So, the time has come - get ready to bust out that pastel paint and storybook-themed décor! That’s right, it’s time to start setting up and organizing the nursery! This can be an exciting point in your pregnancy, but it can also be extremely overwhelming. We at littlebeam understand how stressful it can feel adding the nursery to-dos when you have a million other things to worry about... but what could end up being more frustrating is bringing home your baby and realizing that the nursery isn’t cutting it. Organizing your baby’s room will spare you and your family the pain of not having what you need when you need it.
“Honey, where are the baby wipes?”
“Where did I put those diapers? They were right here!”
“Mom, I can’t find the bottle you were looking for!”
‘A place for everything and everything in its place,’ (Benjamin Frankin) is a great mantra to hold your nursery to. When the baby’s clothes and diapers have their own specific place, it can make a world of difference during chaotic moments. At littlebeam, we want to help all new and expecting parents create the most efficient and comfortable nursery without getting lost in the clutter!
A place for the simple. There are hundreds, dare I says thousands, of baby resources that list off the same basic nursery must-haves that are listed below. It’s repetitive because it really is all you need! All organized nurseries call for:
- Crib or bassinet
- Flat and firm mattress with fitted sheets
- Chair
- Nightstand large enough to hold bottles, pump, diaper bags, etc.
- littlebeam Nursing Pillow for mom (do not place in crib or with baby alone)
- Dresser/Clothes Storage
- One large trash bin (like one for a kitchen) or two smaller trash bins
- Diaper changing station
- Nursery storage (bins, stackable drawers, caddies)
- Nursery shelves
That’s it! Well besides needing to get a million diapers and wipes, but we don’t need to tell you about the diaper tower all expecting parents have built. Save yourself the headache of having more than you need in the beginning. As long as you can reach for the wipes without going through 30 toys your newborn can’t play with yet, then you’re good to go!
A place for the organized. Now that you have all of the basics, you’re going to need to find a place for them. One solid system is to organize things into different stations. Moveable and easy to carry nursery storage, like totes and caddies are perfect for this. Here are a couple station ideas that can get you started:
- Diaper changing station- diapers, wipes, diaper ointments and creams, changing pads, trash bin and bags, extra clothes, hand sanitizer/sanitizing wipes
- Bathing station- small plastic baby tub, small cup, baby soap, washcloths, towels, baby lotion, baby comb/brush
- Pumping station- breast pump, pump accessories, hands-free pumping bra (not all breastfeeding bras allow hands-free pumping), littlebeam Nursing Pillow/anything else that makes parent comfortable while pumping, supplements and lactation snacks, water, pump accessory wipes/alcohol wipes
- Feeding station- littlebeam Nursing Pillow/anything else that makes the parent comfortable, baby bottles, bottle warmer, water, pumped milk/formula
- Going out station- diaper bag prefilled with diapers, wipes, changing pads, bag to put dirty diapers in case there’s no trash bin, diaper ointments and creams, bottles, blanket, littlebeam Nursing Pillow, sunscreen, extra clothes, contact info
To divide and conquer is a great way to tackle the numerous things you’ll have to worry about and juggle with nursery organization as a new parent. “Where are the baby wipes, you ask? Diaper station on the nursery shelf, of course.”
A place to keep it going! Try whatever works best to remind you and your family to keep the nursery organized. It’s important to keep the habit going and having your support system on the same page with the nursery set up is very important. Everyone will be grateful for it, especially during those late-night crying fits and feeding sessions!
Always remember: “A place for everything and everything in its place”… sometimes! This isn’t a perfect world and there are no perfect parents, so it’s okay if things get messy and cluttered at times! It’s all a part of parenthood.
