Having kids changes how your entire home looks. Forget the aesthetics and minimalism. Now you’ll have a pile of laundry in one corner, a diaper bag in the other, and toys scattered all over the floor. Sometimes, it can feel overwhelming trying to keep clutter in its place, especially when you’re caring for a baby while running a household and also working.

With spring cleaning season in full swing, we’ve put together some tips to streamline your nursery and keep your baby’s drawers and changing tables neat and organized. 

Here are some ways you can streamline household clutter, especially in your child’s room:

1. Look for compact nursery furniture with built-in storage 

In the nursery, bulky furniture can take up valuable space. Look for space-saving furniture that leaves room for play — like the Cradlewise mini crib, which packs a lot of functionality into a small footprint. 

Also keep an eye out for nursery furniture that does double-duty with built-in storage—for example, a changing table with shelves and baskets that can help you save space and keep everything organized.

2. Use the walls and back of the doors for storage

If you don’t have much space in the nursery, often-ignored spaces like the walls and the backs of the doors can be smart, unexpected storage options.

Hang shelves, hooks, and organizers on the walls to store books, toys, wet wipes, and other items that you might need handy. You can also use over-the-door organizers with clear pockets to store your baby’s shoes, socks, bibs, and other small things that can end up scattered on the floor or lost in drawers.

3. Use baskets and bins with labels

Baskets and bins can make a huge difference in decluttering your space. Invest in large baskets or containers and keep them in the closet for storing toys and out of season clothes.

Label each basket or bin with the contents, so you know where to put things away and can easily find what you’re looking for. For example, as the summer approaches, organizing a “Clothes for Summer” basket in advance will be handy. 

For toddlers, labeling storage baskets with pictures of blocks, vehicles, and stuffies can help them understand where to put toys away when playtime is over.

4. Use drawer dividers

Drawer dividers can help organize smaller items in your child’s room. Not only do they keep things tidy by neatly separating socks, underwear, and accessories within drawers, they also make it easier for you to find those matching teeny tiny baby socks.

5. Use cubbies

Cubbies are another great organizational tool for your baby’s nursery and child’s room. You can use them to store larger items like stuffed animals, books, and puzzles. They’re also a great way to display your kids’ favorite things, which can add a personal touch to their space.

6. Keep frequently-needed items close at hand on the changing table

Keep the items in highest demand (like diapers, wipes, and fresh onesies) within easy reach at the changing table. This will make diaper changes much easier and less stressful.

Use storage baskets to keep changing essentials organized and within easy reach. This will prevent you from having to dig through drawers or cabinets. And be sure to have a small trash can or diaper disposal container close by for used diapers and wipes.

7. A wipeable changing pad is a must-have

While a changing pad is a must-have for any parent, a wipeable changing pad can make all the difference—it’s easy to clean and can be disinfected after use. Plus, many wipeable changing pads come in cute designs, so they can add a pop of color to your nursery.

You’ll want to remember to clean and restock your changing table regularly. Each night, make it a habit to wipe down the table with disinfectant wipes to help keep the area tidy and fresh, and refill your storage baskets with wipes, diapers, and a clean change of clothes for baby.

8. Organize similar items together

Stack and store clothes separately by category, with designated drawers or baskets for onesies, rompers, pjs, and outfits. Wipes, diapers, and diaper creams should be stored together at your changing table. And it’s smart to keep a closed container of supplies for inevitable sick days in the bathroom (safely out of reach of all children), with a thermometer, infant medicine and dispensers, nasal aspirator, and other medical supplies all in one place and easy to find when you need them.

9. Create a designated place for dirty clothes

With dirty clothes, burp cloths, and towels piling up quickly, having a designated hamper or basket for dirty laundry in your baby’s room can help keep things under control. This will make it easy to toss items in when they’re dirty rather than transporting them to a hamper in the laundry room.

10. Rotate toys rather than keeping them all out at once.

Rotating your baby’s toys is a great way to keep the nursery decluttered while also helping your child focus on specific playthings. Toy rotation is a technique for keeping a selection of toys available for your kid to play with. This keeps clutter to a minimum while helping young kids focus on specific toys.

Instead of keeping all the toys out at once, you can select a few toys for rotation. You can put the rest of the toys away in a storage box or closet.

After a week or two, swap out the toys so that your child has a new selection to play with. We recommend keeping the selection of toys to a certain number so it doesn’t get overwhelming for your baby to choose from. 

This technique helps keep your baby interested in their toys and can also promote creativity and imagination as they find new ways to play with familiar toys. Additionally, toy rotation can make it easier to clean up and organize the nursery, as you’ll have fewer toys to store and put away.

11. Create a “home” for toys

This tip works well for toddlers — give each toy a designated “home” in their room. This means creating specific places for each toy to be stored. Separate and store toys by category in storage baskets or bins, creating designated spaces for dolls, games, blocks, stuffed animals, books, and play figures. 

Letting your toddler help put toys in their “homes” helps give them a sense of ownership over their belongings. Your child will also know where to find their favorite playthings, and where to put them back after they’re done playing.

12. Do a 15-minute clean-up before going to bed

Take a few minutes each night to tidy up your child’s room, put away any items that are out of place, restock and wipe down the changing table, and do a quick sweep or vacuum. This will help you start the next day on the right foot and ensure that your child’s room stays clutter-free.

Plus, waking up to a tidy space is a better way to start the day.

13. Look outside your baby’s room for extra storage space 

As your baby grows, it might start to feel like their toys and playthings are gradually taking over every room in the house. Help keep clutter in its place with living room furniture that can also double as storage — for example, ottomans with storage space inside, or tables with multiple drawers. 

Keeping a few playthings stored neatly in the living room will save on trips back and forth to your baby’s room to put toys away. Plus, if guests come calling on short notice, you can just tuck the toys into the living room storage for instant tidiness. 

14. Donate the stuff you don’t need

Having a baby also means a constant influx of new clothes and toys from your family, friends, and loved ones. But we hereby give you permission to let go of the things that you *think* you might need someday. Trust us: It will most likely end up at the back of your baby’s closet, taking up extra space. Once your baby has outgrown certain toys or clothes, or if you have duplicates of items, you can simply donate them. 

Every year, set aside a day to do a declutter-and-donate project in your child’s room. Take everything out, sort it into “keep,” “donate,” and “trash” piles, and then put things back in an organized way. This can be a daunting task, but it will significantly impact the overall cleanliness and organization of the space.

The bottom line 

Even with hundreds of such decluttering tips, sometimes your baby’s nursery will feel cluttered anyway, the living room and kitchen will look messy, and the laundry will keep piling up. And that’s perfectly normal and okay (and part of raising babies). 

Whenever you feel like you’re being too hard on yourself, remember that you’re doing your best. And it’s good enough 💛.