Managing the Messiness of Babies and Toddlers

Nothing wreaks more havoc on our homes than the arrival of a new baby or a newly mobile toddler. If this is you, you’re probably delirious with love (and lack of sleep)…but probably also wondering how someone so small could require So. Much. Stuff.

Yes, we at TRINITY have been there. And it does get better (the mess, and the sleep situation). In the meantime, we’re here to help you take back some control or, should we say, manage some of the chaos.

After all, our number one piece of advice is to throw perfectionism and total control out the window. (We must say we enjoyed this post from Parents when being “demure” and “mindful” was trending.) Because yes, it’s basically impossible to be demure and mindful when caring for a newborn or parenting a toddler.

When it comes to organizing all that stuff, our best tip is to think in terms of stations. In other words, create a home for every single thing you need for a certain activity…right where that activity takes place. For example, if you need to keep a toddler entertained while you cook dinner, designate a cabinet for toys right there in the kitchen – easy access, easy pick up.

With that said, flexible stations (and a mindset) are ideal. Because especially when they’re young, kids always changing and growing…and your needs will change too. That’s why so many of our organizing solutions are adjustable, mobile, and can be used for more than one purpose.

Check out these tips and solutions (some of them maybe a little unexpected!) for three important organization stations:

Diaper Changing

One of those little caddies for diapers and wipes is a start. But there’s a lot to be said for having as much as possible within an arm’s reach of your changing table, especially when they’re really little. That includes clothes, or at least onesies. You’ll probably also appreciate having baby care items like a thermometer and bulb syringe here too, instead of hiding somewhere in a bathroom closet.

If your changing table doesn’t have room for all this, consider a small cart – typically referred to as a kitchen cart, though we love these in any room of the house. They’re stylish, practical and extremely flexible as your needs change. If you’ve got the room, we’ve even seen our stainless steel cabinet workbench used as a home base for diaper changing! (So many little drawers!)

Laundry

Whether you’ve got a newborn, a baby just starting to eat solid food, or an independent toddler, there’s going to be some clothes to clean. And probably a lot.

Our laundry carts on wheels are designed to help you sort and then transport all your linens to the washing machine. (Either simply unhook the bag you need, or roll the whole thing right there.) Our small utility sinks are perfect for dealing with spills or spot-treating stains. Many come with a built-in shelf or storage area to create a little station with everything else you need, from stain-removing spray to detergent.

Toys 

If you’re lucky to have a giant basement that can be toy central, great. But we also like having mini toy stations in different places (yes, even the kitchen). Sometimes it’s just a matter of having the right kind of storage.

For instance, if you don’t have room for a giant bookshelf, consider one of our wall-mounted shelves. They’re decorative items that will keep a small number of favorite books easily accessible. A deck box is a great solution for large, unusually sized items (and yes, they’re designed for outdoor storage, but work equally well in basements). And speaking of unexpected, a shoe storage bench makes an excellent, compact play table for small toddlers wherever you need it. Ours have plenty of room for toy storage as well.