I don't post much, but I LOVE reading this forum! We just found out we are expecting #2 in Jan/Feb, and my DD is 14 months. Her and new baby will be sharing a room, and I need ideas on maximizing the space. Both will probably still be in diapers (cloth), so I need that storage. Currently the bedroom consists of crib, twin bed (use as changing table), dresser (completely full :P) and a very small bookshelf that has books on top, and toys on the other shelves. I also have toys in sterilite containers stacked in a corner. I am not opposed to paring down the amount of stuff DD has, and the stuff for new baby, but I'd like suggestions on amounts of things to get, too!

Thanks

Congrats on the new baby!!!! What an awesome blessing!!!

My favorite thing for organizing are the clear, plastic containers with lids that stack!!! Love em!!!!

Maybe for the dipes you could use a storage space that has the little cloth lined baskets that rest in their spot. That way they could just get thrown in the basket and put in their spot and would still look nice and neat.

is to build into the closet - that is usually the biggest waste of space in kids rooms. Do you have a closet? Because kids (especially that age) do not have hanging clothes that require all that space. At least with boys, even now at 4 & 6, we have nothing that needs hanging. Perhaps with girls a foot or so for dresses (one upper, one lower rod) would suffice? Then build the rest into shelves, sized to fit baskets - as Sunbeam suggested, cloth-lined baskets for small clothes, diapers, covers, etc. Plastic or wood containers with wheels that fit on the floor beneath the lowest shelf make excellent toy boxes. Or remove the closet door(s) and leave a portion of the center area about 4 foot high free & empty and attach velvety curtains like a puppet theater to give them a play space they are guaranteed to love.

I am planning to build into Alex's closet when we move his room downstairs this summer. There is a built in closet and a built in dresser in his room... but he only really needs the dresser... so I am going to take the doors off the closet and make that his book shelf. Then I am making him a loft bed, and putting a curtian under neith it on one side with a desk on the other under the ladder. That way he has his own study space with out taking away from the play space... although your children are going to be MUCH younger... so these may not work for you. I agree with the baskets idea... it is an easy and stress free way to keep dipes, wipes and their wipe solution bottle all in one place... you can find good baskets for things like this at Target or even Goodwill.

Could you nix the twin bed in lue of another crib or toddler bed? (Some children have a hard time giving their bed up for the new baby... I know that Alex did. Be prepared. :) ) Perhaps change them on the floor? (I never had a changing table... I just vacuumed every day.... and at first had a really pretty changing mat that I used) A shelf with baskets with toys in it? Small shelves are very easy to build and cost next to nothing when you build them yourself. This is what I have in both mine and my childrens rooms. They are 4'X4'X8"deep... they have worked for everything from cd's and a stereo to books too tall to be on the built in shelves, to Cyans diaper stuff and all baby toys.

Good luck and congratulations on the new baby!!!!!!

Love Val