How to Organize for Baby

Babies come with a lot of stuff! Combine that with sleep deprivation and you have a recipe for disorganization. Try these tips to organize the nursery and your home to create less stress.

• Minimize the big baby equipment you register for! Many babies won’t need or like some of the items, like swings or wipe warmers, that many people register for.  You can shop later for new necessities with the gift cards you receive at your shower.
• Sort clothes by size and place them in labeled boxes in the baby’s closet. You’ll have the next size ready when the time comes! Use the same boxes to store away clothes he’s outgrown so they’ll be ready for the next baby or donation.
• Exchange some of the gifted baby clothes for a larger size. Babies grow so fast the first 2 years that they often will only get to wear a size for a couple of months.  Fewer clothes mean fewer things to store and manage.
• Fill baby bottles with water in advance so you can feed him room temperature bottles. Keep a stash of filled bottles near or in the baby’s room along with formula so you don’t have to go far in the middle of the night to get a bottle ready.
• Streamline laundry by keeping a bottle of Shout in the baby’s room so you can pre-spot the stains on clothes as they go into the laundry bag.
• Store dirty baby socks in lingerie bags and attach them to the hamper with a big clip or a small clamp. Wash the socks in the bag so they don’t get lost or stuck inside other clothes.
• Store a bag of activities near the door to take to restaurants. Try packing crayons, paper, activity books, a couple of simple toys and books. This will keep your toddler happy and get you out of the house faster!
• Use a dishwasher basket to wash bottle parts and pacifiers in the dishwasher.
• Hang a washcloth just for him by the kitchen sink so you can wipe him up after feedings and won’t mix potentially germ-filled clothes with his cloth.

What is your favorite trick to organize a nursery?  Which tip above will you implement today?