Since the day we announced there was a bun in my oven, readers have asked how our house has adapted to our growing family. Now that Clara is two months old (how time flies!), we decided it was high time to share candid photos that document how our home has changed with all the baby gear we’ve collected so far. We know the gear will grow as she does, so consider this an early snapshot of life with an infant—stay tuned for future updates.
The photos here are unedited and un-staged—actual everyday scenes. We like our house this way: lived-in, casual, convenient, and functional. The key for us is that every item has a place when it’s not in use. Even though these shots show gear out and about, everything can be tucked away when we want to “de-babify” the house for company. Lately most visitors come to see Clara anyway, so they enjoy watching her in her element.
Without further ado, here’s a realistic day-in-the-life reveal.
Our bedroom now reflects life with an infant: the bed rarely gets made anymore. We do make it sometimes for guests, but often we skip it—newborn life gives us that unofficial get-out-of-jail-free card. Burger sleeps in later than usual and can usually be found in bed next to some of the books we read to Clara. The sweetest routine is when he finally wakes up and immediately searches for his little sister.
Here he finds Clara in her swing in the den. The swing moves between the den and the office depending on where we are.
Clara’s favorite item is the Boppy travel swing. We chose a smaller, affordable travel swing that we use constantly, not just for travel. Its compact footprint and neutral color scheme blend with our home, which is a welcome bonus. We hoped it could serve double duty as a bouncy seat, and while it doesn’t vibrate like many bouncers, it’s low to the ground and works as a stable resting spot when the swing is off. Every baby is different, but we’re glad we found one piece that handles multiple needs instead of buying two separate items.
See that pink blanket draped over the chair? It’s for playtime and tummy time in the den. We keep two plush floor blankets—one in the den and one in the office—so we always have a soft surface for floor play, neck exercises, rolling practice, and ceiling-gazing. Babies are surprisingly entertained by the simplest things.
Next up: laundry.
Clara’s arrival means more washing, but her tiny clothes fit a lot into one energy-efficient load. We’re eager to start using cloth diapers once she’s a bit bigger; until then we’re using disposable Seventh Generation diapers. Switching will cut down ongoing costs, and we’re excited to move in that direction when she’s ready.
Bath time keeps the bathroom busy every couple of days. Clara loves baths, and we avoid bulky plastic tubs thanks to a yellow foam bath mat from Target that a relative recommended. It’s soft, inexpensive, easy to squeeze out and tuck into a basket in our open linen closet. It’s a simple, practical solution that works well for babies until they can sit up on their own.
The other blanket lives in the office and is usually laid out on the floor with toys. It’s a dedicated play station for tummy time, playing, and occasional naps—sometimes with Burger curled up beside her.
Because one of us is always on Clara-duty while the other works, having roomy rug space makes it easy to sit down with her and hold up toys while she tracks them with those big blue eyes.
The Boppy is often on the sofa. Because I nurse in many rooms (bedroom, office, den, living room, nursery, sunroom, even the car), I like having it handy and it travels with us. Its soft blue color fits into most rooms, so it doesn’t feel out of place. It’s not a designer pillow, but it blends in better than bright primary-colored gear would in our more muted home.
We chose a single Joovy Kooper stroller that serves from newborn onward instead of buying multiple strollers. Daily walks with Burger and Clara give it plenty of use. Most gear has a designated stash spot for quick tidying: the stroller usually rides in the car trunk, though sometimes we leave it in the sunroom for convenience. It doesn’t match the beachy daybed, but convenience wins with a two-month-old.
In the nursery, things stay mostly tidy thanks to a big toy bin under the bench that makes it easy to pull out and put back toys. Clara has been enjoying her Bumbo seat, a hand-me-down that surprisingly complements the room’s colors. The half-read book in front of it was left there after a quick spit-up cleanup—no staging, just life happening.
We worried the kitchen would feel overwhelmed once Clara arrived, but since she’s not on solids yet, we only added three Weego glass bottles and a small bottle rack. I nurse exclusively, though I occasionally pump so she’ll accept a bottle. Friends advised not to overbuy bottles, and so far those three have been more than enough. We picked neutral colors so the gear will work for any future children, too.
How have we managed all this? With designated stash spots and a philosophy that if everything has a place, tidying becomes simple. Bottles live in a small cabinet above the drying rack. The Bumbo sits on a top shelf in Clara’s closet. The Boppy and office blanket can be tossed into that closet when needed. The foam bath mat goes into a basket in the linen closet after use, and the travel swing folds up for storage in a closet or on a high shelf behind the laundry area’s blinds. Small habits make big differences in keeping the house manageable.
We could make the bed if we felt like it, but lately we embrace a gentler standard. We’ve always accepted imperfection—painting paneling instead of removing it and making our own art instead of buying expensive pieces—so having a baby has reinforced that a happy home is one that’s lived in and loved. Functionality buys us more time to spend together as a family, and that matters most.
Note: None of the makers of the baby items mentioned have paid us or provided perks. These are simply the pieces Clara enjoys and that have worked for our family.