Organizing Baby Clothes

[Deleted]

I have clothes all the way through 12 months in the drawers and closet because we've been given that much used stuff. I have storage bins of 18 month and 2T in the closet as well. As for organizing, there are three large drawers on our dresser. The top one is NB-3mo sizes, then middle is 6mo, the bottom is 9mo-12mos. I have onesies, t-shirts, soft pants, and sleepers in the dresser and will always rotate things up so the top drawer is the current size. Rompers, button shirts, outfits, overalls, jeans, etc are on hangers in the closest and organized by sizes.

In the top drawer of tower side of the dresser I have cloth bins. One for socks, one of hats/mittens. In the space between them are a few pairs of infant shoes.

[billyhorrible]

I'm doing things a little differently second time around, because I already have clothes from nb to 2T.

But first time around:

-How many sizes do you keep on hand at a time in the baby's room? Current and next size, or just current? I kept every thing we had for him in his room.  I bough closet dividers with sizes on them, and just hung all the clothes in his closet.  This is what his closet looked like before he was born.  You can see all the newborn stuff on the far left, and a divider between that and the 0-3, and another divider between 3-6, and 6-9.  (If you look closely you can also see I grouped them by type, so shirts, sleepers, onesies, etc.)



-How do you organize clothes baby has outgrown/sizes yet to fit? Plastic bins? Do you have a bin for each size or organize multiple sizes together? Do you pre-wash them before putting them in the bins, or wait to wash until baby is ready to wear?
Like I said above, sizes yet to fit got hung in the closet (and actually I still do this, because "out of sight, out of mind" but also the sizes aren't consistent throughout brands.  So just because something is marked "3-6" doesn't mean it's an appropriate size for 3-6.  If I just went by tags, he'd outgrow some outfits before he ever wore them, so having them easy to see helped me compare them to clothes he was currently wearing.  I saved (and still save) washing and tag removal for right before he wears them. (I've had to exchange things based on his sizes/seasons before and the tags help with that).  As far as things he's outgrown, I have fabric bins for each size.  Which makes things very easy this go around.


-We have a three drawer dresser: any suggestions on how to organize the drawers?

This is how our 3 drawer dresser was organized.  Anything diaper related went in the top drawer - Diapers, diaper genie refills, wipes, and burp cloths.

The middle drawer was for socks, hats, sweaters, bibs and sleep sacks.

And the bottom drawer had sheets, the bumper, and quilt.

[missk0411]

Until DD was about 9 months, pretty much all of her clothing was is in bins on shelves in her closet. Now, a lot of it still is, but we hang shirts and dresses.

When she was a "baby" I did bins for short sleeved onesies, long sleeved onesies, pants, rompers, socks/leg warmers, sleepers, sheets, swaddlers, etc. I probably mixed newborn with 0-3 months. Bigger clothes went in a large bin, also in the closet, labelled "too big clothes." As she outgrew clothes, they went in a large clear rubbermaid container in her room.

We used a dresser as a changing table. The top drawer has extra diapers and diaper cream, changing pad covers, etc.
The middle drawer has flannel receiving blankets, bath towels, and swim diapers.
The bottom drawer has washclothes/spit up rags--we use them interchangeably--and diaper genie refills.

[txngrl31]

Mar 29, 2015 11:20:32 GMT -5 @demanda88 said:

FTM here but I really like this blog post about organizing dresser drawers.

www.twotwentyone.net/2014/11/nursery-dresser-organization/

I need to make an Ikea trip to get some skubb organizers. She also has a good one for the closet.

This. FTM here, but I've been doing research on how to best organize a dresser. We have a large three drawer dresser that will also serve as the changing table. Last weekend, we made a trip to IKEA and bought organizers.

While it's still a work in progress, the top drawer will contain ( almost identical to billyhorrible dresser) ,extra diapers and wipes not found in the caddy on top of the dresser/ extra powder/ Desitin/ lotion/ burp cloths/ medicine/ etc. Basically, items that need to be grabbed quickly. The middle drawer is designated for clothes not being hung ( pjs/ onesies/ sleep n plays/ bottoms/ socks/ hats/ bows). I have organized the clothes by NB and 0-3. All the NB stuff fit in to one organizer because I don't intend to need a lot of that size. The 0-3 is separated in to two organizers: onesies/leggings and sleep n plays. The bottom drawer will be for extra sheets, pad covers, blankets, etc. 

I think I am going to put all her 3-6 month and 6-9 month clothes in labeled clear bins that will go on the top shelf of the closet. 

Thanks for starting this thread because I'm curious to see what experienced mamas found to be successful.

[Bluedaisy]

I'm a FTM but the nursery has a big closet and we had a large short dresser with six big drawers left over from our old place. It's next to new but doesn't match anything. Since the closet is nice and big and LOs clothes won't take all of the vertical space when they are hanging I'm moving the dresser into the closet so I'll have more space. I plan to put baskets on top of it so I'll have lots of room for diapers, etc. Between the baskets, dresser and hanging bar I'll have enough room for all the clothes we have for LO. My plan is to keep to plastic bins at the top of the closet for outgrown clothes...one to be kept and reused for another baby and one for stuff to be donated.

[veggiemo]

FYI the ziploc vacuum storage bags are good for compacting and storing extra clothes. That's what I have all DS's old clothes in right now. This is our last baby so I'm looking forward to selling/giving away all the clothes as this new baby outgrows them!

For DS I just have one main drawer with all my favorite outfits I put him in regularly. Then I use the drawer below it to hold stuff he doesn't quite fit into yet, but will soon. Then I just move it up when it fits and move out the stuff he outgrows into a bin in the closet. Once the bin gets full, I transfer everything to the ziploc vacuum bag and shove it under my bed. Everything seems to fit differently, so I never feel like I'm emptying out giant waves of clothes at once. It's kinda like, "well, this doesn't fit anymore, move it into the closet!"

[Widget123]

Mar 29, 2015 11:20:32 GMT -5 @demanda88 said:

FTM here but I really like this blog post about organizing dresser drawers.

www.twotwentyone.net/2014/11/nursery-dresser-organization/

I need to make an Ikea trip to get some skubb organizers. She also has a good one for the closet.

Something like this is too extreme for me.  Organizing laundry on a weekly basis is enough of a pain and all I really do is fold all of the clothes, put onesies in one drawer, pjs in another drawer, swaddle blankets and burp cloths in another drawer, towels and washcloths in the bathroom, and hang up the nicer outfits, pants, and t-shirts in the closet, etc.  I keep stuff that is one size too small and one size too big in the room, and all other clothes are in plastic bins or bags elsewhere, unless it is something fancy that I want hung up in the closet.

[tiffbot]

Our nursery is pretty small and I made sure we had storage in it! So we actually have a 6 drawer dresser plus a small 3 drawer dresser in the closet. What I did with DS at the beginning was hang up his t shirts (I hardly ever dressed him in anything other than onesies for quite a while), put the too big onesies and tshirts in the closet dresser, and in the 6 drawer had his current sized pants, onesies, pjs, diapers, burp cloths, socks, etc. This is also how I plan to organize new baby.

We ended up with a lot of hand me downs from a friend that admittedly stayed in the garbage bags she delivered them in for quite awhile until I finally went through sorting. We had an extra dresser in our spare room (turned DS's soon to be big boy room) that I have stored all those in now, each drawer by size. His closet is now full of current size shirts, and current size pants, pjs, and socks in his 'new (to us) dresser'

As he outgrows things I have big Rubbermaid tubs that I fill. Once full I then store, so normally can fit 2 sizes per bin, and we have a storage closet in the basement they go in. I even bought them all as blue bins, so if we ever have a girl I can buy a different colour and when stored I won't even have to think about what's what.

You'll definitely find a system that works for you, you kind of just make it happen! Good luck, hope any of that helps!

[ladysif]

As usual, exactly what billyhorrible said.

I actually just went through every article of DS1's clothing this weekend as I just packed them up as things became too small but mixed in shoes, etc. Now everything is better organized, in bins. New stuff is hanging in the closet organized by size, and I'll probably hang up some of the bulkier old stuff.

I randomly discovered I have 42 hats for a child between the ages of 0-2. 42. People REALLY liked making/giving hats in addition to the practical ones I bought for the appropriate seasons.

I definitely second billyhorrible's keeping tags on to return/exchange. Or worst case, you can at least re-gift.

[tulips114]

The first time around, we had all the clothes in her room, but stuff that was for way later was hanging on the top rack of her closet organized in order of size. Stuff we were using was mostly in drawers. My kids live in mainly sleep & plays and onesies for the first year, so those were in the dresser (in the current size they're wearing).

Now, with 2 so close in age that DD2 wears things that DD1 out grows almost right away, in DD2s room I have current and next, the next is mainly out of season. So right now I'm boxing up DD2s winter stuff and she's already got spring/summer stuff in there, that DD1 wore last year. And I'm putting DD1s winter stuff in there, that DD2 will wear next winter. It's pointless to box it up for 6 months.

I have one more box of hand me down and gifted stuff that is too big for DD1 that's I go through when the seasons change and pull out the stuff she can use. It's just on the shelf in her closet.

As DD2 outgrows stuff I box it up by size, and by season if it's too much for 1 box. I wash stuff before I box it and also before they wear it.

Currently our dressers are undies & socks on top, PJs and undershirts in the middle and pants/shorts/skirts on bottom. Shirts and dresses are hung in the closet.

For us baby doesn't have a nursery set up because DD2 is still in the nursery. So, clothes will be (haven't gotten them organized yet) in wicker baskets and cloth bins in our room on changing table shelves and on top of our dresser.

ETA our closets have built in shelving, so things like crib sheets and blankets are in there. Bibs I keep in the kitchen, because that's usually where I am when I need one, lol. Burp cloths, which we used A LOT of because both girls had reflux, are mainly in a bin on the changing table shelves, but we also have a wicker basket with diapers, wipes, diaper cream, and burp clothes out in the living room for easy access.

And I think this post just initiated my nesting because right now all I want to do is go home and get everything organized!

[islandgirl14]

We keep only the current size in his room. As he starts to transition into the next size up, it gets a little more messy because it's a gradual phase-out, as some things of a certain size fit longer than others. So, towards the end of the current size, his drawers become a mixture of current and next size up.

Everything else goes in plastic bins w/ lids in the basement. I label the bins by size... Some bins are big enough that I can fit two different sizes, and I'll label accordingly. For example, I know I have a bin downstairs that is NB and 0-3 months, because that's what fits.

I wash right away when I buy or receive clothes, and stick either in bins or his drawers already washed... it's easier for me, because then I can just pull it out ready to wear.

[nettje]

I keep all of the diaper things in one of the top drawers and then onsies and footed pjs in the other top drawer as thats what I use most. The other little outfits I keep in one of the second drawers. As baby gets bigger, I divide pants and shirts between the the second and third drawer. The other two drawers (it's a 6 drawer dresser) I keep extra supplies and accessories.

For all of the extra sizes, the ones from DD are currently in bins in storage. they are sorted according to size and labelled accordingly. As they are all girls clothes, as soon as this one arrives, it will be decided if we keep them or gift them/sell them. if we have a boy, I'll probably give them to my friends who want them... if its a girl, we'll reuse them and bring them out as needed.

All blankets, sheets and what not are stored in the closet with any little outfits that need to hang.

[trixi282]

We have a 4 drawer dresser for baby (it was J's but she will get a new bedroom set when we move), and we use the top for our changing pad/table. 

So our top drawer was mostly things needed for diaper changes.  We had a diaper hanger on the wall we kept full, but the drawer had diaper cream, wipes, burp cloths, nose frida, saline spray, socks, etc.  All the little things you need.

Drawer 2 was most of the clothes - and to start I'm fairly certain we had NB and 0-3 in there mostly - maybe some 3-6 mo too.... I can't remember.  We were team green, so we had a lot of neutral stuff, and when J was born we got TONS of girl stuff too, so the drawer was packed and I remember taking some of the bigger clothes out.

Drawer 3 was pajamas/footed sleep and plays, swaddlers (aka Baby Burrito wrappers), and receiving blankets.

Drawer 4 (aka bottom) was bigger clothes.  I had them somewhat divided in sections 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12.  I think we even had some 12-18 in there too, but not too many.

We also had the closet set up with smaller on one side larger on the other.  As she grew out of clothes, I organized them by size and put them in bins and we put them into storage.  All neutral NB, 03 and 3-6 mo went in a bin with my Maternity clothes.... and we went from there.

Sorry that got so long!  We didn't wash tons, but I washed NB and 0-3 for sure, and I think I had some 3-6 mo washed as well.  After they get to a certain age I stopped pre-washing... probably around the 4 month mark.

[khaze]

Mar 29, 2015 11:07:23 GMT -5 budders said:

We have our nursery all put together(!), and now that the dresser is set up and ready to go, I want to start getting some clothes organized since everything is currently in boxes and bags. For repeat moms (or FTMs with a system already in place), how are you going about doing this? I have a lot of hand-me-downs I have been given in sizes ranging 0-24 months, and a few things I have purchased. Here are some specific questions I have:

-How many sizes do you keep on hand at a time in the baby's room? Current and next size, or just current?
-How do you organize clothes baby has outgrown/sizes yet to fit? Plastic bins? Do you have a bin for each size or organize multiple sizes together? Do you pre-wash them before putting them in the bins, or wait to wash until baby is ready to wear?
-We have a three drawer dresser: any suggestions on how to organize the drawers?

Obviously there is some personal preference to all of this, but I'm trying to gather ideas for how to go about maximum ease of use and accessibility.

So in the dresser, I put Newborn sized stuff and 3 month sized stuff since that will all be used pretty quickly.  With my first, I kept pretty much all other sizes of stuff I had hanging in the closet since we were in an apartment at the time and just didn't have storage space elsewhere.  With #2, I probably will keep the next size up (in this case, 6 months) in the closet and the rest of the sizes are in big rubbermaid boxes down in the basement. 

I keep outgrown clothes in big clear plastic bins labeled with the sizes the box contains.  I use large boxes so I fit multiple sizes in each box.  I prewash everything because baby stains can be hard to get out and I don't want the stains sitting on the clothes for years.  I am not planning on washing the clothes again before #2 wears them.

We got a 3 drawer dresser for this one and my organization plans are:
Top drawer - socks, pajamas, swaddle blankets, sweatshirts, etc. (As of right now, I have Newborn size in the top drawer, but that size will be gone after the first month for sure).
Middle drawer - play clothes in current size.
Bottom drawer - extra sheets, blankets, changing pad covers, etc.

[noeliav]

-How many sizes do you keep on hand at a time in the baby's room? Current and next size, or just current?
With DD, we were able to keep all clothes on hand at any time. She has/had her own walk-in closet. Baby boy will share, and I think I'll be able to put all his clothes in there, too. (I really only "stash" up to 12m for the infants. DD has clothes that are a couple sizes up now that I have a handle on her growth timing, if that makes sense.)
As she and he outgrown clothes, I keep an empty box on the floor of the closet and toss things in there as they become too small. When it gets full, I sort and organize, then store.
-How do you organize clothes baby has outgrown/sizes yet to fit? Plastic bins? Do you have a bin for each size or organize multiple sizes together? Do you pre-wash them before putting them in the bins, or wait to wash until baby is ready to wear?
Clothes that are waiting for DD to wear are hung in the back of her closet, ready to be grabbed when they fit/when the season comes. Her stuff is mostly all washed before I hang.
I'll do the same for baby boy. Right now, none of his clothes are washed, so I'll need to do that and then hang by size. Once he's about a year old (when they stop growing quite so fast), I'll start hanging/organizing by size and season.
-We have a three drawer dresser: any suggestions on how to organize the drawers?
I have a six drawer dresser. For DD, I went with
Top L: diapers/diaper change items (wipes, cream, etc)
Middle L: onesies and pants
Bottom L: linens for bed
Top R: blankets
Middle R: hats, gloves, socks
Bottom R: linens, blankets, swaddles
Since they'll share, I'm reorganizing. Right now, it looks like this
Top L: diapers/diaper change items (wipes, cream, etc)
Middle L: leggings for DD (I think this may end up being t-shirts and bottoms for DD, so she can dress herself)
Bottom L: empty
Top R: blankets
Middle R: hats, gloves, socks (I may move DD's socks/hats/gloves to the empty drawer and make this just for baby boy)
Bottom R: linens/swaddles