5 Organizing Tips For Your Newborn Baby

We just found out that our next door neighbor is about to have a baby! What wonderful news for such a great couple. It got me to thinking that perhaps a post on how to organize for the arrival of a new born baby is in order.

Once you have found out the sex of the baby (if you don’t like waiting for the surprise) and you’ve painted the nursery your favorite colour, it’s time to decide on how you want to organize the clothes. No doubt you are going to receive a lot from baby showers and family so it’s best to decide and prepare ahead of time to avoid the work after you are busy with the baby.

Those teeny tiny clothes

Baby clothes are no different than adult clothes – just smaller. Hang up dresses, outfits and shirts to avoid wrinkles and to identify and retrieve what you require easily. I know when I had my children I received a lot of clothes that would fit when the baby was a bit older. Whether in a closet or a drawer it’s best to keep these separated so you don’t have to keep going through them to get what you need.

Those baby accessories are just too cute aren’t they? And small! Check out the different drawer dividers that are available for those cute socks and other tiny items.

Blankets & bath toys

You’ll find you have quite a volume of baby blankets both for wrapping and snuggling up the baby as well as for the crib. Ensure you keep these organized by designating their own space in a dresser drawer. The same goes for bath towels for the baby and bath toys. For these I suggest you designate a small plastic basket in the bathroom for the toys and place the bath towels under the bathroom sink in the cupboard. If space does not permit that, then utilize a basket placed on the floor to contain the towels.

Bottles & accessories

The kitchen can be a real challenge as we don’t all have a lot of room for baby bottles, liners, formula and all that goes with it. It is a must to designate a cupboard or shelf especially for the baby items. You don’t want the bottles falling out of the cupboards at the most inopportune time.

You are also going to need at least one shelf for the formula and baby food when the time comes.  Contain the baby bottles in a plastic bin in the cupboard to avoid them all toppling over.  Another smaller basket is good to contain the nipples and other small accessories.

I often talk about keeping horizontal surfaces clear and storing your baby food on your counter is counter productive to being organized and relieving your stress when you need to the most.

Strollers, car seats etc.

Have you thought of all those items that you need to carry with you seemingly everywhere you go? Strollers, car seats and even a playpen or crib take up a lot of space but are staples now in your social settings. If you can’t leave them in the car then assign a spot in the basement or garage where they can be hung and easily accessed when you are going out.

Clear entries

You know that I am a firm believer in an organized entry way and closet. Every time you walk into your home you want to have a feeling of warmth and welcome. With a little one it is easy to drop and go. Assign a space in the closet for the little one’s jackets, snow suits, etc. and keep your hallway clear. The last thing you need is to be coming in with baby and bag in hand and trip and fall on something left on the floor.

You know, babies are precious but are meant to fit into our lifestyle – not the other way around. Staying organized during this time will keep the stress level to a minimum and allow you to spend the time you need with your new arrival. Enjoy!