The aftermath of the Baby Shower

After attending a friend's shower this weekend, I was reminded of the after-math of my own baby shower. After unloading a car full of outfits, blankets, towels, registry items you aren't quite sure how to use yet, books and toys, I stared at a now cluttered nursery without a clue on how to start organizing all of this.

My first recommendation is on baby clothing. If you have a family like mine, you could have new and hand me down clothing ranging from newborn to 2t. I took the 0-3 month clothing that was new and ALL of the hand me downs as well as all blankets, sheets, bedding and towels and washed it in a baby detergant like Dreft. This basicly makes sure that all of the chemicals and irritants are washed out of the clothing that will be next to your new baby's skin. Here is Dreft's list of laundry tips:

Make sure to wash everything that may touch your baby's skin in Dreft® before your bundle of joy arrives, including:

• Clothes
• Undergarments such as t-shirts, bodysuits, socks, pants, sleepwear and all other clothing items
• Towels/washcloths
• Bibs
• Bedding: sheets, blankets, comforters etc.
• Receiving blankets
• Car seat, stroller, and playpen fabrics
• Mom's shirts
• Anything else that could come in contact with baby's skin

When you pre-wash your baby items before baby comes home, do not use fabric softener on these items. Fabric softener may reduce flame resistance when used on children’s sleepwear or other garments labeled as flame resistant.

Once the laundry was done, I sorted everything into pile according to age. I put all of the 0-3 month clothing away in my son's room. The rest, I put into storage bins marked with the age. Blogger Nicole Balch of Making it Lovely does a great job of showing off her work here.

Once you have the clothing worked out, work through the room in stages(changing set up, bedding, toys, diaper bag, book selves... ect). Take your time and let your nesting kick in! I finished Monkey Man's room a few weeks before he was born and I remember sitting in the glider thinking "ok, NOW you can come".

A final thought on the organization of your little one's room: enlist your girlfriends that have gone this way before. They will have great ideas on where things should be to make your nursery the most functional room in your house. PLUS they will love looking at those newborn diapers and comparing them to the size 4s or 5s they currently use!! HUGE difference!