The Organized Mom: Simplify Life for You and Baby, One Step at a Time [Hardcover]

Stacey Crew (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 18, 2009

Binkies, burpcloths, and BPA-free bottles--there are plenty of books to tell mom what to buy to get ready for baby, but where to put it all? When the baby's wailing, it's not the time to be rummaging for diapers (only to realize they're all gone), washing bottles, or searching for that lost binky. In this book, organizing expert Stacey Crew shares her innovative approach to getting the home ready for baby. Using the patented GOPACK Method, Crew shows you how to Group Objects, Purge, Assign, Contain, and Keep it up--all allowing you to spend more precious time with your little one. Featuring room-by-room advice, this truly unique handbook turns harried moms into happy ones.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

When I started to think about writing a book about organizing for new moms I was a relatively new mom myself. When I started writing this book, my daughters were two and almost five. And now, my little one just turned nine and my oldest is in sixth grade. What I know for sure is that time passes quickly and the more organized you are, the more you are able to enjoy the precious and fleeting time you have with your baby. In many ways, I feel like I blinked and the time was gone. Now, as a mom who has written two books, who contributes regularly to local and national publications and websites, and who has a fulltime organizing and consulting business, I have many happy memories of baby time. Being organized can make all difference between being a constantly frazzled new mom and a more relaxed, much less frazzled new mom. I remember what it was like to be overwhelmed with baby gear and baby needs and family demands. In fact, I don't think there is another time in women's lives when we are bombarded with more information than it feels humanly possible to handle. Plus, we're taking care of that precious and helpless little human who is completely relying on us for his or her every need! So why do you need this book? Because it is filled with simple, smart ideas you can apply right now so that you can begin to feel in charge and competent. These ideas will help you figure out what baby gear you really need and how to put it a logical place in your home. So much of parenthood is dealing with the unexpected events in any given day--this book will help you manage everything else. Treat this book as a trusted friend--turn to it for both specific advice and big-picture planning so that these wonderful moments don't pass you by. Enjoy the ride and don't forget to make time for you.

From the Inside Flap

Pregnancy is such a special time. It's a time for wondering, dreaming, and even some introspection. You're likely thinking about your baby whenever you have a free moment. Who will this baby look like? What kind of personality will she have? Will he have Uncle Jack's ears? What about my darling husband's eyes and deep sensitivity? And it is certainly a time when you need to plan, plan, and plan. How will you set up a space in your home for your new little person? What do you really need and where will you put it all? The Organized Mom will help you determine exactly what you need and where to put it, using my proven, step-by-step GOPACK method for getting and staying organized.

The book is designed to guide you--the mom-to-be--through the preparation of the nursery, packing for the hospital stay, and staying organized once baby arrives. The Organized Mom also contains helpful information through baby's first year, including how to analyze your childcare options, successfully transition from a couple to a family, and plan a perfect first birthday party. At the back of the book, you will find resources on everything from baby announcements to child safety to storage solutions to product recalls.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Adams Media; Spi edition (December 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605501301
• ISBN-13: 978-1605501307
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,202,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stacey Crew is an organizing expert with a degree in corporate communications. She is the creative force behind the patented organization technique known as the GOPACK® Method. Stacey has been deemed a "New Mom Organizing Expert," and has been interviewed by American Baby and Pregnancy magazines, Our365.com, BabyCenter.com, and RealSavvyMoms.com. She lives in Spring Lake, New Jersey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect baby shower gift for a mom-to-be, January 25, 2010

By 

Elizabeth Jenkins "a fresh space" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Organized Mom: Simplify Life for You and Baby, One Step at a Time (Hardcover)

Stacey Crew has written a book that not only teaches you to be organized but also how to deal with the changes a new baby adds to a household. A definitive guide.
What I really like about Stacey's book is that it has a great mix of the warm & fuzzy part of being a mom, and the practical side of what you need to know AND how to do it. So much of being a mom is being organized and having a book like this at your side can be invaluable.
The book is broken into two parts: Organizing Your Home & Organizing For The Baby's Arrival.

Organizing Your Home encompasses the definitions of organizing, Stacey's GOPACK method for organizing, and organizing room by room. This is helpful for just about anyone - and as well done as any organizing book I've read (and I've read a lot!).

Organizing For The Baby's Arrival spans going to the hospital and coming home to babyproofing to baby's firsts. This is the part I wish I had when I was pregnant!

Some of my favorite things:

* defining of terms like `binky' and `nesting'
* real life stories of how people solved common issues
* super practical and detailed recommendations and ideas
* checklists of what you need (including notations to indicate things that are nice but not necessary)
* diagrams for nursery set up and zones for rooms of the house
* an obvious understanding of what it is to be a mom, and a person with a life before parenthood
* the Appendix that has Worksheets and the one that has Resources

Plus the general philosophy that swirls through the book about having a vision for your life and about being mindful. The best thing about this book is its logical, step by step approach to getting things done in ways that are achievable and, dare I say, even fun. Plus, learning the skills as an expectant mom will allow mom to teach the skills to her child which may end up being even more valuable. Being organized isn't natural for all people, and learning the skills during childhood can only make later life better.

3.0 out of 5 stars Already organized, October 15, 2010

By 

Juan C. Lemus (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Organized Mom: Simplify Life for You and Baby, One Step at a Time (Hardcover)

I was excited to receive the book but once I flipped through it I realized that I had already done all that I can do to organize for the arrival of my 1st child.

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Your Life. Ain't That The Truth! Loved this simple and easy read....., March 25, 2010

By 

Kimberley Clayton Blaine, MA, MFT "The Go-To Mom" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Organized Mom: Simplify Life for You and Baby, One Step at a Time (Hardcover)

If you looking for clarity and peace of mind, this is the book for you. Stacey Crew shows you that getting ready for baby doesn't have to be overwhelming, but can be fun and exciting. So get ready and GOPACK! Read now :-)

Kimberley Clayton Blaine, MA, MFT
Founder, [...]
Author: What Smart Mothers Know: Affirmations For Women With Young Children