7 Ways to Organize Your Home Before Your Baby Arrives

This month JAM Organizing presents another informative article from a guest blogger. Enjoy!

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​Having a baby on the way is an exciting and memorable time for the whole family. However, whether it's your first or fourth kid, things will change after your baby arrives - especially your daily routines and habits. You'll sleep less, have less free time to see your friends, and definitely have less time to organize and clean and organize your home. This doesn't mean you have to watch your house fall apart after giving birth. Instead, use the time before your baby arrives to prepare. To help you with that, we've compiled a list of tasks to help get your home organized before your baby arrives. 

1. ​Organize A Big Cleaning

Before the baby arrives, have a "spring cleaning" to clean and organize your home. Start by banding together and making a list of everything that could use a clean. The future mother-to-be can choose which tasks she feels up to, with the family helping with the remainder. Or, better yet, hire it out! It's important not to miss any corners, skip rooms, or skip tasks. When the baby comes, you won't have time to vacuum behind the furniture and scrub the bathroom until it sparkles. 

Clean your home as thoroughly and and with as much attention to detail as possible. Who knows when you’re going to have the time to do it again!

2. Get Rid Of The Things You Don't Need

Transitions are the ideal moment to reflect on your possessions and eliminate anything that no longer need, want, use, or love. So, use this time to, for example, divide your clothing into categories and tackle each group one at a time, addressing each with a fresh perspective — will you wear this as a mom? Or, you can use a similar approach to other things in your home - do I need this coaster/book/knick-knack?

3. ​Make a New Cleaning Schedule

To prepare for the baby's arrival, make a list as a family of the cleaning jobs that have to be done in your home on a weekly basis. This includes things like cleaning dishes, cleaning bathrooms, mopping floors, doing laundry, and so on. Then, divide all these responsibilities in a way that nothing gets forgotten. Cleaning and keeping your house sorted is and should be a joint effort, and everyone in the family should be involved. If your schedules don't allow for enough time to finish all the cleaning and organizing, consider hiring a cleaner that would come in a few times to help tidy up. 

Keeping your house clean and clutter-free is essential, not only for hygienic reasons but also for your better mental health. Living in a clean, organized home can reduce your stress and help you relax more easily.

It’s important to make a cleaning schedule that the entire family can stick to, as that helps you organize your home before your baby arrives.

4. Organize The Nursery

When setting up the nursery for your newborn, an important consideration is safety! The baby's toys should be kept away from the sleeping area to avoid possible choking hazards. Place your changing table next to where your baby sleeps to make the transition from one to the other easier. Don't overdo it! Moving the changing table or other big pieces of furniture by yourself can lead to back pain. If you do experience pain, consider doing some pregnancy lower back pain relief exercises to help you be more comfortable. When it comes to organizing the nursery, don't forget to sort through the baby's closet. Use drawer dividers and hanging storage shelves to organize and maximize the space.

5. Set Up A Quiet Area For Nursing

​When organizing your home to accommodate the needs of of a new little one, consider creating a private space for nursing or bottle feeding. Feeding a baby is a great bonding moment, so why not make it as comfortable as possible? Make sure it's stocked with the right cushions, a book or two, and a water bottle to stay hydrated.

Make sure the nursery is finished before the baby arrives.

6. Wash And Sanitize All Baby's Items

​Everything that your infant will come in touch with should be washed and cleaned, whether new or used. So, before the baby arrives, wash all of the baby's clothing, fabric coverings, blankets, sheets, and other items. Ensure all bottles, nipples, and pump parts are clean and sanitized. Finally, wipe down all baby equipment and furniture with sanitizing wipes.

​7. Start Baby-Proofing Your Home

​Don't put off baby-proofing until your child is crawling; it will happen faster than you think! Instead, get started now. Cover all sharp edges and electrical outlets around your home before your baby even arrives. Then, block off dangerous parts of your home and put away possibly toxic items. Pay attention to the cleaning supplies stored beneath the bathroom sink, in a kitchen cabinet, or strewn around the rest of the house. Gather them all together and store them away from tiny hands. Put them in a basement cupboard or a storage container that you can lock up fully. Most importantly, keep these chemicals above the reach of babies and toddlers, making it difficult for them to get them, even if a lock or a latch is forgotten.

​Final Thoughts

New babies are very exciting, and there's a lot to do to prepare. Taking the extra time to clean and organize your home before the baby arrives will reduce stress and give you more relaxed time to spend with your little one!

​​Happy Organizing!

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