat leftovers the other two days. I use easy and simple recipes that don't take much time. We have one meal a week at my inlaw's and other at my parents. We almost never eat out because it is expensive and we live out of town. My house does not look like a doctor's office but it is acceptable. Acceptable is what I am looking for at this point. I also make most of baby's foods and usually do this every other week, use one batch and freeze the other.

It is hard to stay motivated during the day, especially, as you said, it gets dark really fast. What honestly saves me are my lunch workouts. My boss also had a baby so we do some exercise videos in our office. I know, dorky, but it works.

Good luck at figuring it out!

 

[chysantheMUM]

Its tough isn't it. I have neglected my exercise routine since LO was born but have been trying my hardest these past 2 weeks to establish a new routine. This is what I've managed so far.

- I try to get out and walk with the pram whenever I can.
- I do baby yoga with LO once a week (more of a work out than you'd expect)
- I do my own yoga in the evening when LO is in bed, twice a week
- When OH is off work, I get him to watch LO for half hour in the morning so that I can go on cross trainer, twice a week


Housework just gets done as and when I can manage and if I don't manage it thats ok too

 

[cissyhope]

Its really hard isnt it I could have written your post as its only recently that im able to do lots more things.Please dont be hard on yourself as it really does depend on the baby.A lot of my friends babies were pretty chilled,not my LO! i could not do any thing! even a baby sling (i tried a few) he would not tolerate for long he have many naps in the day either.It will get better though I think we put too much pressure on ourselves to be this perfect women when in fact its often unrealistic. Our babies are not babies for long xxx

 

[xBabyGoose]

My LO is only 10 weeks old but we've got in a routine very quickly. My work is my studying, I'm in the middle of my neuroscience degree and have exams every week.
Our routine is quite strict (it has to be with a busy mom!) And when Lo naps I get housework done. During day if we go out ill step it up with the pram and go for extended walks to fit some exercise in. Only just begginning to think about exercise again as its still quite early after a bad labour - I plan to go running every weekend soon and I'm actually going to my first pole dancing class tomorrow!
When Lo goes to bed i study til midnight, sometimes right before an exam I study til 2-3am then up for uni at 5.30am!
I also have once a week research in the labs too, and Lo will be looked after by her nan.

Its a busy schedule but its doable, as long as you have routine and are strict with yourself you'll find a way to fit everything in x

 

[Spunky]

I haven't read all the replies yet, but I was wondering about this too Thanks for asking Swanny! I have been taking care of James and doing housework after my husband gets home, end of day I'm done! No energy for exercising or anything else!

 

[womblemum]

I'm going to get a cleaner once a week to come and do the proper cleaning (ie not the day to day tidy/clean). It is difficult enough to keep the feeding area tidy of cheese string, spilt water, sprayed puree etc not to mention toys all over the place.

Laundry now DS is eating 3x a day has increased like I could not have imagined previously. Even though their clothes are tiny I seem to have twice as many baby loads as adult clothes!

There are never going to be enough hours in the day to have a completely tidy house, have food in the fridge and loo roll in the cupboard, be fit and exercised and work full time. Well maybe if you then don't spend anytime with your LO or your OH!..

 

[giansmom]

i usually hop in on the threadmill when LO is asleep during day time. just a few minutes or so every time.
i have a baby bouncer where i can put LO while am doing something on the kitchen.
i also have this summer infant baby seat where he can be entertained while sitting down and makes me at peace that he's safe in there and he never gets bored, or at least he's entertained for the time being.

 

[jenniferttc1]

I do house work when he's napping in the day or when daddy gets home. I either take him on a walk outside or go to the gym and leave him with daddy for an hour. I will also do home workouts when he's asleep (abs workouts, lunges across the house everywhere I go lol

 

[oread]

Don't plan on working out at night, you'll be exhausted and it'll never get done. Maybe get up earlier in the morning?
I try to exercise during the day in little bits - when my daugter was smaller I would kay her on the floor and do pushups over her, then squats and crunches, she found it amusing. Now I'll put her on a blanket outside while I do stretches and lunges. At the moment I am stayng with my parents, and I try to get some stuff done during the day like dishes and picking up. I have dinner mostly prepared by the time they get home around 5 (ready to toss in the oven or whatever) then I head out for a 30 minute run before we eat. Now that she is almost 1 year I got a bicycle seat for her so we go on rides during the day. Just try and fit it in whenever you can - earrly morning, lunch, right after work... Just dont't wait until too late in the day, and make it a scheduled priority!

 

[Photojessy]

Wow! All you mummies that get all that done in a day...my LO just doesn't sleep a wink through the day so it's tough, She cat naps for 20 mins then is wide awake again so im constantly breaking off what I'm doing which means hardly anything gets done!

 

[SabrinaKat]

My LO catnaps a bit, so that's when I do the bits and pieces housework, but have a cleaner come in every other week to do bathrooms, stairs (three floors/carpets with two cats), the kitchen floor....My OH does the cat trays (or else) and his own laundry....I was going to work in the garden for some exercise, but after pulling a muscle in my leg on Monday (nope!) at least for the moment. Once the weather cools down a little, will take LO out for walks, but fortunately (!), there's no room at the moment for the exercise bike in the living room as we put LO's changing table table there...besides I read no real exercise until at least six months after a c-section, right? (I think you can before, but don't mention to OH as then I'll have to do the cat trays!)....

best wishes

 

[CatandKitten]

Its starting to get better since DD will now play independently for a while or peacefully zone out as long as I am nearby. That way I can get some cleaning done. She naps horribly, so that isnt really a time to do stuff.