{"id":1790,"date":"2024-08-30T07:31:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T07:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/from-laundry-to-meal-prep-everything-i-nested-this-thursday-to-get-baby-read\/"},"modified":"2025-01-31T07:39:30","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T07:39:30","slug":"from-laundry-to-meal-prep-everything-i-nested-this-thursday-to-get-baby-read","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/from-laundry-to-meal-prep-everything-i-nested-this-thursday-to-get-baby-read\/","title":{"rendered":"From Laundry to Meal Prep\u2014Everything I Nested This Thursday to Get Baby-Ready"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Nesting for Baby Girl |  Cleaning + organizing newborn essentials and clothes!\" width=\"1400\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gfjigNTZL4k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">Being in my third trimester as a first-time mom has been such a surreal and exciting experience. Nesting has become a way for me to prepare not just my home but my heart for the arrival of my baby girl. Today, I want to share everything I nested on this wonderful Thursday, pairing it with my favorite cleaning routine and a little meal prep to keep things organized and stress-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">Grab a cozy drink, domestic darlings, and let&#8217;s take a peek into my day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading font-bold text-h3 leading-[40px] pt-[21px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]\">Starting with My 1950s Podcast Cleaning Routine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">If you\u2019ve been following me for a while, you know<a href=\"https:\/\/radio.domesticdaydreams.com\/opt-in\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> I swear by my 1950s-Radio True Crime cleaning routine.<\/a> It\u2019s a guided, timed-cleaning podcast where we listen to old Dragnet episodes while tackling household tasks. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/radio.domesticdaydreams.com\/opt-in\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">You can try some episodes here!<\/a><\/strong> Today, like every Thursday, I started off strong with the routine, tackling my daily checklist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading font-bold text-h4 leading-[30px] pt-[15px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]\">Step 1: Airing the Beds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">Airing the beds is my go-to alternative to making them. Think about it\u2014just pull back the covers and allow dust and allergens to escape. It\u2019s quick, effective, and feels so refreshing! Plus, it reminds me of that magical Mary Poppins moment when everything snaps neatly into place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading font-bold text-h4 leading-[30px] pt-[15px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]\">Step 2: Laundry &#8211; Thursday is Darks Day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">Each day has its own designated laundry task in my system, and Thursdays are reserved for darks. To streamline the process, I use labeled baskets with wash setting guides, making it so easy that even my husband can step in and help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">Pro-tip for busy moms-to-be\u2014create a system that allows you to delegate laundry without worrying about it being done \u201cwrong!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading font-bold text-h4 leading-[30px] pt-[15px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]\">Step 3: Unloading the Dishwasher<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">One of my golden cleaning rules is to always start the morning by unloading the dishwasher. To make things even easier, I fill the sink with warm, soapy water before cooking meals, so dirty dishes can go straight into the water, no scrubbing required. It\u2019s a game-changer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading font-bold text-h3 leading-[40px] pt-[21px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]\">Organizing Baby Essentials in a Tiny Space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">One of the biggest challenges of nesting in our 500-square-foot home is the lack of space. Without a nursery, our baby girl is sharing our room, so I\u2019ve had to get creative. That\u2019s where our antique armoire comes in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Baby Clothes Organization Without a Closet | Nest with me first time mom\" width=\"1400\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4rKtD0rlR3g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading font-bold text-h4 leading-[30px] pt-[15px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]\">Dusting and Setting Up the Armoire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">Since Thursdays are also for dusting, it was the perfect time to give the armoire a good wipe down. I may have already dusted it after assembling it, but hey, a little extra cleaning doesn\u2019t hurt. Remember, the motto here is \u201ca half-done job is better than no job at all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading font-bold text-h4 leading-[30px] pt-[15px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]\">Hanging Her Tiny Clothes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">Next came the fun (and slightly extra) part\u2014hanging up her adorable little outfits. I used a tension rod and cute size-divider tags to organize everything by age. Seeing those tiny clothes hung up made everything feel so real. While I know I\u2019ll probably switch to a bin system later for practicality, I couldn\u2019t resist displaying all her outfits for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading font-bold text-h4 leading-[30px] pt-[15px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]\">Creating Functional Bins for Essentials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">To keep things easy to access, I organized her essentials into labeled baskets within the armoire:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list text-body list-disc pl-8 py-1.5 [&amp;_ul]:pl-4 [&amp;_ul]:py-0 [&amp;_ol]:pl-4 [&amp;_ol]:py-0\">\n<li><strong class=\"font-bold\">Sleep Basket:<\/strong>&nbsp;Swaddles, sleep sacks, PJs, and receiving blankets. By keeping everything bedtime-related in one basket, I know it\u2019s easy to find when we need it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong class=\"font-bold\">Accessory Basket:<\/strong>&nbsp;Tiny socks, bows, and baby accessories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong class=\"font-bold\">Washcloth Basket:<\/strong>&nbsp;I use these daily to clean her neck rolls (mama&#8217;s with chunky babies, you know!) and during bath time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong class=\"font-bold\">Feeding Basket:<\/strong>&nbsp;Nursing supplies, bottles, and bottle accessories. (I\u2019m planning to sterilize these on another nesting day!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">This system not only saved space but made things super functional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"How to Fold Baby Items | Baby Clothes Organization Hacks\" width=\"1400\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/e1D-0owvXMQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading font-bold text-h3 leading-[40px] pt-[21px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]\">Folding Clothes (Or Not!)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">While I did bother to perfectly fold her clothes during nesting, I want to emphasize this\u2014IT\u2019S OKAY NOT TO. Once she\u2019s here, I might toss onesies into a bin and call it a day. Perfection isn\u2019t the goal; having a functional system that works for your family is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading font-bold text-h3 leading-[40px] pt-[21px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]\">Ending the Day with Meal Prep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">After nesting and cleaning, I turned my attention to dinner and meal prep for the week. On Wednesday, I had prepped some freezer meals, so today I enjoyed the fruits of that labor.<strong> (You can find my post on everything I meal prepped and the recipes here) <\/strong>Dump meals\u2014simple recipes you dump into a casserole dish and bake\u2014have been my go-to. I love adding recipe details with dry-erase markers on the bins, so even my husband can take over cooking with ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">Pro-tip: If you&#8217;re a new or expectant mom, try doubling recipes\u2014half for dinner tonight, half to freeze for later. It\u2019s a small habit that can save you big time postpartum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">Today\u2019s dinner wasn\u2019t a huge win\u2014it\u2019s okay, tamale casserole just isn\u2019t our thing\u2014but it freezes beautifully, so it\u2019s a great option if that\u2019s a dish your family enjoys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">Once the meal was done, it was time to tidy up the kitchen for the night. I always make sure to load and run the dishwasher before bed so I wake up to a clean slate in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading font-bold text-h3 leading-[40px] pt-[21px] pb-[2px] [&amp;_a]:underline-offset-[6px] [&amp;_.underline]:underline-offset-[6px]\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">Nesting has been such a meaningful part of my pregnancy. Every small task, whether it\u2019s folding tiny clothes or organizing a basket, has felt like a tangible way to prepare for this new chapter of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">For all the mamas out there preparing for little ones, just take it one step at a time. You don\u2019t have to do it all perfectly\u2014you just have to do what works for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">Thanks for joining me on this nesting day, domestic darlings! I\u2019d love to hear how you\u2019re prepping for your baby or what space-saving tips you\u2019ve used in your own home. Drop a comment below, and I\u2019ll see you in the next post. \ud83d\udc95<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-body font-regular leading-[24px] pt-[9px] pb-[2px]\">Until next time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking for an easy way to keep your home tidy in just 30 minutes a day, try my guided audio cleaning routines featuring 1950s radio shows! <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/radio.domesticdaydreams.com\/opt-in\">You can get your free episodes here. <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Being in my third trimester as a first-time mom has been such a surreal and exciting experience. Nesting has become a way for me to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1791,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,78,95],"tags":[108,110],"class_list":["post-1790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-homemaking","category-on-youtube","tag-nesting","tag-organizing"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/domestic-daydreams-youtube-thumbnails-5-1.png?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1790"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1793,"href":"https:\/\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1790\/revisions\/1793"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/domesticdaydreams.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}