Comments on: Reader pics: Charles Smith’s uncluttered nursery

By: Pamela

Pamela — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:15:43 +0000

We passed on a dedicated changing table. Instead we got one of the curved changing pads and put that on a low dresser, though for about the first two years, we just put a protective cloth on the bed in her room and changed her there. We also passed on getting a highchair. We got an adjustable booster with a back that reclines for babies and strapped that to one of the otherwise-unused kitchen chairs.

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:41:57 +0000

What about a kids or nursery category on the right? (Unless, I’m missing it today which is always a possibility.) I would love to scroll the kids-related idea rather than just see the link to the last 4 posts.

By: twosandalz

twosandalz — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 03:59:30 +0000

“We are constantly trying to teach her that everything has its place.” IMHO, starting kids early with this is the way to go! My mother started my brother as soon as we could walk and carry something at the same time. When we finished playing with a toy, she’d have us put it away. At first she did it with us, and once we got the concept we did it on our own. It became second nature. Added bonus for my mother for 20 years… the time she saved by not picking up after us. I hope it works out this way for you too.

By: mjp

mjp — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 02:02:47 +0000

i can vouch for the clothing tips above - it is amazing how people pour out gifts - there is just something about a baby. We ended up putting nice dresses on ours just to get the worn once before the she outgrows.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 02:22:08 +0000

My mother and her cousin each had their own drawer to sleep in when they were babies. (They were in an apartment that held my great-grandparents, a single uncle, one couple with two small children, and my grandparents and my mother.)

By: Martha

Martha — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 01:45:00 +0000

Excellent points. (But it’s “conscious” effort, not “conscience.” Lack of sleep will do that to you!)

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:05:31 +0000

If you put the changing pad on top of the dresser (which I did), then put some of that nubby drawer liner under it so it doesn’t slip. (I also love that stuff between a box spring and mattress.) I like the fold up booster seat with detachable tray. My daughter’s three and a half now, but we keep the seat so it can be a high chair for friends with little ones. I could not have functioned without the pack and play, but I needed it to keep daughter safe from resentful dog who visited on weekends. And she slept in it on trips until she was two. And yes, visiting small people sleep in it still.

By: cass

cass — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:56:54 +0000

We’re a big fan of the high chairs that strap on to regular chairs. They cost less and take up less floor space than the regular models, but still offer the functionality we needed (esp. with twins). Favorite toys right now include metal bowls, wooden spoons, a wire whisk (this is a big hit lately) and lots of clean yogurt tubs. It’s still cluttered when they’re scattered everywhere, but at least we didn’t go out and buy them especially for the kids.

By: Jasi

Jasi — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:29:30 +0000

I’m a minimalist, but while pregnant I got this horrible nesting-shopping bug. I regret buying expensive things. Could have done without the high chair, the crib (she sleeps with us), and a ton of other junk.

Things we love love love: FP Booster Seat (travels great, hides away, dishwasher safe), Evenflo Triumph convertible car seat (good to 50 lbs), Ikea Tovik unfinished 3 drawer dresser (painted it and secured a changing pad on top). These things have taken us through many months and maybe more.

In retrospect, I should have bought a pack of onesies, some dipes and wipes, baby magic, carseat, stroller and called it a day.

Let’s have a post for minimalist parents!

By: Andamom

Andamom — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:19:24 +0000

I wrote a post awhile back after being asked by multiple friends about what baby items were beneficial. I think one could streamline this even further — because as I wrote in another reply to an unclutterer posting, it is possible to live in a 300 square foot apartment as a 3 person family.

http://andamom.com/?p=62

By: Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE

Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:53:16 +0000

As the mother of seven and a childbirth educator and pregnancy/parenting expert I can tell you much of what comes with the baby is clutter! Look at all of the “things” that we buy for babies, the plastic seats and buckets, 2-3 items to bath baby in, multiple beds… You baby can’t play with more than 2-3 toys. When they out grow those toys developmentally, get a few more (or wait for gifts!). Bathe with your baby or you can use your sink - no need for the baby bathtub or other parts. Skip the bouncey seat, bumbo, play gym, etc and invest in a nice blanet to pad the floor and a babiy carrier (preferably one that holds them until their toddlers, like the mei tai or sling). So skip the stuff and enjoy the baby!

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:47:53 +0000

I posted something about alternatives to changing tables: http://unclutterer.com/archives/2007/06/baby_room_clutter_the_changing.php

By: amanda lee

amanda lee — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:42:07 +0000

@Amy–my parents did the same with me–changed me on a dresser top. The dresser in question is currently in my room, holding my clothes. And I’m 25.

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:21:43 +0000

We have friends that used the top of a dresser as the changing table. They put a contured changing pad on top and had plenty of room on top for wipes and diapers but mostly she used the drawers to keep stuff organized. The dresser is still being used by the baby who is 8 year old

By: Drew

Drew — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:19:47 +0000

When our daughter was born we were living in a glorified studio apartment (”junior one bedroom”) in San Francisco. We didn’t have a nursery, or even room for a full-size dresser. We co-slept and emptied one dresser drawer for her clothes. Even when we moved to a larger place, we didn’t bother with a crib. My daughter didn’t really need a room of her own until she was sleeping in a regular bed. We got a dresser that doubled as a changing table, and that saved our backs. We passed it on to friends who had a newborn a few years later, although we could have kept it and just removed the pad on top.

So if you have limited space or money, consider investing in a larger bed for the adults and baby rather than crib, bassinet, jumpy seat, what have you.

By: Thud

Thud — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:53:59 +0000

We have a crib that we currently use as a changing table and a “play yard” with bassinet attachment that is the baby’s main sleeping area for now. Once he outgrows the bassinet we can stow that collapsable piece and use the playpen — and he can sleep in the crib.

My mother-in-law nearly had a fit that we weren’t going to buy a changing table. We’ve also had people try to push strollers, high-chairs, and all sorts of other baby furniture onto us.

By: H20

H20 — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:30:25 +0000

I don’t know why our tradition here, once the baby reached the first birthday, we would pack ALL of the babies’ needs and give to someone we know will having a baby soon…..and the things we packed was from someone else…it’s some sort of recycling….
And again and again each birthday……

Sure, there’s something loose, broken or not nice,….. normally i would discard the unwanted ones but it saves us a lot of money……hehehehe….and the environment too!!!
We buy new clothes only for ‘hariraya’, our country’s yearly celebration,where everybody would only wear new clothes the entire week…