Some of you may have heard that my husband and I welcomed a beautiful baby girl into our family back in April.  We love every minute of this new thing called “parenthood,” but are also learning many new things about life.  One of these things is how much more work it takes to stay organized with a baby in the family.  I would say that I am a naturally organized person and have been for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until we brought our baby girl home that I realized just how important being oganized is.

There is just so much more stuff…toys, clothes, blankets, bibs, diapers,wipes and the endless gifts & hand-me-downs from family and friends.  Don’t get me wrong, we are super thankful for everything that we have been given, but with new things constantly coming into our home, it is so crucial that I take the time to purge & organize on a regular basis.  For all of you new moms out there – here are a few simple ideas on how I have learned to be organized these past 7 months:

1. Create a home for everything – In my daughter’s bedroom, I have designated each dresser drawer for different items (i.e. socks in the top drawer, pants in another drawer, burp clothes in another, etc.  I also have cute baskets under my changing table that hold items like diapers, wipes, changing pad covers and the like. (See photo above) Additionally, in her closet I have these really cute organizers that I use to arrange her clothes by size (0-3 months, 3-6 months…).  I also have specific bins/baskets for her toys, blankets and books.

2. Establish a regular  “tidy time” –  I have learned that if I don’t take 5-10 minutes each evening to tidy things up, my house would be a disaster.  I love taking a few minutes every night after dinner to put everything back into its “home.”   It is so nice to go to bed with a clean house, but it is also wonderful to wake up and start each day in a neat and tidy space.

3. Schedule in time to get your “to-do” list done – Having a baby makes your days much more unpredictable than they once were.  It is really important for me to mark off time in my calendar to get certain things done.  If I don’t schedule in time to do the laundry, grocery shop, and other errands, I would probably never get these things done.  Remember, it is okay and necessary to ask for help when you need it!

4. Take time to purge regularly – Babies outgrow clothes and toys all the time.  If you are planning to have more kids, then I would recommend containing and labeling those outgrown items and storing them.  If you are not planning to have more kids, take time to purge and then donate or consign those items you no longer use.  With each holiday and birthday, I recommend taking time to encourage your child to let go of a few toys before bringing his or her new toys into their room.  This way you are never accumulating too much stuff and you are teaching your kids how wonderful it is to give.

I would love to hear your ideas & tips on how to be an organized mom, so please feel free to share your ideas with us in the comments section on this blog post, on our Facebook page or send us an email through our website. We’ll compile some of your best tips and post them either in the blog or on the Facebook page. Here’s to New Moms, Vetran Moms and those who support Moms in various ways – to your organized life!