Having a baby is undoubtedly one of the best feelings in the world but it comes with a lot of responsibilities and changes your everyday habits. Not only do you need to adjust to your little one’s sleeping and eating routine but you also need to keep all your baby’s stuff arranged and organized.
Keeping your baby clothes properly organized is one of the most important things as it reduces the clutter and helps you find things easily when needed. That’s where the storage strategy comes into place.
If you’re a first time mom and often feel overwhelmed to organize your dresser drawers while arranging those little socks, bodysuits, pajamas, burp clothes, etcetera, then you’ve come to the right place.
This guide, which consists of three sections, will help you to maximize the space of your dresser by organizing your baby’s clothes properly. So, let’s get started.
Section 1: Prepare to Organize Baby’s Clothes
We all know that baby clothes are small which makes it very challenging to store them and your drawer or closet can easily become a mess if you don’t follow the right storing methods.
That’s why we have compiled a list of some easy tips and tricks that will allow you to create a proper organizational system before storing them.
Figure Out What You Need to Use Daily
Most babies need to go through multiple outfits within a single day depending upon their level of drool, spit-ups. You’ll need to use items such as pants, onesies, sweaters, diapers, socks, and so on multiple times a day. So, storing them in a place that is easily accessible is important.
You can use the top drawers of your dresser for such items. You’ll also need to use a trash bin for used diapers and keeping one nearby will come in handy as well.
Don’t Wash All the Clothes Right Away
The finish that manufacturers put on clothes can be harmful and irritating to the ultra-sensitive skin of babies. That’s why it’s recommended to wash everything before using but you don’t need to do it right away.
New parents receive all types of clothes and other baby items from relatives and friends and you might not be able to use all of them. In the early months, babies grow very fast and you can have a pile of unused clothes. But if they’re in their original packing, you can make returns.
Therefore, you should only wash those clothes that you’re planning to use and keep the other ones packed and store them with their receipts in a dedicated drawer.
Understand Sizing
Understanding the sizing of baby clothes is also important as it can be inconsistent and confusing. Many manufacturers mentioned the sizes by age range like 0 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, and 6 to 9 months.
On the other hand, some manufacturers also use a single number like 6 months. According to the general rule, this number represents the maximum age of wearing. So, if you buy or receive an outfit for your baby that states “6 months”, then it’ll suit 3 to 6 months old babies.
It’s important to note that these numbers are nothing more than a rough guideline because each baby grows at a different rate. So, there’s nothing to worry about if your 8 or 9 months old baby can still wear clothes with a 6 months number.
You can use the following guidelines to organize your baby’s clothes depending upon their size.
- Category 1: 3 months, 0 to 3 months, or newborn
- Category 2: 6 months or 0 to 6 months
- Category 3: 12 months, 9 to 12 months, 9 months, 6 to 12 months, 6 to 9 months
- Category 4: 18 months or 12 to 18 months
- Category 5: 2T, 24 months, or 18 to 24 months
Maximize Dresser or Closet Space
Storing jackets, dresses, shirts, and outfits in your baby’s dresser or closet is an excellent way to ensure easy access. You can organize these items by their size to reach and pick exactly what you need without spending time searching.
You want to make sure that you utilize every inch of available space in your dresser or closet. Don’t forget to utilize the closet door space where you can add shelves, containers, and baskets to store extra diapers, socks, or other random items.
Consider Different Seasons
If you are having a baby in spring or summer and someone gave you winter clothes, then it’s highly likely that you won’t be able to use them. That’s because your baby will be too big to wear in the coming winter. In such a scenario, you’d want to return such clothes to free up some space. But whatever you do, don’t store them in your drawer.
Other than that, dividing all the available clothes by season and storing them in separate containers or drawers is also important. You don’t want to put both swimsuits and fleece layers in the same place.
Use Storage Bins
Using storage bins for items that are no longer usable is also a great way to organize clothes. You can use plastic bins or cardboard boxes to store clothes that your baby can’t wear anymore and if you’re done having babies then consider donating them.
On the other hand, consider using a separate bin to store clothes that tend to run big and place them in your storeroom. In simple words, you want to be sure that you use your drawers only for the current clothes that your baby wears.
Section 2: Folding Baby Clothes for Optimal Space Utilization
Folding all the baby clothes can be a time consuming task but it’ll allow you to fit more clothing in a small space. In this section, we’ll discuss general folding rules along with the techniques to fold each type of garment. It’ll definitely help you to save a lot of time and effort in the long run.
General Rules for Folding
Consider keeping an eye on the following rules to have your baby’s nursery organized.
- Use a flat and clean surface to make the folding process easy.
- Flatten each garment before folding.
- Create a stack of folded clothes and make sure it stands up on its own.
- Make sure that there is some space left at the top after placing the clothes in your dresser drawers.
- Don’t forget to place different types of clothes in different compartments.
How to Fold Different Types of Garments?
We recommend you use the following methods to fold each type of garment to organize baby clothes.
Shirts
You can use the following method to fold shirts, sweaters, and hooded sweatshirts.
- Fold one side of the shirt after flattening and removing wrinkles.
- Fold one of the sleeves back over the first fold you made.
- Repeat the process for the other side and sleeve.
- Now, all there’s left is to fold the shirt into thirds.
Pants
The following method can be used for pants, pajamas, and shorts.
- Remove if there are any wrinkles in the pants and then lay them flat
- Fold one leg of the pants over the other and make sure that the crotch is properly tucked in.
- Now fold the pants in half.
- You can also fold them 2 to 3 times if you want them to stand straight up.
Onesies
Folding the long sleeve onesies is the most challenging task but that won’t be the case if you use the following method.
- Lay a onesie flat and remove wrinkles and fold it inwards lengthwise before ticking the sleeves in.
- Now flat it again and start at the bottom to fold it into thirds.
- Make sure that all the folds are clean and even.
- This way, you’ll be able to store the adorable, white onesies in your nursery dresser standing straight up to maximize the space.
Sleepers
Footie pajamas or sleets are also not easy to fold. The following steps will allow you to do it correctly.
- Lay a sleeper flat and fold the sleeves in.
- Now fold the two feet in half by bringing them up.
- Make a trifold by folding it over twice and your sleeper is ready to be stored in the nursery dresser or closet.
Underwear
Folding underwear is very easy but you still need to follow the right course of action.
- Lay an underwear flat.
- Make a long rectangle by folding the bottom part up.
- Now make a little square by folding it in half twice.
Socks
The usual way to fold socks is to tie a knot or fold them over each other but it can ruin the fit by stretching out. Therefore, you should use the following method.
- Place a pair of socks on top of each other.
- Fold them in half.
- Repeat the process for other pairs and create a stack.
Section 3: Nursery Dresser Organization Process
Irrespective of the size of your dresser and the number of drawers it has, it makes sense to keep the most frequently used items in the upper part. You can divide your nursery drawers in the following manner.
Top Drawers
Consider using the top nursery drawers to store the following items:
- Baby pants
- Bibs
- Burp cloths
- Diaper creams
- Mittens
- Wash clothes
- Bows
- Beanies
- Onesies both short and long sleeves
- Socks
- Shorts
- Baby shoes
Middle Drawers
In the middle drawers, you should use the following items.
- Sleepers
- Swaddle blankets
- Normal baby blankets
Bottom Drawers
In the bottom drawers, you can use the following items.
- Crib sheets
- Sleep sacks
- Mattress protectors
- Towels
- Changing pad covers
Best Nursery Dresser Organization Tips
The last thing you want to do is to spend time finding the right items when you want to change your baby’s diaper. That’s where the following organization ideas will come into place. They’ll allow you to keep yourself from frustration and save time down the road.
Empty Your Drawers
The very first step in organizing baby clothes is to empty all the drawers. You want to start with the process with a clean slate so that you can fold, sort, and arrange your baby clothes.
Empty Your Hampers
You’ll also need to empty your hampers and clean all the baby clothes. This way you’ll be able to allocate space for all the items you have and you won’t need to go through the whole process again and again.
Use Drawer Liners
Consider using drawer liners or shelf papers to line the bottom of all the drawers you have. Not only will it keep your baby clothes safe but it’ll also make your nursery look more organized and beautiful.
Categorize Your Baby’s Clothes
As discussed earlier, categorization is one of the essential steps to have a perfectly organized dresser. It also makes it easy for you to find the right item at the right time. The more specific you get, the more convenient it’ll be for you in the future. You can organize by size, type, and season.
Use Drawer Organizers
If you have a small dresser or the one you have doesn’t have many drawers then there’s nothing to worry about. Using drawer dividers is one of the best organization ideas to keep different types of items separately. You can buy drawer dividers or you make some for yourself if you’re a DIY enthusiast.
Use the Proper Folding Method
Don’t forget to use the folding or filing methods that we discussed in section 2 of this guide. It’ll help you to use the available space most optimally.
Label the Drawers
One of the best ways to find the right types of clothes on the go is to label each dresser drawer. It also comes in handy when a babysitter, grandma, or dad needs to grab something quickly from the drawers.
Personalize Your Organized Dresser
Once you have organized all the drawers, find out how you can refine them. You can make different changes according to your needs like dedicating one drawer for random items. In simple words, make sure that you have the setting and layout that works the best for you.
Happy organizing baby clothes.
Do You Need a Dresser in Your Baby’s Nursery?
There are multiple factors that you should consider while deciding whether you need a dresser in your nursery or not.
Size of Your Nursery
Deciding whether you need a dresser depends upon the size of your nursery. If it’s a small size room and you already have a closet available, then you might not need to buy a dresser. You can also go for a small dresser in that case if you really need one. Just make sure what suits your needs the best.
Consider Other Baby Items
Usually, parents start receiving too many gifts even before the baby is born. Other than small items, like bibs, socks, clothing, you’ll also need nursery furniture such as a changing table, bassinet, and rocking chair. If you can easily manage a dresser along with these items in your nursery, then buying a dresser will be a wise decision.
Determine Your Budget
Considering the price of any product is one of the most important factors and the same is the case with dressers. There are literally thousands of different types of dressers available in the market but you must buy a product that you can easily afford.
If you’re on a tight budget then you don’t need to fret because you can follow pretty much the same organization tips that we have mentioned by using a hanging closet organizer.
How to Make Dresser Drawers Smell Good?
Other than organizing baby clothes in the nursery dresser, consider using the following to experience a good smell every time you open them.
Scented Shelf Papers or Drawer Liners
Using linen scented drawer liners is very common. You can find such products easily both online and in brick-and-mortar stores.
Dryer Sheet
Both unused and used dryer sheets can work for this purpose. All you need to do is to cut a small piece depending upon the size of your drawers and place it under the liner. It’ll provide the drawers with a faint smell to offer a pleasant and fresh experience.
Potpourri
Yes, you read that right. You can use small potpourri sachets in your drawers. Make sure that you don’t use too much potpourri to keep the scent from being too overwhelming.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you organize baby clothes in a dresser?
Using drawer dividers is one of the most effective ways to utilize every inch of space. You can also categorize clothes based on their type, size, and season. Another important factor is to fold the clothes properly to place more items in a single drawer.
What is the most efficient way to organize baby clothes?
You should use the right process to keep your baby clothes organized. First, you’ll need to prepare the clothes you need to organize, fold them in the right way, and store them in different drawers for easy access.
What is a perfectly organized dresser?
Using a nursery dresser with multiple drawers is the best way to organize baby clothes. A perfectly organized dresser means that all the clothes that you need to use multiple times a day are easily accessible. It’ll save you a lot of time and effort and it’ll also help you when you need to make space for new clothes.
How to pack clothes for your newborn?
First, you’ll need to determine the clothes you need to pack, and then you’ll need to fold and place them in your bag for optimal space utilization.
