It happens to some of us. Others it just passes by. The nesting instinct is a mad burst of energy that hits women in the last weeks of pregnancy, driving them to clean and organise in preparation for bump becoming a babe in arms.

Whether it’s the constant ‘is it here yet?’ questioning or our hormones driving us, whether we’ve gone all Earth Mother or turned into a bored, snarling ‘Just Get It Out’-er (or any combination in between), fortunately this stage bears no relation at all to what kind of parents we’ll become.

Unfortunately,however,  if we don’t do it – that cleaning and organising - trying to catch up later with a baby in tow is always going to be harder. Don’t put it off. Babies tend to arrive when they want to, rather than when we choose!

In a spirit of helpfulness, we at easyStorage have put together a few ‘lifestyle hacks’ that may make the imminent life changer run a little more smoothly.

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1.       Under the Cot

There’s an awful lot of ‘paraphernalia’ that arrives when the baby does, from nappies and wipes to clothes, toys and sterilisers.

The space under the cot is really useful for storage baskets, boxes etc. Your baby won’t care if they’re pretty, but you might, so if that mess gets to you, there are always cot valances that can hide them – or whatever else you choose to hide there - away.

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2.       Shelves

Shelves are great for creating extra space.

Use them for any children’s books you have, or baby presents.

And if you can, position one over the changing table with any spare nappies, baby grows or wipes that the changing table can’t hold for use in an emergency. Tired parents can often start changing baby without having gathered it all to hand, especially when ‘little accidents’ happen. Be ready by having spares already to hand and keeping them topped up as part of your new life routine.

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3.       Organising baby clothes

Baby clothes are cute, but we go through lots each day. And before we know it, babies grow out of them. So before you even begin, start to organise clothes by size, and try to be tough with yourself: however adorable that hand knitted sweater with matching hat and booties is, if it fits in the summer, it probably won’t fit when the right season comes along.

Baby’s first months fly by and before you know it that tiny, vulnerable, wrinkled newborn will probably become cute and pudgy and into a new size.

Keeping a space aside and creating a system for rotating clothes that works for you, considering age and season – and moving those clothes on when they no longer fit – is a smart move. Preparing for it while you’re still getting some sleep makes a lot of sense.

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4.       Convertible cot

Baby’s not even here yet, so thinking about a child’s bed rather than cot seems a bit pre-emptive.

But of you can buy a cot with sides that come down to form guard rails for a child learning to sleep on a bed for the first time, and removable to eventually allow your child independent sleeping – all at a later stage of course – you are keeping something familiar for your child as they grow, and saving yourself space and money in the longer term.

(And there’s even more storage space underneath – see above!)

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5.       Toy baskets, boxes and bins

Babies start collecting toys before they’re born, a collection which becomes pretty much a zoo before you know it.

If you accumulate your boxes, baskets, bins for storing them in now, you’re far more likely to get them to match now than trying to match things in shops later, and will be able to keep tidy from the outset.

Just remember that once your little bundle of joy is old enough to crawl, they will need something accessible (floor level) to take their toys from, and there will also be days when the electronic toys or drum kits need to be firmly out of sight to protect your sanity. Think of both scenarios when selecting.

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Don’t forget

If you need space along the way, at easyStorage we’re here to help: Creating a space for your baby bundle of joy!

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