In preparation for our third child I have created a basket for everything. We will see how helpful this really is as soon as our daughter makes her arrival, but I truly feel I have found the perfect hack.
I will be very outnumbered, and anything I can do to keep myself in the room with all the kids at one time is worth it. I have prepared a few baskets full of supplies to move around the house with us as we need to.
Diaper changing basket– diapers for baby sister and my youngest son, rash cream, baby hair brush, mittens, socks, wipes, and a burp cloth. I kept this basket light enough for my four year old to grab it for me should I need him to get it.
Pumping basket– I’m an exclusive pumper, and while not a whole lot more beyond the pump is completely necessary it is so handy to have some things within arms reach. In this basket I have a cup for water for me, snacks, my haaka, breast pads, a feeding bottle, an extra pumping bottle, and extra breast milk bags.
Snack basket- my oldest is four and my middle should be about 17 months when the baby comes. They are at the age where snacks are a very important thing! Having a basket of healthy-ish prepackaged snacks out where the oldest can grab them really helps me. Horizon milk boxes, mini water bottles, and juice pouches along with string cheese and mandarin oranges will be stored in the door of the fridge for easy grabbing. As we adjust to our new family dynamic any sort of independence the boys can have is going to really help me.
I am trying to mentally prepare for the first little while to be really hard with three kids, especially with the babies being so close together. I also believe making as many preparations as I can is the key to not losing my mind completely. This basket concept could work for any number of kid, or even just for recovering from a sickness as a parent. The less you have to wander for your kids stuff the more efficient your days can be.
