By: Victoria H
As summer winds down and cooler weather approaches, routines begin to shift. There will be new mental and physical hurdles with the transition of summer leisure to the hustle and bustle of back to school. With Fall approaching, now is a perfect opportunity to organize and hit the reset button.
So many clothes can add up quickly. It might be easier to do one child at a time by gathering current clothes in a pile on the bed, and sorting each item by season. Once you have distinct piles, you can sort by size. Separate clothes from what can be grown into, what fits and can be worn now, and what can be passed on or packed away.
It is no secret that babies grow faster than the weather can change. Make sure to rotate essentials and keep the next size up bin nearby when reorganizing. You shouldn’t have to rifle through swimsuits to find fleece pajamas. You can cruise through your routines more easily by keeping current clothes sorted and within reach. We often get overwhelmed when we have too many options so keep daily essentials visible and tuck the rest away.
Organizing your overflow doesn’t have to be hard. Using labeled stackable containers like tubs, baskets, spare drawers can visually help stay organized. Vacuum sealed storage bags can help compress blankets and clothes if you would like to conserve space. Spare ribbon or shoelaces are great for tying bundles or sizes together to help stay sorted while storing or donating. As long as it makes sense to you, there is no wrong way to do it!
Remember to not overthink it. Keep it simple and take advantage of resources in your area. Use social media platforms to exchange hand me downs or donate to local drives. You can even take your clothes to secondhand clothing stores like Once Upon a Child that will purchase your baby gear, toys, clothes and books. The Baby & Children’s Ministry is always accepting donations! You can check out what they need the most and where to donate on their website, harvesthousebuffalo.org.
It can be so hard to let go of their precious little clothes. So many emotions may bubble up while sorting through baby gear. Just embrace them and celebrate the fact that your baby is growing. Each new size and new outfit are a chance for new memories. Find joy in the fact that your family is growing and evolving with each new season. It’s worth the effort to make space for you to breathe easier in the future and create more space to grow. You’ve come so far as a mom so give yourself some grace as you prepare to go even farther!