BabyBites

Pack the diaper bag and make lunch the night before – that way you can spend the morning relaxing with the little ones instead of running around getting ready for the day.

Write everything down—in a calendar, journal etc. Also, have nights out to yourself so you can get refreshed and get things off your mind.

I make dinner at night for the next day while baby’s sleeping and I’m blogging. OR on Sundays, I make each part of a dinner for 15 minutes at different times of the day so by the end of the day, it’s done with extra for the week!

I designated a whole closet to our baby and we store everything we can in this closet. diapers, wipes, toys, clothing, books, CDs etc. I clean it out every month and reorganize. On the top shelf I have 2 large plastic containers for storage of things our baby has outgrown.

I keep a wall calendar in the kitchen so I can visually see what our day/week/month looks like.

Get a blackberry / iphone and actively use the directory and calendar

Single best thing I ever did – keep excel spreadsheets of information -
I can chart the baby feedings, my work schedule, the nanny care schedule all in one file and never really be ‘lost’.

If you have excel – you can stay ontop of things

I stay organized by always preparing as much as I can in the evening for the next day. While I”m home on maternity leave, I don’t want my baby and I to miss any quality time together and being organized helps me spend every minute possible with him. Once the baby goes to sleep, I boil all the bottles, make sure the diaper bag is packed, pick out a few outfits for the baby to wear the next day and do whatever else needs to be completed. That way, when we start a new day, I don’t need to waste any time doing chores and can just quickly grab what I need before running out the door!

Fresh direct – they offer lots of pre-made or ready-to-cook items that make feeding my family super easy. Plus they have many healthy and low calorie options so it helps with taking off the baby weight too!

Two words…PAPER CALENDAR. I know everyone has some form of PDA (iphone, blackberry, treo, etc.) but being able to see an entire week (or in some cases month) at a glance, really allows me to juggle two children and all of our schedules. I also write EVERYTHING in pencil as we all know that plans change constantly and I like my calendar to look clean, hence allowing me to stay even more organized. I always make a point to keep one day completely free of plans as I believe it’s important to have at least one day (if it’s possible) to do nothing or to at least have the option to be impulsive. Overscheduling is a HUGE problem in today’s society and I believe that people don’t realize how busy they schedule themselves when they are only looking at one day at a time like so many PDAs allow you to do. Seeing a busy week might encourage people to give themselves more downtime as I believe overscheduling is DIRECTLY related to disorganization.

So go out and get your paper calendar and either keep it in your bag or keep it in a place that you go to every day and as soon as you schedule something write it down!

Following a rountine with 2 or three regularly scheduled activities a week. Also having a well rested baby (which means being good about their naps), helps to keep things less chaotic!

Having a routine for everything. The routines make tings predictable for the kids. They can help you more when they know what to expect.

I have a 5 month old and keep a chart of everything he does all day… dirty diapers, naps, bottles, etc so that I can keep track of the time for anyone who is watching him… me, his dad, the babysitter. My husband and I also keep identical calendars on our blackberries for every event. This way, there are no surprises for either of us!

List, List and more lists keep my child organized….

I’ve made getting ready for tomorrow part of my bedtime routine with the baby. After she goes down, I restock the diaper bag, pick out clothes and prep her meals. That way we’re ready to roll when it’s time to leave the apartment.

Get your kids involved with cleaning up after a play time is not only very important for them. It helps your place nice and neat!

Lists help as does a calendar. Also, things that come portioned in advance like snacks, etc. are great for on the go. Lastly, having more than one of certain things like snack traps, lots of cups for the road, etc. helps cut down searching and packing time….oh and having a travel bag pre packed with everything but the clothing is a time save and helpful too!

I could not live without my MomAgenda. (Google it if you haven’t seen them.) Yes, it is an old fashion calendar. Sure, I have my Iphone, but the MomAgenda is great for looking at a month at a time and a week at a time. It has room to put what you are having for dinner and space for each child’s activities. If you write everything down, you’ll stay organized!

I swear by my calendar linked in to my e-mail account on hotmail. It sends me reminders in advance and I can print it out and put the calendar on the bathroom door, so everyone in the family (not just me), knows what’s going on. I can also access it from anywhere and put a copy in my purse. I also follow the quick-cleaning routines found on sites such as “Real Simple” or “www.flylady.net”. In a nutshell, you can get rid of mommy brain by 1) before bed, check your calendar 2) prepare what you need for tomorrow (clothes, diaper bag, purse) 3) gather one load of dirty laundry and bring it to the laundry room 4) load dishwasher 5) shine sink 6) devote 15 minutes to decluttering a messy area. In the morning, 1) Get up 15 minutes early and make your bed 2) get dressed to the shoes 3) do a quck swipe of bathroom surfaces with a wipe 4) run dishwasher 5) do one load of laundry a day. Small routines add up if you do them everyday and that way you’ll be ready at a moment’s notice and not have to deal with tons of housework when you’re tired.

I post my baby’s schedule on the frige for the nanny. I mske sure to keep her up to date on changes in the schedule. I also try to do things the night before, such as packing the diaper bag. I make a dinner every other night and make enough to have left overs for the next night. It definitely helps!

I have these post-its that display a whole week, each day in a box, Monday- Sunday. I keep one stuck on the refrigerator and I write down all appointments, plans, etc, so I don’t forget anything I need to do or anywhere I need to be during the week!

Dont be afraid to get DAD involved in helping out with the kids and keeping them organized. Everyone should have a roll in raising and caring for the kids.

I have a magnetic white board attached to the refrigerator. I write key things on it (e.g., things we need, appointments, feeding schedule etc.) so everyone knows what’s going on.

I’m constantly tidying and putting things away when I’m home. This way, everything is always 10-15 minutes from being clean and neat. I know my toddler will just make a mess again, but at least it will only be a mess from the current plaything and not from the one she was interested in 2 hours ago (and, of course, I try to get her help clean up, even though its easier to just do it mysel).

We have a VERY large, 36″x36″ dry erase calendar on our kitchen wall. We track everything on it — pickups, dropoffs, babysitting, school holidays, Fresh Direct deliveries, birthday parties, you name it. Helps all of us — including our nanny, who doesn’t use a PDA — be on the same page about who’s doing what. With three kids, it’s a must!

I fill up my daughter’s schedule with classes in the mornings so that she takes a nice long nap in the afternoons, which frees up time to tidy up, do laundry and cook dinner. I always have a few Trader Joes quick cook meals on hand in case our schedule is too crazy.

One key thing to keeping things tidy is getting a cleaning lady at least once a month and keeping up with the organization for the rest of the time by putting everything in its place at the end of the day. Also, I have big wooden bins strategically placed all over the apartment so that cleaning up can be as quick as throwing everything in the bins, which keeps the toys out of the way.

I make sure to have more than one of certain key items – hair brushes, diaper wipes cases, snack traps, etc…I also like the pre-pack – so I make sure the travel bag or diaper bag is ready to go in advance and has certain items in it at all times …lastly, lists and a calendar are always helpful….oh and setting reminders on my cell phone help

Lists and calendar and making sure I spend a little time with Dad to go over the “dreaded” lists! We are also a very spontaneous family, so sometimes the list is a crinkled ball on the floor as the vacuuming, dusting, baby proofing for the Saturday goes out the window and we all go for a walk by the river. Know when to do both, stick to the plan and have family time.

i plan weeknight dinners in advance, write down everything on both my personal and family calendars, and enlist help whenever I feel like I’m drowning in life!

whiteboard version of the calendar up in the kitchen just for baby’s schedule. It’s great to keep it separate from your personal/work calendar on blackberry etc and you can wipe clean for next month or make changes easily. Also a pad and pen in the kitchen and the nursery for shopping list – that way when you’re out of something for baby in either room, you can jot it down rather than kid yourself you will remember later when it’s time to go shopping!

There are really no tricks for staying organized when one is exhausted and sleep deprived. My biggest tip would be to do something the second you think of it – don’t procrastinate!! And, treat yourself to some help every now and then.

Keep a datebook or blackberry up to date so you don’t forget your “to do” list!

i had heather from ‘out of the box organizing’ (met her through babybites) come to my house and organize my kids’ toys. it has done wonders for our sanity and there is a place for everything so cleanup is a snap and the kids actually help out. it has saved us lots of time overall. she came back and organized a couple of my closets as well so everything is neat and labelled (and even my husband and nanny can find everything easily).

Command central in the kitchen is critical for our happy home:
1. Very large paper calendar with all classes, meetings, appointments, and reminders (i.e. “buy birthday present”) etc. pencilled in. This includes everyone in the home…not just baby’s schedule.
2. Dry erase board for last minute notes to other adults in the home (spouse, babysitter, etc.).
3. Cork board…I pin up birthday invitations (with directions), cocktail party invites, class schedules, etc. Everything is at our fingertips as we are running out the door to be on time for the surprise party and cannot remember the address!

I agree with all of the above and try to do it all!!
But the most important thing would be to write EVERYTHING down!! if i have a thought I have to write it down otherwise i will never remember!!!

I am so glad to see that everyone else makes lists compulsively! With that, I totally agree with writing things down, but more over think that EACH mom MUST have a few hours a week to herself to do anything/nothing/everything that makes YOU happy…it’s my saving grace!

CALENDARS!! Outlook is my best friend. And I sync it to my phone/blackberry EVERY DAY! Also, keeping classes/naps/events around the same time every day to keep things simpler.And use the ALARM on the calendar.

Here are some things we do to stay organized and sane:
1. We established morning, midday and bedtime routines when baby was about 3 months old to help keep us organized and working around baby’s schedule.
2. My husband and I alternate mornings that we wake up with baby (who’s up by 6am).
3. We also alternate bath time for baby.
4. Sundays, I do grocery shopping and prepare a few big meals for the week.
5. When baby was only eating purees, I loved using the baby food cube trays to store in the freezer. Also had jars of organic baby food as back up.
6, My husband takes baby to swim class on Saturday mornings. This is great bonding time for them and allows me to run errands.
7. My husband and I share an Outlook calendar with all appointments, classes, playdates and print out weekly calendars which get taped to the refrigerator for all to see.
8. We buy 2 months of diapers and wipes at a time when on sale. Pathmark has the best prices on Pampers when on markdown.
9. Keep wrapping paper, gift bags, birthday cards, supplies on hand for kid parties and events.
10. Storage bins, closet organizers, toy chests, etc. are a must to maintain some neatness.

I email notes to myself all day and after the baby’s asleep I go through them all and get myself organized. It’s easier than finding little pieces of paper!

I have a list for everything including what goes in the diaper bag and what I ned to take with me every day. I pack the bag the night before and pick out my daughters clothes then as well. I also lay out my clothes and shower at night. I put together outfits for her in the beginning of the week as well as a meal schedule with lunch dinner and snack options and cook as much as I can when she naps. Also, delivery is a huge timesaver. I don’t know what I’d do without Diapers.com.

Blackberry! Also- 100 calorie snack packs are great as well as any other type of prepackaged healthy treats (sliced apples from fresh direct). Get things together the night before so that when the kids are awake you have less to manage. I also like to try and make one dinner for everyone so that I am not always in the kitchen.

I keep a weekly template outlining all baby activities (meals, naps, classes) and all errands/chores I need to take care of for the week.

The container store! All of the toys are in labeled bins to make clean up easier!

I use the Baby Daze organizer – has a section for all the things you need when you’ve got a newborn.

I keep life simple. I just make sure to keep the diaper bag well stocked with diapers and wipes, and always have a few snacks in the stroller at all times.. but other than that, we just fly by the seat of our pants. It is much less stressful that way. We do a morning activity every day, and then I tidy up the house between drop-off and pick-up at preschool. My boys usually nap at the same time in the afternoon to give me some downtime.

I do keep a digital calendar to record all the important appointments. But I try not to over-schedule the day. I have been blessed with two good, mild-mannered, sweet boys. That is the ONLY way I survive my days. There is a running to-do list on the counter- but having just had my second baby.. unless it says eat or sleep, those things on my to-do list (ie. cook/clean/errands) turn into “Honey-do’s” … thank goodness I have a great husband that doesn’t mind lending a helping hand!

For younger babies, my husband and I make bottles and clean the pumping supplies/bottles every night after dinner. That way I have clean bottles and clean supplies for the next day and don’t have to worry about cleaning while I am alone with the baby. Also, I keep about 3 to 4 bottles ready at all times. That way I can feed the baby on the go. I also prepare my diaper bag the night before (restocking diapers and burb cloths). Finally, I buy in bulk from Diapers.com. That way we never run out of wipes, diapers, trash bags, etc.

My tip for keeping life with kids organized is to hire an amazing nanny!!!! I couldn’t manage without my nanny– she’s the organized one!

I find being organzied is very hard after working for many years, now retired and caring for a young infant. My best advise is to write down your “to do” list on a calendar daily (either paper, computer or electronic device) and check it frequently to stay on top of things. My next tip would be to develop routines around simple daily tasks: bathing, putting kids to sleep, meal time, making bottles, getting exercise, shopping for food/family items. This will make these things move faster and help one get on with thier day. Also prioritize those items of most importance. And remember to KISS- keep it simple stupid!! Have a great day.

Two year olds make a lot of mess everywhere they go. So we spend 5 minutes cleaning up together before nap time and bath time. Everything goes into a toy bin or the books shelves and has a place. Once he looses interest in a toy even after it has been removed for a while, I put it into storage for our next child to keep the inventory down. We keep a regular routine, so he knows what to expect which makes it easy to step away to cook, etc. But the key is to do a little each day so nothing becomes overwhelming and a major chore (which I admit I have a few, i.e., the photo projects).