Organizing Baby

So you’re having a baby? Congratulations! In less than nine months you will be bringing home your little bundle of joy. However, as small as they may be, they come with a whole heap of stuff. From the crib to the stroller to the car seat to the swing, the play yard and walker, your little darling can quickly take over the house. Whether it is your first or your fifth, overwhelm can set in. So what do you do with all the stuff? Where do you put it? The first thing is to determine what you need immediately and what can be stored momentarily. Keep in mind that which is age appropriate for the child at the moment. You can always store the extras in a garage, a car port, a spare closet or even a corner in a room. Depending on your space the larger items are best kept in their boxes because they will be easier to store. It’s hard to stack a baby swing on top of a walker when it’s not in the box. In the bedroom, hanging shelves in the child’s closet is a great place to keep extra diapers and wipes and clothing and stuffed toys, etc. That keeps it close enough at hand to replenish when needed but not out in the open where it can look like clutter. As for the apparatus, try to use only one at a time. If you don’t have a lot of space, use either the play yard or the swing or the walker. You don’t have to use them all. Find what you and your child like best and use that piece. You can always switch them out as necessary. As for the toys the best thing is to try and keep them in one room. Once that is decided, keep one basket or trunk or drawer where you can house all of those things. Keep it contained and it won’t take over your space. The down side of children is the extended family. When they visit they always feel the need to bring a present (usually another toy or stuffed animal). Therefore, they end up with more and more toys. That doesn’t mean they need all of those toys. It is up to you to decide what they have. They will play with what they own and be very happy about it. Don’t fall into the trap of keeping things just because so and so gave it to you. In addition, as they grow out of their toys just know that it is okay to pass them along to someone else or to donate them. That makes room for their current toys and doesn’t overtake the space.