When you become a new parent, you already have to make a lot of adjustments, let alone changing your life. Your focus is your little one and everything else becomes less important.
When a baby comes into your life, even though you are prepared life still seems like a mess. You can’t seem to figure out how to handle everything all at once.
However, we are here to help make that process a little smooth and relaxing. Tips with which you can make life much easier when taking care of a newborn and adjusting to a crying baby, constant diaper changes and lack of sleep.
“Having a baby is one of those life-changing events that adds so much to your life but also creates a need to organize and adapt,” says Debbie Rosemont, a Sammamish-based professional organizer. Whether it’s your 1st or 4th child, you need to get your home prepared for a new baby’s arrival. Getting this done before you bring your baby home will make your life much easier as you care for your newborn.
- Get It Done Before You Bring Your Baby Home
When you get home from the hospital you might still be very overwhelmed to do anything. The last thing you would want to do is make yourself do unnecessary work. Don’t put off these important ways to prepare your home for the new baby. You’ll be happy you got it all complete before you have your baby there with you. This is the first step towards organizing. Even if you haven’t done it before your baby comes, it’s never too late.
- PREPARE FOR YOUR POSTPARTUM RECOVERY
When you’re pregnant, you will find a ton of information on what is happening to your belly, there are books and what not to educate you on birth and your child. What remains a mystery is postpartum recovery. The real truth is, having a baby changes you a lot physically and mentally. Your body changes and it takes time to heal. So plan for your postpartum recovery period and gather all the essentials you’ll need. Put together a postpartum basket with items that will give you relief and help you heal quickly.
- Have many of your most used things, don’t rely on one.
In the starting weeks, your hands will always be full with one thing or another. You would either be holding, rocking, feeding, changing, snuggling, or playing, you’ll be constantly busy. Going back and forth between rooms or up and downstairs can be a nuisance, as well as a big waste of time. It’s way better to keep each of everything everywhere at all times. It saves time and effort.
- Create Stations Throughout Your Home
Your home should be the most comfortable space for you. start to create organized spaces to make life easier for yourself. This includes having stations (feeding, diapering, sleeping) set up and rooms organized for maximum convenience. Every station will have all the things necessary in one small little area. This makes things so much easier than searching all over for an item when you need it! In each room of your house you will probably need a station for what you will be doing there. For example, your bathroom will need a postpartum station, your kitchen will need a bottle station, your bedroom will need a feeding/late night station, your living room will need a changing station, and many more. You can also make appropriate stations according to your requirements.
- Baskets and Storage Bins will be your first choice
In order to create these stations, you’ll need baskets, storage bins, or organizer caddies. This helps to keep everything you need in one little area. While trying to be organised keeping things stored will only help you better.
- Wash and Sanitize All Newborn Items Before Use
You will have this constant fear of your baby getting in contact with something unhygienic. Hence, you’ll want to wash and clean all the new items of your baby. Wash the clothes, fabric covers or all the baby gear, blankets, sheets, etc.
- CREATE DIAPERING STATIONS IN EACH LEVEL OF YOUR HOUSE
Once you are home with the baby and still recovering from childbirth, the last thing you want to do is go up and down the stairs when it’s time to change baby’s diaper. You will be changing a lot of diapers and you wouldn’t want to increase the workload hence make it easy on yourself by having a changing station in each level of your home.
The main diapering station can be in the baby’s nursery and then use a pack bag with a changing table for other rooms. It makes diaper changes quick and easy – saving you time and unnecessary effort!
- STOCKPILE ESSENTIALS
The runs to the grocery store will take quite a bit of time and effort when you have to take a baby with you. Stockpile on essentials you need, so you don’t have to run to the store every other day. Keep a list of essentials with you at all times so you are never out of them.
- WAKE UP EARLY AND GET READY
For many new parents, self care and keeping yourself tidy would be a task. Try to get as much sleep as you can and wake up early. This will give you plenty of time to take care of yourself. You have to be fresh for you to take care of your baby.
- DO A 15 MINUTE POWER CLEAN UP EVERY NIGHT BEFORE YOU GO TO BED
Cleaning and maintaining a clean, organized home is much easier than spending a weekend cleaning and organizing.
Every night set your phone timer for 15 minutes and both you and your partner will try to pick up items from the floor, the couches, load the dishwasher and clean the kitchen counters. Give this power cleaning hack a try. It really works. You’ll be amazed at how much you can truly do in 15 minutes. This will keep a fixed schedule for you to know when you keep things in order.
- USE A PLANNER
One of the best organizing tips for new parents is to use a planner to plan out your day and week. Use it to plan meals, your appointments and other important tasks that need to get done, even with a new baby in tow. Also use your daily planner sheet to write down the top three priorities every day that needs your attention and time. A well written list to do helps to keep you aware about your life and commitments.
- TACKLE THE NURSERY AND BABY’S CLOSET ORGANIZATION
Lastly, you need to organise all your baby’s stuff in one place. Keep a well designated place for your little one’s clothes and products. You need to make sure all the items are in a hygienic surrounding and kept neatly.
These are not the only steps you can follow to have an organised life. You can feel free to do whatever makes you comfortable. Just remember, you have to have a proper schedule in mind to make this work.
Happy Organising!