# @hortonlane_ on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DWbvPIBAFAJ
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/62098149-hortonlane-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/2b6441e37f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-03-28T15:58:54.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Chrissy Horton (@hortonlane_) — https://gondola.cc/hortonlane_

## Caption

Here is what our dinner, clean up, and bath routine looks like when I am solo parenting the younger ones while 32 weeks pregnant with baby number 7! 

We call this the “closing shift” in our house because it’s when we do all the things to “close the house” for the night and get ready for bed! 

1) Clean up 🧸 🪀🚂

When it’s just me with the three younger ones who are 4 & under, we start with the hard…clean up! Cleaning up is usually fast and easy when the older ones are present because it’s more people who know where everything goes and have the physical ability to do it quickly and efficiently. When it’s just me with the littles ones it goes A LOT slower. So we start with that while the energy is still there!

2) Bath & PJs 🛁

Again, we start with the harder things first while the energy is still up. Bath with three little ones is messy and they don’t all want to get in and get out at the same time 🤪 

3) Make Dinner 🥗

When I am solo with just the little ones, I am ABSOLUTELY throwing on that TV so they stay distracted. When it’s both Tim and I we will have them all play while dinner is being prepped, but that also means one of us can be on kid duty to help them. When it’s just one of us and the house is already clean, we use the tv to babysit for 30 minutes while we cook 😝

4) Kitchen Clean Up 🧼

I luckily didn’t have to do this one on my own since everyone came home in time for dinner but when I do, I will do a simple meal that requires one pot and minimal dishes. Always start with your hand washing dishes first. That way if you get pulled away for something when you come back it will just be the dishes you can easily load in the dishwasher. 

Bottom line when doing the closing shift whether solo or together….do the hard things first while the energy is still there. This will set you up to for a higher probability of getting your house in order each night! 

Do you have a “closing shift” in your house? What does your night time routine look like with kids? 

#bedtimeroutine #cleaningroutine #momlifebelike #bigfamilylife #32weekspregnant

## Stats

- **Views:** 33,603
- **Likes:** 2,475
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- **Comments:** 64

## Tags

cleaningroutine, bedtimeroutine, momlifebelike, bigfamilylife, 32weekspregnant

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