Issue #16: The Little Systems Keeping Our Home Clutter-Lite with a Baby

thoughts on mindful consumption, keeping baby gear in check, and making space for what matters

The other night, I was curled up in bed with Keira sleeping next to me. It was around 8 p.m. It's that sweet, quiet window after her bedtime but before I’m ready to fall asleep myself. I’ve come to really love and crave this slow, cozy time.

I pulled out my phone to catch up on some life admin. And I had full intention to check a few things off the list and then move on to read my book. (I'm still trying to read Onyx Storm and I'm only 30% in.)

I started building out a Whole Foods order for the next day. Almond milk, blueberries, yogurt, and so on. But once that was done… I decided to browse some of my fave baby shops. Kiwi was due for some summer clothes in her size (she's now fitting 18–24 mos!). Mini Olie. Colored Organics. Some cute sunbonnets. A dreamy muslin romper in sage. I don’t remember the rest, because the next morning I woke up to an order confirmation in my inbox like… what did I even buy??

It was like I blacked out. And I didn’t read my book either.

And that’s when it hit me… Ah. This is how the clutter happens.

And I refuse. I refuse!

That’s where today’s issue really begins — with a question I keep asking now that I’m a mom:

💭 How do I enjoy this chapter, soak it in, have fun buying cute things for her… while still being mindful and not overconsuming? How do I keep the cozy, and avoid the chaos?

Because when you have a baby, you see firsthand that the amount of stuff marketed to us is BANANAS.

The consumerism… it’s like a broken fire hydrant that won’t shut off. Everything feels urgent. Necessary. Essential for their development. Or it’s just damn aesthetic. OMG.

And a lot of people love to say, "Just you wait until... [insert any reason why I will inevitably end up with a cluttered home because I now have a tiny human]”

I’m sorry, but I don't want to accept that as a given.

Because I know myself. I know how much clutter affects my mental space. I know the anxiety I feel. The frustration that grows.

And we know from today’s research that too much stuff impacts our children too! It can lead to overstimulation, making it harder for kids to concentrate, regulate their emotions, and just enjoy the moment.

One study found that toddlers actually played more creatively and with better focus when they had fewer toys in front of them. When there were too many options, they got distracted and didn’t engage as deeply.