How to Fold Baby Clothes That Stay Neat and Tidy in Drawers

One of the essential tasks when preparing for a baby’s arrival is organizing their adorable wardrobe. From tiny onesies to cute little socks, baby clothes come in various sizes and shapes, making proper folding techniques crucial for optimal storage and easy access. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the art of folding baby clothes, ensuring neatness, efficiency, and a well-organized nursery.

Gather Your Supplies:

Before diving into the folding process, gather the necessary supplies. You’ll need a clean, flat surface such as a table or bed, and a basket or drawer to store the neatly folded clothes. Additionally, keep handy a laundry basket to separate clean clothes from dirty ones as you go.

Sort and Categorize:

Start by sorting the baby clothes into categories, such as onesies, tops, bottoms, and accessories. This step will make the folding process more streamlined and efficient. It also allows you to identify items that need special care or attention.

Master the Onesie Fold:

Onesies are a staple in a baby’s wardrobe, and folding them correctly ensures efficient use of space. Lay the onesie flat on the surface with the front facing down. Fold one side of the onesie inward, aligning the sleeve with the side seam. Repeat this step with the other side. Next, fold the bottom of the onesie up towards the top, making sure the snaps or buttons are tucked inside. Smooth out any wrinkles, and you have a perfectly folded onesie.

Tackle Tops and Bottoms:

For tops such as t-shirts or sweaters, lay them flat on the surface with the front side facing down. Fold one side across the back, aligning the sleeve with the side seam. Repeat with the other side. Fold the bottom of the top up towards the neckline, creating a neat rectangle. Pants and shorts can be folded in half lengthwise, and then in half again or rolled up to save space.

Mind the Delicate Items:

Some baby clothes require extra care, such as delicate dresses or outfits made of special fabrics. Lay these items flat on the surface, ensuring the fabric is smooth and free of wrinkles. Fold them gently, following the natural lines of the garment, to preserve their shape and avoid any damage.

Tidy Up the Accessories:

Baby accessories like socks, hats, and bibs can easily get misplaced if not properly organized. Fold socks together, making sure they are neatly matched. For hats, gently flatten them and fold them in half or roll them up. As for bibs, fold them into a compact rectangle, securing any Velcro or snap closures.

Utilize Dividers and Storage Solutions:

Once you’ve mastered the art of folding baby clothes, it’s time to put them away. Consider using dividers or storage solutions within drawers or baskets to keep different clothing categories separate. This makes it easier to find specific items when you need them and keeps the nursery clutter-free.

Regularly Rotate Clothes:

Babies grow quickly, and their clothing needs change accordingly. To ensure that your little one always has the right size clothes at hand, regularly rotate their wardrobe. As they outgrow items, store them away or pass them on to other parents. This way, you can maximize the use of available space and keep their clothing selection up to date.

Label and Organize:

Labeling drawers or storage bins can further enhance the organization of baby clothes. Use labels or tags to mark different sections, such as “onesies,” “tops,” “bottoms,” or specific sizes. This simple step saves time and reduces frustration when searching for specific items, especially during those late-night diaper changes.

How to Organize Baby Clothes with Different Folding Methods

Folding and organizing your baby’s clothes might seem like a hassle, especially with so much else to think about as a new parent, but it can save you time and energy in the long run by making outfit selections easier and giving the nursery a calmer, cleaner feel.

There are several different ways to fold baby clothes; here are a few of the most common.

Traditional folding method

This style of folding generally has you fold the odd corners of clothes until they resemble squares or rectangles, then stack them on top of each other in the drawer. It’s probably the folding style you grew up with. It might be the folding style you use now.

KonMari folding method

Another way to fold baby clothes that’s gained popularity in recent years is the KonMari folding method, which saves space and allows you to see all your clothing options at once. This involves folding clothes into a small parcel that can stand on its end, then “filing” the parcels away in the drawer. We’ll lay out the details of KonMari folding later in this article.

Rolling method

A third style you can use to organize baby clothes is to fold the clothes into long lines and then roll them up. Like KonMari, this method also allows you to pack many pieces of clothing into a small space and to see them all at once.

How to Fold Newborn Clothes

Some types of newborn and baby clothes are fairly straightforward to fold the flat, traditional way because they have the same shapes as their grown-up counterparts.

For example: to fold baby pants, first fold them in half vertically, so the two legs are together, then fold them at the knee to make a little rectangle that can easily be put away in a drawer. To fold a baby T-shirt, first fold the sleeves in behind the back, then fold the shirt in half at the chest. This is probably very similar to how you fold your own pants and tees.

Other items might give you more trouble due to a new shape, but if the purpose is to make the clothing items neat and organized in a drawer, then usually you can figure out how to turn any piece of clothing into a passable rectangle. In the case of cloth diapers, for example, fold in the tabs on the sides and then fold at the middle to make a neat bundle for stacking.

Below are some step-by-step instructions for how to fold several of the most common items of newborn baby clothing.

How to Fold Baby Onesies

Folding onesies using the traditional method is very simple:

• If the onesie has long sleeves, fold them in behind the back. (If it has short sleeves, skip this step. Baby onesies are so small that it’s no big deal to have those tiny short sleeves sticking out.)
• Fold the onesie in half horizontally, so it looks like a little T-shirt.

How to Fold Baby Socks

Baby socks are folded just like you probably fold your own socks. There are just two steps:

• Place the socks one on top of the other.
• Turn down the cuff of one sock around both socks, securing them together.

What Clothes Should Be Hung?

Some baby clothes should not be folded. If your child has any “special occasion” clothing, like dresses or suits, those items should be hung in the closet to keep them from wrinkling. Outerwear, such as jackets and coats, is another category of baby clothing that’s often hung up instead of folded and put away in a drawer. Over time, you will develop a sense of what works best for you to fold and to hang—every family is different, after all. No matter what you choose to hang up, you will need little hangers designed for baby and toddler clothes.

How to Fold Baby Clothes to Save Space

Another way to fold and organize clothes is the KonMari folding method, popularized by organizer Marie Kondo. The basic steps of KonMari folding and organizing for any clothing item are:

• Fold items vertically, folding in any odd sticking-out bits like sleeves, until you have made a long, narrow rectangle out of the article of clothing.
• Fold up this rectangle in thirds (or fourths, if that’s easier for you) until you have a small, compact bundle.
• The little bundles are placed on their ends in drawers like files in a file cabinet.

Stay Comfy and Stylish: Exploring the World of Baby Pants

Baby pants are a staple in every little one’s wardrobe, providing comfort and style in one adorable package. Designed with soft, breathable fabrics, baby pants ensure that your little bundle of joy can move and explore with ease. Elastic waistbands and gentle cuffs offer a snug fit without restricting their delicate skin. From cute patterns and playful prints to solid colors, baby pants come in a variety of options to suit every occasion. Whether it’s for playtime, naptime, or a special outing, these tiny bottoms are a must-have for keeping your baby comfortable and looking irresistibly cute.

How to Fold Baby Pants (Two Methods)

Baby pants and shorts can be folded using the KonMari method as well. But if your baby’s pants are so packed into the drawer that a few tend to unfold each time you pull one out, Dilbeck recommends the tuck method (which can also be used for baby shirts). You can still file pants folded with the tuck method into your drawer the same way as those folded with the KonMari method.

How to Fold Baby Pants with the KonMari Method

1. Lay the pants on a flat surface and smooth out creases.
2. Fold them in half vertically, leg to leg.
3. Fold in half horizontally, ankle to waist.
4. Fold in half horizontally again (so the pants are in fourths).

How to Fold Baby Pants with the Tuck Method

1. Lay the pants on a flat surface and smooth out creases.
2. Fold in half vertically, leg to leg.
3. Fold just the ankles up, as if you were cuffing the pants.
4. From the waist end, fold the pants down, then down again to line up with the other end.
5. Tuck the folded edge into the top ankle opening and smooth flat.

Benefits of Well-Folded Baby Clothes

A tidy baby dresser is a boon for your stress levels.

“Keeping baby clothes neat and organized can be particularly helpful in two scenarios: when you are tight on space, and for those middle of the night, in the dark diaper changes,” says June Doran, a parenting and decluttering expert at This Simple Balance. “When you’re standing there, bleary-eyed and exhausted, with the mother of all blowouts on your hands, knowing exactly where you put the zippered pajamas filed neatly in the drawer might just save you from a complete and total meltdown.”

Taking the time to fold your baby’s clothes also helps combat one of the biggest challenges new parents face.

How To Fold Baby Dresses Using KonMari

Baby dresses are especially prone to becoming wrinkled when folded and placed in a dresser drawer, but the KonMari folding technique aims to minimize that. To help prevent wrinkles in your baby’s dresses, it’s especially important to lay the dress as flat as possible before you begin.

1. Lay the dress flat on a clean surface. Make sure to spread the bottom of the dress out, since it’s probably wider than the top. This will help minimize wrinkling.
2. Fold the sides of the dress (including the sleeves) in toward the middle one-third of the way each. You should be left with a rectangle with nice, straight edges.
3. Then fold the bottom of the dress up toward the top about one-third of the way.
4. Fold up horizontally one more time. Depending on the size of the dress, you may need to fold more or less to get it to the right size.

Conclusion:

Mastering the art of folding baby clothes not only keeps your nursery tidy and organized but also simplifies your daily routines. With a few simple techniques and a touch of creativity, you can turn this task into an enjoyable and rewarding process. Organizing baby clothes, organize baby accessories, hanger bags, many parents use small boxes for other clothes, or drawer organizers. So, embrace the art of neatness, and let your baby’s adorable clothes bring joy and order to their little world.

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