Declutter & Make Room For Baby
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You’ve got a tiny human joining your ranks and you’re quickly realizing they come with a whole lot of baggage. So where do you put all of the stuff this little snuggle bug comes with? How do you clear out space and make way for your tiny little love?
As you move into this next milestone of your life, we have some tips on how to declutter and organize so you can spend more time with baby and less time stressing over the mess.
As you move into this next milestone of your life, we have some tips on how to declutter and organize so you can spend more time with baby and less time stressing over the mess.
Purge First
If you’re like many families, you may have piles of stuff lying around that need to be sorted before bringing baby home. All of those “well maybe one-day” items or things that you used to think were precious, but now just clutter up your space. When making way for baby, the first thing you should do is purge the clutter that’s been accumulating for years.Start with the nursery or areas you haven’t tackled in a while. Purge and create space in your storage areas so you have a spot to put items you absolutely want to hang onto or items your children will grow into. Clutter often accumulates because we don’t have spaces to properly put things away.
Create piles with sticky notes or bins on the floor — a keep pile, a donation pile, and a trash pile. If you already have kids at home, purge while they aren’t home because we all know they are going to be dipping into those piles trying to convince you to keep things you don’t need. Plus, get that donation pile out of the house ASAP.
Make those hard choices when you are decluttering. Ask yourself what the clutter is costing you and your family? Do you actually need that duplicate item or half-broken toy? Do you actually need those “well maybe one-day” items or books you’ve been holding onto from university? What is the price to hold onto that item? Think about you and your life and your family. Less is always more.
Storing Documents
Nowadays with technology a lot of the documents or manuals we hold onto can be scanned and stored on our computers or easily accessed online. Hanging onto items we can easily store digitally just add to that clutter.
The documents you absolutely need to keep, such as receipts and warranty documents that you don’t want to scan, store in a small bin or shoe box and label it. Tuck it away in a closet or your home office if you have one. When popping items into the bin really ask yourself if you need them. Let’s face it, a lot of the paperwork we keep is unnecessary.
The documents you absolutely need to keep, such as receipts and warranty documents that you don’t want to scan, store in a small bin or shoe box and label it. Tuck it away in a closet or your home office if you have one. When popping items into the bin really ask yourself if you need them. Let’s face it, a lot of the paperwork we keep is unnecessary.
Travelling Diaper Basket
Having a travelling diaper basket can save you a lot of hassle. Try putting everything you need for diaper changes in a basket with a handle so you can easily move it around the house. Diapers, wipes, creams, soothers, even a change of clothes, can be kept in this basket so you can get to it quickly when nature calls.When creating a diaper basket or a travelling cart on wheels, remember to keep it simple. Only put in the most essential items that you need or else you’ll get overwhelmed and spend more time picking through the basket or cart. Remember, less is always more.
Organizing Clothes
For many parents, one of the most overwhelming aspects of organizing is sorting through the mountains of baby clothes. Maybe you received clothing as a gift and hang onto it simply because you feel guilty. Suggestion — DON’T hang onto them! Pop items you know you will never use straight into the donation pile.Like when you were purging, keep a couple of bins in your nursery for donations, giveaways, and outgrown items. At the rate your baby grows, you’ll be swapping items in and out of your closet on a weekly basis, and you don’t want things to pile up. You want to be able to easily find items your baby can fit into rather than rummaging through clothes that are way too small or way too big.
If you prefer to see everything, hang only the items that your baby currently fits into or is about to fit into in the closet. If you prefer to have things tucked away and out of sight, the same rule applies. Store smaller items, like socks and underwear, in square containers with subdividers. Keep a minimal number of items in the nursery and keep backup or next-size items elsewhere (like in the closet or storage room), just make sure to label boxes really well (you will thank yourself later down the line).
Less is More
When it comes to organizing and making space for baby you have to decide what you want to spend your time on. Do you want to feel overwhelmed, searching for things you need? Or to feel organized, so you can relax and enjoy snuggles with the tiny little human you have waited so long to hold. Don’t let the clutter steal your time with baby; be really honest with yourself as you purge and organize. Remember, less is always more.*This information was taken from the 40 Weeks to Forever Podcast. Season 2, Episode 2: Organizing Your Home for Baby.
Guest: Megan Golightly
