Parents of 6-18 month old babies, do you keep your house clean for visitors?

Question

For a while, my in-laws visited every other weekend. It felt like a marathon between picking up food from my baby on the floor and picking up after the guests! I got sick of it fast, and even made a comment to my husband stating, "They're not welcome in my home!" I'm that fed up! I'm sick and tired of keeping the house immaculate so they can come over and trash it. It's hard work, but I think I should at least get to enjoy it! I get a bit peeved at my daughter (who's 9 months old) when she puts finger prints on the t.v. screen or windows and smears food into the area rugs. I can't help but keep the house clean, I think I'm even going crazy about it!

Answer 1

When your in-laws come over tell them to clean up after themselves. Im sure there old enough to handle that. I would be fed up too! I would tell them that i have a 9 month old to clean up after, i dont have time to clean up after adults that can surely clean up after themselves!

Answer 2

Your baby can't help putting fingerprints around the house.  She doesn't know better. And the in-laws aren't coming to see the house, trust me, they are coming to see the baby.  Cut yourself some slack.  Dust and vaccuum before they come, and put the toys in the toybox.  Daily just do things like keep the surfaces wiped down - but they don't have to be perfect.  Nobody is looking that hard.

Answer 3

Not only for visitors but for the child that is 6-18 months old so he/she don't put dirt of things in the mouth.

Answer 4

yeah, you need to get some professional help if it bothers you that much. All kids make messes. I don't particularly like it either but it doesn't drive me nuts. And my house is NEVER spotless with a 4 yo and a 2 yo...and I have another on the way. I suggest you get help if you can't cut yourself some slack or at least not have anymore children. Good luck.

Answer 5

As long as there is nothing around that could potentially get rotten, I don't worry too much about my house for guests. I keep my house pretty clean... I do dishes, laundry and vacuum each once a week. I take the garbage out when it's full, and dust and what not when I have time. My son is 16 months old and drags everything out. He likes to take everything out of his toybox or the cupboard and leave it to find something better to play with. It never fails as soon as I put everything away he pulls it out again. He likes helping put it back but then pulls it all out again. I believe my guests should understand that children make a mess, as long as it's just things thrown around and not garbage and dirty dishes and things like that everywhere.

Answer 6

You know what you should do, put up little obnoxious signs like if you use a plate clean it or just little things that make your house messy that they should do but they don't like fix the blanket after you get off the couch or something, just be like you have to follow them we are trying to set an example.

If they come over all the time then what ever just make sure your house isn't dirty, it doesn't have to be imaculate just wipe the fingerprints once, then thats done, you have a 9 month old things get dirty fast. just make sure the toys are picked up really quick and thats it don't kill yourself cleaning, they are your in laws its kinda past the point of impressing just be yourself

Answer 7

As a fellow neat-freak, I completely sympathize with you.  However, be flattered, not upset, that everyone wants to see you and your little angel.  They probably don't care too much about whether your house is perfect or not--and trust me, you are fighting a losing battle......as your little one gets bigger, she will create bigger messes too.  My son is 2 and it is unbelievable how messy my once-perfect house gets now.

Still, 9 months is NOT too young to start learning about manners and off-limits areas of the house like the TV screen or smearing food on things.  Set boundries for your daughter and stick to your guns.  If your guests are messy, be firm about that too.  My husband is too lenient with our son to my way of thinking--I do NOT condone, for example, building forts with the cushions on my Robb and Stucky living room sofas or dragging out his 500-piece block set and scattering them throughout the house when he has a perfectly nice play area in his room where it stays somewhat contained.  At my house, food may only be eaten in the kitchen or outside except for dry snacks (like popcorn or pretzels) which can be munched on in front of the TV occasionally.  

YOU need to give a little and realize that having kids means a little sacrifice too--and we usually sacrifice our housekeeping standards first.  Let the small stuff go a little and enjoy your daughter while she's little----then teach her as she gets older to help you maintain the perfect order and cleanliness you love.  My son already helps me clean and pick up the house at 2--it's a game we play and it's fun.

Hang in there.  :)

Answer 8

A Little OCD, HUH?

Answer 9

There are things you have to let go of.  And no, I don't care if my house is dirty and an unexpected visitor arrives. They know I have 2 kids and wouldn't expect the house to look tidy all the time!

Answer 10

I have a cleaning lady =]

& it's still hard, toys & bibs all over the place, i guess i just hand baby to daddy & quickly pick up the mess & stuff it in the closet, haha.

Answer 11

I have 3 kids, 6 and 22 month old twins and my in-laws live in town and stop by all the time. I used to care about my house being spotless and organized. My mother in law sometimes makes comments about the highchairs being dirty, or the floor, but I but I just relax and smile because I am not perfect and am only one person. And it is important to for my kids to have a good relationship with their grandparents.

Answer 12

i kno its hard but u need to express to ur hubby when his family comes over they need to treat ur home with respect and pick up after themselves! im a stay at home mom and i have to pick up after my son and his dad! the house doesnt stay clean long.... just have to keep going and stay strong!

Answer 13

It is tough, but try to be patient with yourself and relax.  I have a 13 month old and my priorities are keeping the floors clean and keeping food off the floors.  She knows not to put hands on the TV and, yes, she'll get fingerprints on the sliding glass doors, but I don't worry about it.  Her toys are not always picked up until she goes to bed (w/ a few exceptions) ... it's futile b/c she pulls them out again anyway! :)  In-laws can be tough (I know mine are) ... maybe you could request that people do their own dishes and help themselves to breakfast and lunch.  I know I can drive myself ragged trying to make gourmet meals 3x/day and it's getting harder as the family gets bigger.  I'd leave out cereal and let them know where sandwich "supplies" are and then just take care of dinner.  Thoughtful in-laws would offer take-out once in a while anyway ... or offer to clean up a little.  I hope this helps.  Just try not to be peeved at your 9 month old ... you can try to set up "boundaries" for her and try to get the food off the floor before she smears it, but she's just being messy b/c she's learning about and exploring this new world!  Your in-laws have plenty of experience, however, and hopefully can take a few gentle pointers to help out a little.  If nothing else, next time, be honest and say you have a tough time juggling family and guests and ask them to stay in a hotel!  All the best ... hang in there :)

Answer 14

I keep my house clean always, I find if I just pick up as I go it is a lot easier, sometimes I get behind then I have to wait for a day my fiance has off to get it spotless again, but I don't just have days that I clean I clean everyday everything, I put my daughter in her playpen for a bit, then I switch to something else, then usually have her take a nap or watch a movie and rest while I finish up. Then for the rest of the day we play and stuff but I keep it clean as we go, If I change a diaper it goes in the garbage immediately, if she spills juice I clean it up right then. I don't wait no matter what we are doing because it adds up fast. I guess I don't  really have to clean much when I have visitors because 99% of the time it already is, I usually just light some nice smelling candles before a visitor. Don't fully clean before they come over, Your house doesn't have to be glamorous, if they are going to come over every other weekend.That is what kids do, so don't buy any new nice stuff until they are older. Kids will be kids and it doesn't stop for a long time so I would get used to the messes.

Answer 15

My daughter turns one later this month.

I suggest instituting a policy of guests calling ahead to okay their visit, but I would not worry about keeping an immaculate house.  Fingerprints on the television is annoying, but that kind of thing is to be expected when you have young children.  

There is a difference between "lived in" and "dirty".  Lived in, i.e. fingerprints on the window and toys on the floor are acceptable.  Dirty, i.e. soiled diapers stacked up, and dishes with mold growing on them are not acceptable.

Do not worry so much-enjoy your home and your daughter!