7 Ways to Organize and Declutter Before Your Baby Arrives

The apparel in your closet is in rainbow order, your refrigerator is immaculate and grouped, the novels on your bookshelves are alphabetized, your snacks and seasonings in the pantry are organized and labeled in glass jars, and mostly all of your kitchen gadgets are stored in specific bins. Perfect! You have organization essentials covered; however, when you become a mommy-to-be, you will have a lot to juggle. From announcing your pregnancy to a maternity photoshoot to a possible gender reveal gathering, and to designing the perfect nursery, it is imperative to sort and arrange your home so that you have access to everything you need.

Preparing for your baby’s arrival can seem overwhelming, but do not be afraid, we have got you covered. Aforementioned, now that you are about to be a new mom, you will have to declutter and organize items so that they will be most convenient for you, the daddy-to-be, and your newborn baby. Getting this done before the arrival of your baby will make your transition much easier as you care for your bundle of joy! It is critical that you modify your home to provide the most convenience for your growing household.

Below are seven important ways and tips to help you become more organized and decluttered before your baby’s arrival.

1. Organizing Baby Clothing

After you have unpacked and unloaded the countless baby shower gifts and clothing, organizing the baby’s apparel in the nursery is a priority. You will first want to sort sizes. You will need to prepare for what your newborn (size 0-3 months) will wear, but also want to sort and arrange the rest of their clothing. Keep the rest of the baby gear in a separate place. An option is using clear plastic bins with dividers. You should sort them into size groups (3-6, 6-9, 9-12, and so on). The bins can also be kept if you want to save outfits for a future sibling. We cannot stress enough to label, label, label. Labeling makes it easier to get baby clothes out quickly and will help you remember where you placed everything.

Lastly, you will need to decide if you want to hang or fold. To be honest, most mommy-to-be’s select to do both. We recommend that you hang dresses, jackets, matching outfits, and sweaters while folding onesies, pants, and pajamas.

2. Wash and Sanitize All Newborn Items

It is a necessity that you wash and thoroughly clean all new items that your baby will come in contact with regardless of if it is old or new. You will want to sanitize and sterilize bottles, nipples, and breast pump parts. Before the first use, sterilize the bottles and nipples in boiling water for five minutes. Make sure to wash these items in hot soapy water or dishwasher after the first use.

3. Line Up the Lovely Linens

You may not believe this is important; however, with a baby coming soon, your linen closet will be full of innumerable baby items, including hand towels, washcloths, bath towels, crib sheets, burp cloths, changing pad covers, and cloth diapers if you choose to use them. It is time to declutter old towels, bedsheets, and blankets, and make space for your baby’s linen necessities. If possible, separate your items in the closet for your new babies. To utilize space, we recommend using baskets for smaller items and tightly folding all linens and towels. If you opt-out to not use the linen closet, you can add a utility cart and find a spot to keep it in the nursery.

4. Baby-Proofing

While it will be several months until your baby can crawl and scoot around, there are still baby-proofing tasks you will need to complete to keep your baby safe. It will be easier to prepare now before you are tired, overwhelmed, and sleep-deprived. Use a baby-proofing checklist to secure your home and prepare for emergencies. It is also important to install smoke detectors on every level of your home and purchase a fire extinguisher and learn how to use it.

5. Prepare for Future Needs

When you become a new mommy you will want to prepare for your future needs. You should stock up on household essentials including paper towels, paper plates (fewer dishes to worry about), laundry detergent, soap, toilet paper, and a wide arrange of cleaning products. In conjunction with baby-proofing, make sure you do not leave cleaning supplies under the sink, rather possibly lock them in the cabinet or storage bin in the basement. Make it impossible for your little one to reach any chemicals or cleaning agents, including storing them high up.

6. Make Space for the Refrigerator, Freezer, and Pantry

You will want to prepare, cook, and freeze meals. Meals are a necessity and most likely you will not have the energy to cook three nutritious meals each day. The pregnant blogger, Tory Stender, once blogged, “When I’m closer to my due date, I plan on decluttering and tidying out the freezer and pantry so that I can have it stocked with prepared frozen meals. I also want to ensure we have space in case someone drops off food for us in the first weeks with the baby.” Make sure you have a well-stocked pantry with healthy snacks and simple foods.

7. Creating a Cleaning Schedule

Creating a manageable cleaning schedule will help you beyond measure. You still want to list out the most pertinent cleaning tasks, such as cleaning the bathrooms, reorganizing, laundry, and dishes. You should decipher the days you plan to incorporate them in your weeks. This will keep you organized, neat, and efficient. It is a great way to refer to what needs to be done without being overwhelmed. It will keep everything in check.

Are you ready to start organizing and decluttering?