12 baby organization tips to make life with an infant a little easier.
Let’s be honest, life with a baby can be quite stressful. Sleepless nights, balancing schedules, and there’s the whole taking care of a tiny human thing. In this post I share helpful baby and nursery organization tips and tricks to make your life easier with your little bundle of joy.
1. Utilize the Space Under the Crib
Need extra storage space? Utilize the area under the crib. You can use baskets to store items and slide the baskets under the crib. If you don’t like the look of baskets or you want to store larger items you don’t need to access all the time, use a crib skirt to hide everything under the crib.
2. Use a Dresser as a Changing Table
Use a dresser as a changing table. Buying a lone changing table just doesn’t make sense to me. You might as well make your furniture serve double duty. And did you know most changing pads come with a security strap that you can secure to the backside of the dresser?
I love our IKEA Hemnes dresser in white stain. You can’t beat the $229 price tag. It fits perfectly in Owen’s small, 11′ by 10′ nursery along with his glider, crib, and ottoman. If you’re super tight on space, IKEA makes a smaller three drawer version. You could use the top drawer for diaper changing items and the other two drawers to store other baby things. Click here to see how I organized every drawer in his nursery dresser.
3. Drawer Organizers are a Must
Invest in drawer organizers. I love these drawer organizers for keeping all those smaller baby items nice and neat in drawers. They’re super versatile and inexpensive.
Want to learn more about how I organize Owen’s dresser? See here.
4. Add a Shelving Unit to the Closet
One of my top nursery organization tips is to put an inexpensive shelving unit inside the nursery closet. This keeps the closet organized and provides additional storage for books and toys. Plus, if needed, it can be removed one day and used somewhere else. When we moved, we took this one with us.
5. Removable Storage Bins are Your Friend
These storage bins are great because they have handles that little hands can hold onto and pull. The bins are also made of soft material so, unlike wire baskets, if a kiddo falls onto one it won’t hurt and no damage is done to the bin. They’re also handy for dragging out, playing, putting the toys back in, and then putting the bins back into the shelving unit. Making clean up much easier!
6. Bins, Bins, and More Bins
When it comes to nursery organization bins are key. Organize items on the top shelf of the closet in bins. Items are hidden away, and they’re easy get them down.
Want to learn more about what I put in those green bins and how I organize Owen’s closet? See here.
7. Grab Some Clothespins
Instead of buying separate pants hangers, use clothespins to hang baby pants on regular baby hangers.
8. Stay Organized with Clothes Dividers
Another organization idea is to use baby clothes dividers to organize all those baby clothes. You can make your own like I did, or buy them.
9. Baskets, Baskets, Baskets
It’s not all about nursery organization– there’s other places in your house that need organizing. Baskets are your friends. Use them to store toys around the house. I like to use nice woven baskets from HomeGoods or Target to store toys in our living room. And if you really want to make it look like there aren’t toys in the basket, throw a blanket and pillow on top. No one will ever know.
10. Stocked Baby Organization Basket
Keep a stocked baby basket in your common area.
If you live in a multi-level home, set up a diaper changing station or keep a changing pad, diapers, and wipes on each floor of your home. We set up a changing table on our first floor after I had our second child. Since it’s a two-story house, we didn’t want to have to change the baby on the floor or walk upstairs. So we bought an inexpensive changing table and set it up downstairs. Click here to read all about it and how I organize it.
11. Store Extras in the Garage
If you have the space in your garage or basement, invest in a shelving unit to store extra diapers (and other random things). Be careful with storing wipes in the garage though, they will freeze in low temps. I store Owen’s diaper wipes in his nursery closet.
12. A Good Diaper Bag is Key
Invest in a good diaper bag with compartments and plenty of space. Use smaller bags to corral smaller items inside the diaper bag.
Baby Organization Boot Camp
Want to get the rest of your nursery organized? Sign up for my FREE 5 day Baby Organization Boot Camp email course! I’ll show you how to get your nursery organized in less than a week!
I hope you found these baby organization tips helpful. For all things baby, please visit my baby page.
And be sure to follow along on Instagram (@twotwentyone) for more tips!
Want to know where I got specific things? See this post.
PLEASE anchor your furniture and electronics! A child dies every two weeks as a result of a tip-over incident. I strongly encourage you to read my blog post on how to anchor furniture and electronics HERE. Let’s keep our babies alive and well.
I recreated my baby registry HERE if you’d like to check it out!
Check out my most popular baby-related posts below!
Baby Organization and Nursery Organization Tips
Emmett’s Nursery
How to Anchor Furniture
Nursery Dresser Organization Update
Baby Hacks
Baby Car Kit
Nursery Dresser Organization
Nursery Closet – Organization Tips and Tricks
DIY Burp Cloths
My Must Have Baby Gear For The First Two Months
What I Packed In My Hospital Bag
What To Steal From The Hospital After Popping Out A Kid & Other Advice
This post was originally published in February, 2015. It was updated in March, 2020.
Betheny says
Thanks for the tips! I’m reworking my daughters room for her first birthday, and the storage unit in the closet is perfect. Although, after seeing your diaper storage in the garage, I’m glad I cloth diaper. Tight quarters at our house. Happy Wednesday!!!
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
I seriously contemplated cloth diapering but Brad wasn’t 100% on board, which is fine, so we decided to stick to disposables. I figure I’m exclusively breastfeeding so that’s crunchy enough. Hah!
Steph says
Is your crib from ikea too?
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
No, it’s actually the Modern Elemental crib from The Land of Nod.
Steph says
Oh, thanks! I love Land of Nod. I actually worked in their Seattle store right after college. They have such cute stuff.
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
How fun! Yeah, I love their stuff!
Colleen says
Great tips! You son’s room is perfect 🙂 And PS my son’s name is Owen as well, but he’s 3!
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Thanks so much, Colleen! Love your little guy’s name! 🙂
Diana Mattson says
I would have never thought about the clothespins! I will be using that tip for sure. I am a “hang everything” kind of gal. I love baskets too, but it seems like a tornado went through my boys’ room every day. I love how bright Owen’s room is. Great job with this nursery!
[email protected] Polka Dots in the Country says
LOVE all of these tips! My fiancé and I are getting married next year and will start trying for a little nugget after that and the room in our house that would be the nursery is tiny so I’ll need all the space utilizing tips I can find. Thanks for sharing!
kelly says
i love the maps above the crib, where did you get those?
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Thanks! I found them on eBay. They’re actually books. Here’s more info: https://www.twotwentyone.net/2014/10/nursery-sources/
kelly says
awesome, thank you!
Denise says
I love your changing pad cover! Can you tell me where you bought it?
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
So sorry, Danielle– I just saw your comment. All the nursery sources and direct links to everything can be found here: https://www.twotwentyone.net/2014/10/nursery-sources/
Julia says
I just found your site on pintrest. I’m going to be a new mom in June and your organization tips are amazing ! I’m super excited to read the rest of your posts !
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Thanks so much, Julia! Congrats!
Chezkie says
Hello Chelsea. I so love this! I was browsing for ways to decorate my baby’s nursery room. thanks for the ideas! 🙂
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
You’re very welcome!
Lauren @ Ahoy Home says
Love these ideas! With our first little one due in just under two months (eep!) these tips are helpful. We’re using the small Hemnes dresser as our changing table as well–I’m planning to change out the knobs to spice it up a little!
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Congrats! Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of people change out the knobs– definitely a great way to add more personality to it. 🙂
Leah Watson says
Thanks, great tips!!!
I just ordered a couple of the drawer organizer sets you suggested!
🙂 ~Leah
Andrea says
love your ideas!!
I need to share these on my IG account.
@not_any_given_mom
They are adorable
thanks!
Carla says
Don’t you need to have the change pad secured on a change table with railings or something? How did you do that on a dresser?
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Our changing pad has a tether that attaches to the back of the dresser.
Kelly says
Where did you get the grey and white baskets? Are they available online?
Jessica says
I absoluetly love your burp clothes where did you get them? As well as yours car seat!
kymberly says
I LOVE this post!! Found your article via pinterest when looking for baby hanger dividers and loved this article!
Thanks so much and such a cute space.
Liz says
Fantastic post! How hard was the assembly on the dresser from IKEA? I know some of there products can be tricky/frustrating to assemble! Thank you!!
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
It’s not terrible. Take your time and use power tools.
Tessa says
Great tips! We are expecting #4 in May, so I am in nursery prep mode. Where is the shelf from that is above the dresser/changing table? Thanks!
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Thanks! All the nursery sources (with links) can be found here: https://www.twotwentyone.net/nursery-sources/ 🙂
Veronica says
This looks so beautiful! I try to get my babies’ rooms to look like this, but it just never seems to happen. I still think I’m going to try some of your tips just because of three kids
Liz Jo says
I love your blog! Stumbled across it on facebook but this is the first I’m really reading all of the tips you post!
cristy jones says
Great baby organization tips.I was searching for my new one.
baby babybag nursery says
Our advice throughout this market inflection point is to simply journey the
wave, and hope for higher issues to return. If you are a professional poker player, the better answer is perhaps to
expatriate to another country similar to Canada.
Sara says
Hey! My name is Sara! I personally used the bookshelf to store toys idea.. I thought it was really great! I shared and linked it on my blog if you want to check it out http://thediymommie.com I would really appreciate it! I love your content and I subscribed to you 🙂
Christina says
Thanks for the great tips! Been trying to figure out how to make the best of the smaller room we have set up for the nursery.
Airbnb Clean says
Yay! It was so cute! Thank you so much for this. Very inspiring post.