Cleaning Tips for New Moms and Sleep-Deprived Parents
When you’ve just had a baby (or you’re juggling life with a toddler), sleep becomes a rare luxury—and cleaning? It’s often the last thing on your mind. Between feedings, diaper changes, and trying to squeeze in a nap, keeping the house spotless can feel like a never-ending task. But don’t worry—there’s a way to keep your home clean without adding more stress to your already full plate.
Whether you're adjusting to newborn life or navigating toddler territory, these cleaning tips are designed to help you do more with less effort, all while keeping your home comfortable and safe for your growing family.
1. Let Go of the Idea of "Perfect"
First things first: your home doesn’t need to be spotless all the time. This season of life is about survival, bonding, and rest—not spotless floors. A little mess is okay. Instead of trying to clean everything all at once, shift your goal to “clean enough” to feel comfortable and safe.
2. Use the “One-Touch” Rule
If you pick something up, try to put it where it belongs right away—don’t move it from one counter to another. For example, if you pick up a bottle or burp cloth, put it directly into the sink or laundry bin. This small habit reduces clutter quickly and saves you time in the long run.
3. Keep Supplies in Key Spots
Make things easier by storing cleaning wipes, disinfectant spray, and microfiber cloths in high-traffic areas like the kitchen, nursery, and bathroom. That way, when you have a spare minute (or while baby is calmly watching you), you can do a quick wipe-down without running back and forth.
4. Focus on the Essentials First
Don’t worry about the whole house. Concentrate on high-impact areas that matter most:
Sanitize commonly touched surfaces: Think doorknobs, light switches, and remotes.
Keep feeding and changing areas clean: These spaces get messy fast, so a quick daily wipe goes a long way.
Stay on top of laundry: Baby clothes, burp cloths, and bibs pile up fast. Do smaller loads more often—it’s easier than letting it build up.
5. Tidy as You Go
Time-saving tip: instead of dedicating an entire hour to cleaning, do little tasks throughout the day.
Wipe the counters while waiting for the bottle to warm.
Toss dirty clothes into a hamper during diaper changes.
Load the dishwasher a few plates at a time after meals.
These micro-moments of tidying help keep things from piling up.
6. Use Baby-Safe Products
Since your little one is crawling, chewing, and touching everything, choose cleaning products that are non-toxic and baby-friendly. Look for items that are labeled safe for children or go with simple DIY options like diluted white vinegar and baking soda for everyday cleaning tasks.
7. Use a Baby Carrier or Bouncer During Quick Tasks
Babies often just want to be near you. You can get a few things done while wearing your baby in a carrier or placing them in a safe bouncer nearby. Turn on some music, talk to your baby as you fold laundry—it counts as bonding time too!
8. Make Cleaning a Game (for Older Siblings)
If you’ve got toddlers running around, give them “cleaning missions.” Use a timer or a little song and ask them to put toys back in a bin, find all the socks, or help wipe the table. They’ll feel involved and you’ll get a little help—win-win.
9. Ask for Help (and Accept It)
This one’s big: if someone offers to help, say yes! Whether it’s a friend dropping by with dinner, a partner taking over the dishes, or a cleaning service doing a quick refresh—let them. You’re doing the hard work of raising a tiny human; you deserve support.
10. Pick One Thing a Day
Instead of writing a long to-do list, just focus on one cleaning task per day. Maybe it’s wiping the kitchen counters on Monday, vacuuming on Tuesday, and changing bedsheets on Wednesday. One task feels doable—and you’ll still make progress throughout the week.
Even in the midst of exhaustion, a tidy environment can make your space feel a little more calm and a little more in control. Remember, it’s not about doing it all. It’s about doing what you can—bit by bit.
Give yourself grace, take it slow, and celebrate the small wins (like managing to clean up one room today or simply getting all the bottles washed). You’ve got enough on your plate already—and you’re doing amazing.
