You’ll be run off your feet during the first few weeks of parenthood, but making sure you can find everything you need will help make this busy time a lot easier. In this article, Lisa Lyons from Plastic Box Shop shares her tips for organising your nursery, so you can focusing on enjoying this precious time as much as possible.
Note: Please be careful to follow the latest government advice when shopping for your new nursery.
Being a new parent is wonderful, but it can also be tough and a little bit lonely at times. Every waking hour is spent looking after your newborn and, if you do manage to find a few spare seconds, you’re often forced to spend them tidying up. But by organising your nursery in the right way, you can make your day-to-day activities much more efficient, which should hopefully leave you with more time to spend bonding with your new bundle of joy — or, just to have a few quiet moments to yourself!
So, below I’ll be giving you some nursery organisation tips that can help save you time and make life as a new parent a little bit easier.
Build an essentials kit and keep it topped up
First things first: work out what your essential items are, and place them somewhere that’s easy to access. Keep a large kit box or basket topped up with all the things you use every day in your nursery — like baby wipes, muslin cloths, and nappies — so you know where to find them if you need them, and put less frequently used items away in cupboards, drawers, and storage boxes. This will save you from running all over the room whenever you need to change, feed, or soothe your baby: you can just grab your box and go.
To make your kit even more organised, you could separate the contents into smaller baskets or boxes inside one larger container, to save you from needing to rifle through lots of stuff when you’ve got a fussy baby in your arms. It will also make it much easier to see how much of everything you’ve got left, so you’ll be less likely to run out of baby wipes right in the middle of a nappy change!
Store items in order of importance
If you can, it’s best to purchase plenty of nappies, rompers, and baby clothes in advance and organise them in their drawers or storage boxes according to size. If you put the bigger sizes in first and lay the smaller sizes on top, you can simply lift them out as your bundle of joy grows and have the next size up ready to go. This method also works for their toys and accessories: you could store them according to their recommended age or how frequently they play with them, with the most pressing items to the fore.
Divide up your drawers
You can also use trays, tubs, or dividers to prevent things from getting mixed up in your drawers. By using these, you can further compartmentalise all your baby’s shirts, socks and sleepwear, allowing you to simply reach in and grab what you need without having to rummage for it. For example, you can keep long sleeved and short sleeves tops separate to make them easier to find. You’ll also find it easier to see when you’re running low.
Get the most out of your changing table
Most baby changing tables come with drawers or shelving underneath, so make sure you’re taking advantage of this storage space. You can use it to keep a supply of nappies, wipes, creams, lotions, a toy, and a spare change of clothes all within arm’s reach. Not only does this save you time, but it’s safer as you’ll never need to turn away from your baby when they’re laid on the changing mat.
Turn unused space into storage opportunities
You can also find new opportunities for storage by making the most of awkward spaces. For example, you can use dead space under the crib or cot by finding boxes that fit under it. Even low cots will have a shallow gap underneath where you can store flat items like packs of disposable nappies and baby wipes. By storing these extra supplies out of the way, you’ll be keeping surfaces clear that can be used on an ad-hoc basis throughout the day. Plus, keeping the nursery tidy and clutter-free will also help you feel less stressed.
Store things properly to avoid accidents
Making sure things are organised not only saves you time, but it can also help keep you and your baby safe. As your baby grows and starts to explore the world around them through touch, you’ll need to be careful to store small loose items in boxes and tubs with lids on, so grabbing or crawling babies can’t easily find and interact with them. This should prevent your child from eating something they shouldn’t, choking on small items, or just making a mess!
Once your baby is old enough to play on the floor with their toys, you might want to get a couple of large open bins, tubs, or baskets to store their stuff in. This will help to keep the floor free from tripping hazards, and it’s makes tidying up so much easier.
These tips should help to make your day to day life a bit more straightforward when caring for your new arrival. And, it will help to ensure your nursery is a tidy, calming space for you and your little one, too.
Grow (Short Sleeve)
Clothing Type
Grows (Short Sleeve)
Grows (Short Sleeve)
Grows (Short Sleeve)
