Organized New Mom Tip # 21: Place Baby’s Outdoor Necessities by the Door

How many times do you rush out the door with the carrier along with a handful of other miscellaneous necessities only to realize a mile from home that you forgot your baby’s sun hat for the park? Designate a spot right by the door reserved ONLY for Baby’s outdoor essentials so you can quickly pick and choose what your little one needs on the way out.

Be vigilant about keeping these important items organized and at your fingertips; when you get home make an effort to put everything back in its place so they’re ready to go for your next excursion. It’s also important to keep it simple, as most everyday baby items such as diapers and hand sanitizer are better kept in the diaper bag (See Tip #4). As the seasons change, so does what your baby needs when you leave the house. Below are some suggestions for what to keep handy:

Warm Weather

·         Sun Hat

·         Baby Sunglasses

·         Baby Sunscreen (both the stick and the lotion)

·         Insect Repellant

·         Light Sweater

·         Rain Jacket

Cold Weather

·         Heavy Coat

·         Warm Hat

·         Mittens

·         Fleece Jacket

·         Boots

·         Extra Blanket

This is a tip that only becomes more useful as your baby grows into toddlerhood, so it’s better to establish it now so it becomes a good household habit.

Organized New Mom Tip # 20: Wear layers

Getting drooled on, spit on, or pooped on is part of the territory when it comes to new motherhood, but that doesn’t mean you have to walk around with baby remnants or a burp cloth on your shoulder while you’re out with your little one.

While I’m not saying you should be ashamed of wearing baby spit-up (heck, I wore it like a badge of honor) , I am saying that it’s good to be prepared in case the situation-at-hand calls for a spotless shirt. Wearing a couple of layers makes it easier to accomplish this goal.

I had a beloved light hoodie that I wore most of the time that pretty much went into the wash at the end of each day. I usually wore a t-shirt under that and then a cami tank under that. That gave Baby 3 shots to destroy my ensemble before I was forced to change. If I was out and about and Will decided to dive bomb me, I would just peel the layer off, roll it up, and throw it in the diaper bag. It was much easier than trying to clean up the mess on the spot.

You don’t have to be gross like me and wear the same clothing every day. Stores like Old Navy and Target sell tons of clothes with layering options, and they’re usually found at great deals so they’re cheap to replace.