Include Household Work in Your Baby Care
Some tasks overlap with baby care. For example, when you change a disposable nappy, take a moment to wipe down the changing unit. When you bottle-prep, clean that space immediately afterwards. Folding the baby’s washing while feeding also helps. These small paired tasks add up quickly. Parents often find that setting a timer – say 20 minutes once a day – helps keep clutter at bay without draining energy.
Use Batching and Bite-Size Routines
Avoid trying to clean the whole house in one go. Productivity experts recommend batching, which means grouping similar tasks together and doing them at set times – dust all rooms one day, vacuum on another, clean surfaces on another and so on – rather than bouncing around aimlessly.
Also, try small daily bursts of cleaning for one to five minutes when the baby naps or is with your partner. Wiping counters, tidying nappies and quickly sweeping clutter are small but effective.
Lean on Your Village
Grandparents, siblings, neighbours and trusted friends can make a world of difference. Let them bring a meal, fold laundry or hold the baby while you shower. Many people want to help but wait to be asked – giving them a small, specific task makes it easy for them and helpful for you.
Accepting support is part of good self-care. It also allows your baby to bond with loved ones while you take a breather. Over time, building this support network strengthens your sense of community and makes the parenting journey feel less overwhelming.
Many people want to help but wait to be asked – giving them a small, specific task makes it easy for them and helpful for you.
Use Night Prep to Save Morning Energy
A few minutes of preparation in the evening can set you up for a smoother start to the day. Lay out fresh baby clothes, restock the nappy caddy and prep bottles or breakfast items before bed. Waking up to a ready-to-go setup makes mornings calmer and helps you feel in control. This small habit prevents little chores from piling up and frees more time for cuddles and coffee.
Clean Enough, Cosy Enough
With a newborn, your time, patience and energy are precious. You deserve a clean and cosy home – but that doesn’t mean you must polish every surface daily.
By communicating clearly with your partner, batching tasks, using technology, sharing effort fairly, setting realistic standards, organising around your baby’s rhythm and leaning on your support system, you create a calmer, happier space for everyone. Over time, you’ll find a rhythm that suits your family. Until then, clean enough and cosy enough is more than enough.
Jane Marsh is the founder and editor-in-chief of Environment.co where she shares practical tips on how to live a greener life.
