If you are a natural neat freak, sorting and organizing baby clothes might spark joy for you.
For the rest of us, staring at jumbled piles of tiny onesies is downright overwhelming.
But we have your back. We learned a lot about baby clothes organization through trial and error, and we found some sweet tips to restore your sanity.
Check out these simple hacks to organize all your baby clothes with minimal time and effort.
Key Takeaways
- Divide and conquer: Use ornament boxes, baskets, or drawer dividers to keep tiny items like socks and bibs from getting lost in the shuffle.
- Maximize vertical space: Utilize closet doors, walls, and hanging organizers to create storage in small nurseries.
- Label everything: Use chalkboard paint, clothespins, or size dividers to ensure you grab the right outfit every time.
- Plan for growth: Keep a dedicated bin for outgrown clothes and use adaptable storage like rolling carts or bookshelves.
Dressers and Closets
These organization tips are perfect if your nursery furniture includes a standard dresser. No matter the size of the room, you can hack it to store baby clothes efficiently.
1. Ornament Boxes
Baby apparel often comes in matching sets. However, finding the right top and bottom is impossible when clothes are tossed in a large drawer.
You can solve the matching problem by utilizing ornament boxes. These boxes feature little squared-off sections. Fold a complete matching set (top, pants, and socks) and slide it into one square. It is a grab-and-go solution for busy mornings.
2. Baskets
Babies require a lot of gear to make it through the day. They have socks, bibs, hats, and mittens. That does not even include the blankets and towels.
A big drawer swallows up these tiny items. Keep them separated by organizing them into baskets inside the drawer. Since baskets come in all shapes and sizes, finding the perfect receptacle for specific categories is easy.
3. Chalkboard Paint
You never have to wonder what is inside a drawer with this labeling hack. It is a great way to makeover a dresser that has seen better days. When your baby gets older, they can decorate it with colored chalk themselves.
If you prefer not to write words, draw symbols or pictures instead (like a sock or a shirt). You can find chalkboard paint on Amazon, at most home improvement stores, or in craft shops.
4. Dividers
If you cannot find baskets or boxes to fit your specific drawer dimensions, a DIY version works wonders. These dividers use cardboard and contact paper. This is a simple craft, but it makes a huge difference in keeping rows of onesies straight.
Grab cardboard from any shipping box and find contact paper in a pattern that matches your nursery theme.
5. Freezer Bags
Organize out-of-season clothes or items that are still too big into freezer bags. Store these in labeled plastic bins. You can purchase the bags and bins online or at a dollar store.
When your baby is small, fill the bags with socks, onesies, and sleepers sorted by size (e.g., 0-3 Months). As your baby grows, use the bags to hold swimming suits, hair accessories, and winter hats.
6. Closet Dividers
You will receive many outfits during your pregnancy and after the baby arrives. Savvy shoppers often buy various sizes to keep your baby looking cute at any age.
The problem arises when you shove all those outfits into the closet at once.
These closet dividers keep hanging clothes organized by size. This makes life easy when you hang clothes after laundering. It also helps you see exactly what you have for the next growth spurt.
7. Cube Shelves
If you lack a dresser, consider using the closet floor. Set up a couple of cube shelves to create ample storage space for folded items.
The shelf can hold little shoes or baskets full of onesies and sleepers. You can then use the rod above for jackets and dresses.
8. Door Shelves
When you have a small house or a cramped nursery, do not let vertical space go to waste. These track-mounted storage baskets utilize the otherwise empty back of a closet door.
Store your baby’s out-of-season clothes here, or stash tiny shoes and bibs. They are also great for keeping extra diapers accessible but out of sight. You can hang shower curtain hooks below the baskets to clip on receiving blankets and burp cloths.
Wall Storage
Closets and dressers are not the only places to store your baby’s clothes. These organizational hacks think outside the box (and off the floor).
1. Shelves with Bars
Create extra hanging space with a multi-purpose unit. By adding a wall shelf with a bar, you create a mini closet anywhere on the wall.
Display your favorite special occasion outfits on the bar and use the shelf top for books or nursery decor.
2. Shoe Organizer
This hack works on the door or the wall. A hanging shoe organizer is an excellent way to store rolled onesies, pants, or accessories while occupying minimal space.
Clear pockets allow you to see everything at a glance. You can coordinate outfits by days of the week. Have fun with it and create a color pattern so your clothing storage doubles as wall art.
3. Clothespins
If your baby girl’s headbands are tangled in a bathroom bin, check out this simple storage idea.
This handy clothespin hack turns a mess of baby headbands into a decorative display. Glue clothespins to a painted board and hang it in the nursery. Make it even more fun by painting the clothespins bright colors or decorating them with washi tape.
4. Wire Baskets
Using baskets for organization is a no-brainer, but mounting them on the wall is a novel idea. These wire baskets add a touch of whimsy and a vintage feel to the room.
These are perfect for bulky items like pajamas, swaddles, or diapers. The added pop of color from the clothing makes the wall look lively.
On the Floor
Cribs do not take up much floor space, which leaves room for creative clothing storage units.
1. Rolling Cart
Metal rolling carts serve many purposes. While often used for crafts or diaper stations, they are perfect for clothes. Keep one in the nursery to store shoes, baby blankets, and onesies.
This cart is handy because you can wheel it to the laundry room for folding and back to the nursery. Just keep an eye on it once your baby starts toddling; anything with wheels can be a tipping hazard.
2. Bookshelf Closet
If you do not have a built-in closet to store your baby’s clothes, make one. Hacking a bookshelf into a closet is a genius solution.
Remove a few upper shelves and install a tension rod for hanging items. Use the lower shelves for bins of folded pants. You can find a suitable bookshelf at a used furniture store or order one online.
3. Toy Bins
These plastic toy bins are a great place to organize baby clothes by type. They are easy to label, and they hold a surprising volume of items.
The angled display makes it easy to grab a pair of pants while changing a diaper. When your child outgrows the clothes, switch the bins to hold toys or art supplies.
4. Under the Crib
Many cribs have ample space underneath. Slide in a drawer or underbed storage containers. These flat bins hold a full supply of baby clothes and are ideal for out-of-season apparel.
When your child transitions to a big-kid bed, look for one the bins still fit under. Alternatively, choose a bed with drawers for built-in hidden storage.
FAQs
How Do You Organize Baby Socks?
Organize baby socks by pairing them and storing them in a designated small bin or drawer divider. Some parents use a mesh laundry bag to wash them together so none go missing in the machine.
Is It Best to Hang or Fold Baby Clothes?
Fold casual items like onesies, pants, and pajamas to save space. Hang nicer items like dresses, coats, and button-up shirts to prevent wrinkles. Using vertical space for hanging leaves more drawer room for essentials.
How Do You Store Baby Clothes With Minimal Space?
Use every inch of the room. Utilize the back of the door with hanging organizers, store out-of-season items in vacuum-sealed bags under the crib, and use wall-mounted shelves. Vertical storage is key in small nurseries.
What is the Most Effective Way to Fold Baby Clothes?
The “file folding” method (KonMari style) is highly effective. Fold clothes into small rectangles that stand upright in the drawer rather than stacking them. This lets you see every shirt at once without digging through a pile.
Is It Better to Store Clothes In Plastic or Cardboard Boxes?
Plastic bins are superior for long-term storage. They protect clothes from moisture, dust, and pests. Cardboard can deteriorate over time and may attract silverfish or absorb humidity, which damages the fabric.
How Do You Organize Hand-Me-Downs by Size?
Sort all hand-me-downs into piles by age range (e.g., 0-3M, 3-6M). Place each size group into a separate vacuum-seal bag or plastic bin. Clearly label the outside of the bin with the size and season so you can easily grab the next box when your baby grows.
