Having a baby? Congratulations! It’s an exciting time but it can also be exhausting.  If you need help, Stacey Agin Murray of Organized Artistry is here to offer a few pre-baby organizing tips to assist in creating a clutter-free environment for you and your new arrival.
Sort and Purge
Get rid of the old to make room for the new. Â Sort and purge through clutter in your:
- Closets: Discard or donate clothes no longer worn or usable. Make sure the remaining clothes fit and flatter you and are easily accessible. There’s little time for dressing when your baby is crying!
- Kitchen cabinets: Purge cabinets and relocate anything you use infrequently to make room for bottles, baby food and sippy cups.
- Linen closet or bathroom: Toss expired medicine and remove worn linens to make room for baby’s linens and medical supplies.
Create Lists
Is your womb-mate depleting you of your brain cells? Write down everything you need to recall. Here are examples of lists you’ll want to create prior to your due date:
- To-Do List: There’s so much to do! Keeping a to-do list will help you to focus on what must get accomplished before baby arrives.
- Gift list: Create a gift list so tracking presents and writing thank yous will be a less chaotic task. Â Designate one place to store it so you can find it when the UPS guy shows up. (or, if you use a Deposit a Gift registry, the thank you note tracker is built right into your Gift Manager chart.)
- Birth announcement list: Sending out announcements? Generate an address list of people you’d like to send an announcement to.  The addressing of the envelopes will be a perfect task to delegate after the baby arrives.
- Guest list: If you’re having a religious or non-religious post-birth celebration create a list of people you wish to invite along with their contact information.
Set up a filing system for your child’s papers
Not only do babies create a lot of dirty diapers–they also create a lot of paperwork. Examples of files for new baby are:
- Birth certificate/Social Security card
- Medical records/Pediatrician notes
- Bank account/College savings account information
- Baby equipment instruction booklets
Buy bins/tubs/bags
Purchase a minimum of 5-7 bins large enough for ample storage but small enough for you to lift if necessary. Label them as follows: 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 months, etc.
People are going to give your child clothing as a gift. You may also receive hand-me-downs from friends or relatives. If the clothes you receive don’t fit your newborn yet, place them into the bin marked with the appropriate size for future use.
If you don’t have the space for bins/tubs, use Ziploc brand L-XXL bags for storage. They can be easily stored under a bed or at the top or bottom of your child’s closet.
Getting organized is essential as you prepare for the arrival of a new baby. With this list in hand, you’ll be able to find what you need when you need it—quickly—and even in the dark!
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Stacey Agin Murray, owner of Organized Artistry, LLC is a Professional Organizer in Fair Lawn, NJ offering residential organizing services from attic to basement and every space in between. She is the author of 7 Steps to an Organized Wedding Thank You Note, a quick-reference guide for the overwhelmed bride. To learn more about getting organized go to www.organizedartistry.com. Visit Stacey’s blog or Facebook page.
