We are about 2 or 3 years out since the toddler years, but I remember those days very clearly. I’ve got twin boys and their older brother, who is two years older. In the early days, when the twins were babies and not walking, it was a bit easier to keep our household clean. My biggest worry was whether or not the main floor washroom and front hall were presentable for guests who came often. The rest of the house stayed pretty orderly and clean.
As my two year old became more independent and turned three and the babies turned into one year olds, crawling and cruising around, playing with more toys and progressing to solid foods, my priorities began to change. Feed three kids and wait to clean up the disastrous mess on the floor and the dishes and play with them to keep them entertained, or feed them, clean the mess, wash the dishes for 20 minutes and let the kids entertain themselves with their toys or a TV show? I often chose to hang out with the kids and let the mess wait. I’d get to the mess…eventually!
Messes build up fast, however, so I also tried to pick the spots I wanted to keep “mess free” or as mess free as possible, because my boys seem to leave a trail of stuff here and there, no matter how hard I try! I didn’t have the energy to be constantly cleaning every room of the house. There are three of them and only one of me!
So I chose my battles. I chose the rooms I was willing to see get a bit chaotic and messy, such as the TV room, which quickly became the toy room, because I could see it from our kitchen and know the little ones were safe, while I did take care of other business…like nursing my cold cup of coffee at a distance.
Aside from that mess under the highchairs and the piles of bottles and sip
py cups in the sink waiting to be washed, the kitchen was a “mess free” zone. I kept it kid free and mess free if we were not having a meal. I was not the mother who allowed my kids into the cupboards and bottom of the stove to pull out pots and pans to clang on for hours on end. They had other noisy toys in the toy room just for that reason! I kept a baby gate up so there would be no toddling or crawling throughout that mess free zone. Pots and pans strewn across my kitchen floor would have been yet another mess to have to take care of and for any mother of twins or more, you know the minutes in the day seem to whiz by and before you know it it’s time for you to go to bed. I did not have time to be picking up these random messes in every room of my house.
Other ways I tried to contain the mess included:
Using foam interlocking mats beneath the twins’ high chairs, which worked as a catchall and were easy to either sweep or pick up and shake off outside or in the sink and wash down. Sometimes I’d throw them in the tub and soap them up for a really good wash, then air dry. They were really helpful with avoiding constant mopping of the kitchen floor.
I chose to keep the pile of toys contained in decorativ
e closet boxes, such as sweater boxes, which looked like they were just a decorative part of the room. I stacked them at the end of the couch, which was farthest from the toy room (aka TV room) entry and the least visible spot.
I am sure there are many other ways to keep a house orderly when you have little toddlers going two or three different directions all day long, but these were a few of my proven and favourite ways to go about it.
Moving forward in life, when toddlers grow to school-agers, I can’t say that containing the mess gets any easier and the messes will begin to move into other rooms, but you can always strategize, strategize, strategize new ways to fight the mess!
Yet there will always be the kind of day where you’re getting ready for work and come out of your closet area doing the “I just stepped on a Lego Storm Trooper head” painful dance that will remind you that you can’t always win the battle of the mess.
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After my third child I really had to learn to let go of my perfectionism when it came to cleaning, it wasn’t easy but there is more hug time now #Twinklytuesday
Mackenzie Glanville recently posted How much can you say ‘yes’ to without burning yourself out?
Oooh, the mats are a good idea. Going to look into getting a few of those, thanks.
#twinklytuesday
Mama, My Kid Doesn’t Poop Rainbows recently posted Parenting Parking Spaces
I’m a tidy/clea freak…or I was till I had my son. Now I’m surrounded by toys most days. I tidy them away during nap time in the afternoon and when he’s gone to bed. No point in trying when he’s up. As for cleaning, I sweep after meals and try and wipe round but I miss having a good deep clean every now and then, as sad as that sounds. The other day I dusted the TV cabinet with my cardigan! #twinkleytuesday
Becky (EducatingR) recently posted I’ve got my Weight Loss MoJo back! (I think!)
Ah the battle of the mess is definitely one I can relate to. Pretty boxes are great for hiding things and making it easier to put things away quickly. I tend to keep the little ones out of the kitchen too as I worry about them being around my feet with hot pans about. Those mats sound like a great idea.
Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love) recently posted Up in the sky: themed crafts for toddlers and preschoolers
I’m 2 years old and leave a path of destruction in my wake! My mummy always try’s to follow me tidying up but has given up. Some great suggestions to help keep the house tidy #TwinklyTuesday x
Baby Isabella recently posted New Forest Fairy Festival Review 2015
some really good tips I especially like the interlocking mat idea really clever #twinklytuesday
Zoe dunn recently posted The Best, Life Changing, Worst Thing, That Happened
I have to say, I find it really hard living with the mess, so I have mainly gone with the dumping the mess in boxes strategy. I have a massive trunk in the kitchen which I literally dump everything back into after breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and that mainly keeps everything in check. I don’t care what’s going on in that trunk -out of sight, out of mind haha! However my favourite strategy is just basically to be out of the house as much as possible! #twinklytuesday
Choose your battles is the one useful bit of advice a friend gave me before I had children and she was so right – I do pass this on now! #twinklytuesday
Mummy Fever recently posted Chocolate for beauty?
I’m really struggling to let go of the mess in this house; I’m constantly tidying and cleaning and as a result never get a moment to myself or enough QT with the boys. It makes me sad and I need to find a way – thanks for sharing your tips #twinklytuesday
Jemma Chambers recently posted How To Survive A Night Out As A Mum
I totally agree with choosing your battles. Why spend the next ten years nagging and shouting and stressing over keeping the house immaculate. If we accept that things don’t stay nice with small children around, then we will lead a much less stressful life. Enjoy your kids while they are young and do the house up when they are a it older! Great post xx
teacuptoria recently posted Teacup Family Travels
I am like this, we have mess in the family room where it is sort of contained but so much in the living room! Luckily we have tiles in their so I’ve just become redundant to that fact that I’m going to spend alot of time hoovering and mopping up crumbs haha. Oh to be Mum.
#twinklytuesday
helen gandy recently posted Glossybox August 2015 – Review
I’m still struggling with this. I’ve always liked things organised, to know where things are and to be able to move across a room, without standing on or falling over a random object. However, this has all had to change now we have our four little girls and I do pick my battles these days. I’m much more relaxed, but I do have the odd day where enough is enough and I need to tidy, declutter, organise and clean everywhere within an inch of it’s life!! #TwinklyTuesday
I’m a big cleaner, but with a 1 yr old and a 2 yr old, I tend to have to use my evenings to get it done! The mats are a good idea! #twinklytuesday
Silly Mummy recently posted I Found Me (Further Adventures in Hide and Seek)
The matts seam like a great idea. I still use pretty storage boxes for all my different messess (crafting hobbies) #TwinklyTuesday
I’m all about the storage boxes…!
I don’t know whether IKEA has hit Canadian shores *I’m sure it has* but that’s pretty much what our house is built of!
#twinklytuesday
Saffy recently posted Day 3 of the quote challenge
We do similar toy containment in my house (or at least most of the time), his room or the TV room is where I prefer toys are played. I try desperately to keep to the toy clutter out of my kitchen and dining room and to keep them clean and clutter free. Love the mats under the highchair idea, I wish that I had thought about that when my little-man was younger (would have saved me so much cleaning time!).
Lara @ MommyKazam recently posted 8 Things Your Kids Need to Hear
Our boy is not yet moving around but our house, since he has been born, is a nursery/laundry! Seriously, where does all their washing come from? I must invest in some storage boxes for his room before its too late!
#TwinklyTuesday
theloveofacaptain recently posted The 10 ‘FFS’ parenting moments to test the patience
I pretty much just ignore all mess now….and luckily my husband can’t, so he tidies it – I am a lucky woman! I feel for your Lego pain, I have dye cast Thomas the tank engine pain – little buggers are all over the floor here! #twinklytuesday
Doctomum recently posted Computer Says No: When Your Children Destroy Something Expensive
I’m exactly the same. The kids are only allowed toys in the living room and their bedroom otherwise I am constantly running and back and forth between rooms to tidy up behind them. I have stairgates everywhere! I also bought two sets of storage draws to keep their toys in as well as three large toy boxes and there are still toys everywhere. It’s ridiculous. I really must get round to having that clear out.
#twinklytuesdays
Unhinged Mummy (aka Janine Woods) recently posted Positivity In Pictures #11
I agree wholeheartedly. You have to pick your battles or everyone loses it! Having one or two rooms that are kept tidy is definitely the way to go. I always think if the downstairs is relatively tidy, the upstairs doesn’t matter so much. As Mum of a now 12 and 9 year old, I definitely think it gets easier to keep on top of the mess but family life is a pretty messy business all around really isn’t it?! #TwinklyTuesday
Yes, I agree – there’s only so much you can do & still enjoy your kiddies. The toddler phase passes so quickly, it’s best not to worry about it too much. Those are some great tips though
#TwinklyTuesday
Becky, Cuddle Fairy recently posted Customize Jetpack Related Posts
This is such a great post. You definitely do need to choose your battles. Normally we limit Evie to making a mess in one or two rooms max. But it’s so much easier to do that with one baby. I can’t stand it if the whole house is a mess. But I am a complete neat freak so letting even one room get strewn with toys is a great achievement. I’m getting so much better since I had Evie and I am starting to care way less. Those matts are a genius idea though! As are the bags.
x
Chloe recently posted BREAKFAST ON THE BEACH
Such a great post. We have just moved the majority of M’s toys into her room, and told her she can make as much mess as she wants in there. I was sick of having my living room covered in toys and constantly clearing up. Now it’s just her room which we do before bath time! I love the foam mat idea, something that seems so obvious to do..great tip! #twinklytuesday x
Sophie @ Mum, M & More recently posted Degustabox; July 2015
We often loose the battle with the mess!! lol. So much so that my hubby broke his toe on a toy car… needless to say they are not his favourite! Thank you for hosting #twinklytuesday
Mudpie Fridays recently posted Rocket Stained Glass Effect Decorations
I am a bit of a neat freak, I am constantly tidying up after my toddler. I know I need to be more relaxed, I have started to leave his room until bedtime or leave a train track out. The mats are a great idea, we used them what Oliver was a baby to roll around on.
Becky x
#TwinklyTuesday
littleoandme recently posted Bobo Buddies toddler reins from Throughly modern baby
We did the same. We protected the front room and the bathroom as those were the rooms other people saw, then tidied the other ones as and when!
Mrs Tubbs recently posted Time to Make The #Mommitment. No More Mum Wars Any More. Or Dads. Or Carers. No More!
There always seems to be mess with little ones about. I do a little here and there but mostly try and stay out of the house!! #TwinklyTuesdays
Julie Downes recently posted Small steps and screeching
Oh i totally agree with you, sometimes im like why bother tidying as, as soon as he wakes itll be back to the state it was before! Such a great read and thanks for sharing! Suz x Beauisblue.com
The mats are a great idea! I’ll definitely use that when we move, as we have carpets in our dining room. Thank you for solving that problem for me
#twinklytuesday
NewMummyBlog recently posted The Baby Led Weaning Coefficient
Now I have two little people I can see some mega messy days ahead of us. I can barely keep up with the toddler now that I’m also lugging around a baby. Who knows what’s going to happen to my (sort of) ordered home when they are both on the move! I have lots of baskets and decorated tubs about the place to throw toys into which makes me feel a bit organised. I love the idea of using the mats to catch food under high chairs. The carpet in our dining room is looking a bit sorry for itself! #twinklytuesday
Claire at Tin Box Traveller recently posted A beach day in Devon
I love the idea of getting some of those mats and putting them down somewhere permanently, but we only have a small house and have to walk through both the living room & dining room to get to the kitchen or upstairs, I can’t really put them anywhere where they wouldn’t get walked over, except for in her bedroom where we don’t currently spend much time.
I like the idea of putting a baby gate on the kitchen door, we may just do that when she starts crawling.
#TwinklyTuesday
Leanne Cornelius recently posted Chicago Town Pizzas – New Releases
My youngest is so messy, all i do is pick up after him grrrr and I love tidy so it drives me mad x
Sarah Christie recently posted Back to School Giveaway With Cloggs
I’m in the three kids world like you and I think you’ve got the right attitude: Sometimes you just have to live with a little mess. For me, it’s all about the degree of mess and whether I can live with it. #TwinklyTuesday
Rob recently posted Water – An imaginary PR pitch
It’s a battle you’ll draw with at best lol! Mess means that kids are having fun
Thanks for hosting #TwinklyTuesday
Debbie
http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com
Random Musings recently posted Avon Haul 1
I don’t have twins but my two girls certainly make so much mess it feels like I do! They are now nearly 4 and 5 and we have started asking them to pick up the toys on the playroom floor before dinner in the evenings. I wouldn’t say the room is now left tidy but it’s definitely an improvement! #TwinklyTuesday
morna recently posted Child for saleÂ
There just isn’t enough time in the day,is there? I try to keep on top of things, but there’s so much that needs doing and so little time to do it in. I’m hoping things will get better once my kids start at school. #twinklytuesday
Alison recently posted Yes, I Am That Woman in the Supermarket
I like the idea of foam interlocking mats. Thank you for the suggestion. Now why didn’t I think of that before? It is so obvious! Somedays I just give up and let the mess takes over. I said to myself “It will be there tomorrow”, but it is time to sleep now… Great post! xx
#TwinklyTuesday
Su {Ethan & Evelyn} recently posted Summer Reading Challenge 2015 – Completed! With Six Books Reviews Interview.
There always seems to be a mess in our house whether is because of the kids or some craft I am currently working on that I don’t want to put away all my stuff to get back out again. I like these tips gave and will have to use some of them! #TwinklyTuesdays
Kristen
Kristen recently posted A Journey in Speech Therapy
This post sooo resonated with me! It’s good to know that I’m not the only one struggling with the mess and prioritising what to do about it – mess or play? My littlest has just turned one and has started crawling and cruising and pulling everything down, and he is leaving a trail of destruction and mess everywhere. Sometimes I’m just too tired to clean it up straight away, though, like you say, there are certain areas that just need to be kept clean and tidy. I love the mat idea – I have got two sets of those to put under a paddling pool. Might re-purpose them for this, as it sounds like fab plan! #TwinklyTuesday
Isabella @ Fairies & Pirates recently posted Ouch!!! My Baby Bites
Some brilliant tips here and I completely agree
those mats look great and multipurpose too! Mim x #twinklytuesday
Mim recently posted Weight Loss Wednesday – Week 7
Thank you for the tips.
I have wall to wall carpet (blæææ) so I use a shower curtain or something normally in the livingroom, but the mats are a really good idea!
#twinklytuesday
ERFmama recently posted New ERF seat from Graco? With extended FF harnessing?!
You’re right Carolyn, as they get older, the mess gets less gloopy but more’strewn’! #TwinklyTuesday
Carol Cameleon recently posted Parenting – How to teach your child ‘consequences’
I agree that it’s a battle that’s never won. As much as I’m tidy, my daughter loves a messy. We are polar opposite on this. I console myself with no mess equals no fun. I do not see this changing any time soon! A swift slam of the bedroom door generally does the trick of hiding what lies beneath. #twinklytuesday
Nicky Kentisbeer recently posted Crop Over 2015 – Barbados
Elodie is wntwring the mess stage now. She crawls round emptying boxes and pulling everything off tables. Have to keep telling myself it won’t last too long! #TwinklyTuesday
Those mats sound like a brilliant idea. It is so important to decide what mess you can cope with and what you can’t. Then you can prioritise. I like to keep the kitchen as clean as possible too. The rest of the mess seems more bearable if the kitchen is clean and tidy. Thank you for hosting #TwinklyTuesday. I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to comment. I have just moved house and have been without an. Internet connection. Hugs Mrs H xxxx
Mrs H recently posted Vlog Club – My top five beauty products