Book Review: One Year To An Organized Life With Baby



Image courtesy of Regina Leeds site via Google images



Every now and again, I come across something - a product, web site or book - that I wish I had known about before I was pregnant and had my two children (currently ages 2 1/2 and 15 months). 

I often do not find these said items very often.  When I do, it's much like those Ah-Ha! moments where the sun shines down from the sky and glorious music plays in the background (you get the picture).

As part of my mission to be an informed mother, as well as a good baby planner, I am always more than happy to pass along these goodies.  It just so happens this new goodie fell into my hands just this past week.  

Fortunately, thanks to a new book, you do not have to experience the same wishes and woes I that have had when it came to finding a parenting/pregnancy book that is worth your time and money. 

One Year To An Organized Life With Baby is a book in a series from Regina Leeds,  a professional organizer for 20 plus years.  It is written with Meagan Francis, writer and mother of five children.  In a nutshell, this book is genuinely refreshing, helpful and complete in preparing for life with baby. 

However, you'll want to keep this book apart from the other "must-reads" you've come across or have yet to discover.  (Some are better kept un-read.  You'll have to email me if you want to hear some opinions)

Image via Google Image search



One Year is filled with great information from both the perspective of a professional organizer and a mom's perspective.  I found it to be a smart combination and collaboration of ideas for the solutions and suggestions you'll find in the book.  From the easy to follow break down of pregnancy by weeks and what to do and when coupled with the time lines and checklists, it is one of those books I wanted to grab my highlighter and dog-ear page after page.  However, I could not bring myself to do so to this book - it's far too pretty to do that to!  So, I opted for those Post-It Flags instead :) 

One quote I found early in the book that really struck home with me was Regina recounting a conversation with a client.  The client said: "I get organized on a regular basis, but it never lasts." Regina responded with this (which I love and is totally me): "You didn't get organized. You tidied up."  Let it sink in...repeat.  Not organized, just tidied up.  Big difference.  I found myself implementing their advice immediately. 

Then, as I kept going through chapter by chapter, I found wonderful things in this book.  They touch on topics ranging from green cleaning to co-sleeping to fun and creative ideas and way too many to list.  Regina and Meagan also discuss and call attention to topics that are not always thought of in the grand scheme of having a baby - including sections on remembering to focus on your partner and making mom's emotional and physical health a priority.  From personal experience, I can say both of these can get lost when you're caught up in the utter cuteness of your newborn baby and all the change that comes with it.

All of which are presented with bits of humor and realistic advice.  There are checklists for everything you need to get organized for real and not just simply tidy up.  It is truly atop my new must-have resources for new and expecting parents. 

Hopefully after reading this book, you'll find yourself wanting to buy this for all your friends and family who are currently pregnant or even those who have had their babies.  

While I tell my clients that nothing can truly prepare you for life with baby (except your baby), I do feel you can do your best to educate yourself through reliable sources as much as possible.  I share my knowledge of products, tips and tricks with everyone to the best of my ability and cut out much of the leg work and research.  However, this book comes pretty close to taking what I feel is a great approach for preparing parents from pregnancy and beyond!

Note:  I was offered my own copy of One Year To An Organized Life With Baby for free by the author.  However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.