Since we announced that we were expecting, readers have asked how our home has adapted to life with a baby. Now that Clara is two months old, we decided to share candid photos showing how our house looks day to day with all the baby gear we’ve accumulated so far. These snapshots are unedited—real-life scenes—and they reflect the lived-in, casual, and functional vibe we aim for in our home. Everything in these photos has a home when not in use, which we think is the key to keeping the house manageable. When guests visit, most of them are here to meet Clara anyway, so the lived-in look rarely feels like a problem.
This is our bedroom on a typical day: we usually don’t make the bed, and we’ve learned that the whole “newborn” excuse is a perfectly acceptable one. Burger tends to sleep in late and can often be found on the bed with some of the books we read to Clara earlier in the morning. The sweetest part is when he finally gets up and seeks out his little sister.
Here he is tracking Clara down, only to discover her in her swing in the den. That swing moves between the den and the office depending on where we are spending our time.
Clara adores her Boppy Travel swing. We chose a smaller, affordable travel swing that we use constantly, not just when traveling. Its compact footprint and neutral color scheme make it easy to fit into different rooms. We also appreciated that it doubles as a low-to-the-ground, non-vibrating seat when the swing is off, which saves us from buying a separate bouncer. Every baby is different, but for Clara this one piece covers multiple needs and has been worth its place in our home.
The pink blanket draped over the chair in the photo is one of two plush floor blankets we keep around—one in the den and one in the office—so we always have a soft surface for playtime, tummy time, rolling, and ceiling-staring. Having two makes it easy to be wherever the action is without lugging blankets from room to room.
Next up: laundry.
Clara’s arrival has increased how much we wash, but her tiny clothes mean we can fit a lot into one energy-efficient load. We’re looking forward to switching to cloth diapers when she’s ready, which will change the laundry routine again and reduce disposable diaper use. For now, the small garments are quick to wash and dry.
Bath time leaves the bathroom looking like this every other day—and Clara loves it. Instead of a bulky plastic tub, John’s sister recommended an inexpensive yellow foam tub from Target that squishes flat for easy storage. It’s soft, comfortable, inexpensive, and it tucks away neatly in a basket in our open linen closet. Small, clever solutions like that have been a real help.
The other blanket lives in the office and stays on the floor with toys nearby. It creates a convenient play area for Clara to practice tummy time, play with toys, and occasionally nap—sometimes with Burger curled up beside her. Having ample rug space makes it easy for one of us to sit down and interact with her while the other tends to work.
The Boppy on the sofa travels with us from room to room since I nurse in many different spots. Its soft blue tone blends easily with our decor so it doesn’t stand out the way brightly colored gear would. It’s practical and frequently used, so it earns its place on the couch.
We chose the Joovy Kooper stroller as a single, versatile option that works from newborn through toddlerhood. Daily neighborhood walks with Burger and Clara keep it in constant use. The stroller usually stashes in the car trunk so it’s always ready to go, though sometimes it gets parked on the sunroom floor for convenience. It’s not invisible against our beachy daybed, but functionality wins during these early months.
In the nursery things stay fairly tidy thanks to a big toy bin under the bench that makes cleanup easy. Clara has been using a hand-me-down Bumbo frequently, and it surprisingly matches the room’s palette. The half-read book left on the floor was genuinely there—mid-story, interrupted by a spit-up incident that needed quick attention.
We worried the kitchen might overflow with baby items, but because Clara’s not eating solids yet, we’ve only added a few well-chosen pieces: three colorful glass bottles by Weego and a small drying rack. I primarily breastfeed, but having one bottle on hand for occasional pumped milk has been enough. We picked gender-neutral colors so the bottles will work for future children as well.
Our “stash spot” approach—everything has a dedicated place—helps the house stay tidy with minimal effort. Bottles and feeding accessories 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 tucked into the office closet when needed; the foam tub stores in a basket in the linen closet; the travel swing folds and tucks away when not in use. With this system, cleaning up is straightforward if we want to de-babify the house for guests.
We could make the bed and present a pristine home, but we’ve grown fond of a relaxed, imperfect lifestyle. Imperfection has always been part of our aesthetic—painting paneling instead of removing it, DIY art instead of expensive pieces—and having a baby has amplified the idea that a happy home is one that’s lived in, loved, and functional. The practical choices we’ve made give us more time to spend together as a family, and that’s what matters most.
Note: The baby items mentioned here were chosen because Clara likes them; none of the makers paid or provided perks for this mention.