family blog

  Before I had a baby, I used to hand-wash my dishes. It was therapeutic. Now? If it can't go in the dishwasher, I don't buy it. But baby gear comes with a million tiny parts—straws, valves, bottle nipples, and pacifiers. If you throw them in the dishwasher loose, they either melt on the heating element or vanish forever. The Tool You Need: The Dishwasher Basket You cannot survive without a Universal Dishwasher Basket (like the one from OXO Tot). It’s a plastic cage that sits on your top rack. You throw all the tiny valves and nipples inside and snap it shut. No more melting: It keeps small plastic parts away from the heating coils. No more losing parts: Everything stays in one place. What Can Actually Go in the Dishwasher? Plastic Bottles: Yes (Top rack only). Silicone Bibs: Yes (Top rack). High Chair Trays: MOST of them! Check your manual. If your tray fits, do it. It sanitizes it better than a sponge ever could. Bath Toys: Yes! Throw them in the basket once a month to...

  You work 8 hours, commute home, and then start the "Second Shift": cooking, cleaning, and bedtime. It is a recipe for burnout. If both parents are working, the old-school "homemaker" standards have to go. 1. Lower Your Standards Your house cannot look like a magazine cover during the week. The Rule: "Clean enough to be sanitary, messy enough to be lived in." Toys on the floor are fine. Dirty dishes in the sink overnight are fine. Prioritize sleep over a perfect living room. 2. The "Power 15." Set a timer for 15 minutes after the kids go to bed. Both parents clean as fast as they can. One does the kitchen. One picks up toys. When the timer goes off, stop . Relax. This prevents the cleaning from taking over your entire evening. 3. Meal Prep (The Lazy Way) Don't try to cook a 3-course meal on Tuesday. Weekend Prep: Wash and chop all veggies on Sunday. Batch Cook: If you make chili, make a double batch and freeze half. "Breakfast for Di...