Home Organization Tips

As the birth of our third child rapidly approaches, it suddenly seems like a good time to start making room for baby. Although I’m not a first-time parent, I’m still amazed by how the clothing and paraphernalia of such a tiny being can take up almost as much space as my full-sized ‘grown-up’ clothing. And yet, while this is likely to remain one of the greatest mysteries of all time, I find myself left with no choice but to banish my face cream, extra shampoo and makeup bag to make space in the bathroom for Balmex, wipes and baby lotion.
When my first daughter was born, it was relatively easy to make room for all of her things. We just dumped it all into the new nursery and called it a day. When my second daughter was born, it was a bit more challenging, since we’d already accumulated a warehouse-worthy amount of dolls, books and clothing. Luckily, we had enough space to put both girls in the same room, so I just shoved everything aside and made way for more. But now…the girls’ room is busting at the seams and the playroom has runneth over. Where will all of the new things go?
The primary places where I’ve come to stash baby supplies are in the playroom, the baby’s bedroom and the bathroom where I bathe and change the baby. So I figure that to make room for another one, the best way to start is by cleaning out those areas. After thinking about it for a while, I’ve actually realized that it may not be that difficult to make room after all- by itemizing a list of things that can be moved or discarded, I’ve discovered a wealth of space that I never knew I had!

- Make room for baby’s diapers, creams and medicines in the bathroom by cleaning out your bathroom cabinet (a good thing to do on occasion even if you’re not expecting a baby). Discard all expired items to make space for new ones.
- Move extra toiletries and supplies into your linen closet, or make room for them on a shelf in your clothes closet. It’s always frustrating to finish baby’s bath and realize that you don’t have a clean diaper handy. Making sure that you have enough space in your cabinet to accommodate a stack of diapers will preclude this frustration.
- Consider moving your own toiletries and bathroom accessories to a higher shelf and placing baby’s belongings on lower shelves. Chances are that when you’re changing or cleaning your baby, you’ll be on the floor or at waist level, and your life will be significantly easier if everything you need is easily accessible.
- Create extra space in the playroom by removing any toys or games that are broken or whose pieces have mysteriously disappeared over time.
- Toys or dolls that your older children don’t like to play with (especially ones that make annoying noises) can likely be removed as well, and donated to children in need or to the local thrift shop. Don’t feel obligated to save every doll for your next baby’s enjoyment- he or she will likely receive many of his own stuffed animals. (And he’ll never know what he’s missing, in any event).
- Donate or dispose of any old baby clothes that you probably won’t reuse for your next child, to make room for the new baby’s wardrobe. If you don’t know the gender of your baby, this task may be especially difficult, if not impossible. However, many parents have saved their children’s stained and stretched out clothing in the hopes that one day they’ll be worn again. I can tell you from firsthand experience that faced with a choice between a beloved but battered outfit and new clothing that may not be the most adorable, I’d sooner dress my newborn in an outfit that does not look worn, shabby or stained. Removing damaged clothing from your baby’s possible repertoire now will not only make more room for new clothing, but will make the daily clothing selection process significantly easier in the future.

Preparing for a baby (or another baby) is an extremely exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming. Breaking it down into manageable tasks will enable you to realize that just as you will never run out of love for your child, you will also never run out of space.

Posted on March 19th, 2007 by Sarah
Filed under: Household Management