I'm looking for a system for organizing the plethora of records, receipts, brochures, product instructions and so on. Although I'm not against pre-made binder or folder systems, the ones I've seen don't really accommodate the various sizes or enough 'other' categories of paperwork that come up. So probably a big D-ring binder would be a solution that's inexpensive, flexible enough and functional. If necessary, it might expand to two binders, but we'll see about that later!
What categories have you found helpful in organizing your baby's stuff? Do certain categories make more sense to be together, in a separate binder? I'm thinking some of these categories would function well on my computer too, since many records are electronic, but what to name each "folder"? This is where I need your wisdom!
Here's what I've come up with so far in my pre-coffee haze:
Vaccination record and informational brochures about each
Medical records (regular checkups)
Product instructions (and receipts?) -- toys
Product instructions (and receipts?) -- gear, feeding, etc.
Product registration records
Baby's gifts: who they're from and thank-you notes sent?
Coupons
Recommended books (for baby, or for me and daddy to read)
Breastfeeding logs, advice and info
Solid food log, advice and info
Nanny/babysitting info
Playgroup info
Baby classes receipts, schedules and other info
Developmental log (record of words that baby's babbled, or milestones reached)
Questions for next pediatrician's visits (and answers)
Helpful info for future (from Mamapedia, newspapers, magazines or other parenting sources)
Bank account records, tax info, and other financial info specific to baby
Passwords and URLs for baby's photo gallery, blog etc.
Checklists for packing for long-distance car rides or plane trips
Other categories -- what am I forgetting and what should I lump together?
Oh boy, I can't wait for my coffee to kick in.
You are going to need, file cabinets no matter what.
And, projecting ahead, this will be for YEARS... of information for each year your child, grows up.
Then, for school, too.
And you will need the space... to store all of this.
Per file cabinets or bookshelf, space.
As time goes on, you will know what you can purge, or keep keeping.
Because it will accumulate, a ton of stuff.
You've really thought of a lot of good categories! If you split it into 2 groups, maybe you could do long-term records vs stuff that needs updating frequently(like coupons)?
I have binders to save some school papers from each year, but for product info, receipts, etc., I prefer having file folders instead of punching holes. My mother kept files of my medical records, etc. when I was a kid, and now she has passed the folders to me so I have my own records.
Maybe you could get a small file locking cabinet or one of those little fireproof boxes to keep in your closet or office. You could just put all the records into files with the headers you suggested.
They make folders that have the 2 prong at the top so you could hole punch the top and put them in (works with receipts too). We used to have them as Iraq deployment binders to keep track of deployments and pay stuff. All my separation stuff is in one now. I love it. I'm sure Staples or somewhere like that has them. It will be like a binder with a manilla folder material front (a little harder) then you flip pages and on each folder page are the 2 prongs at the top.
This is pretty much what they are, ours had more pages, but wanted to show you what I'm talking about :)
http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_025V043817183000...
Hi - I don't have anything helpful to add, just wanted to say that this cracked me up - I can't imagine being this organized! I throw everything in boxes under my bed (one labled Megan and the other Matt) and figure I'll organize it all when they go to college. I am impressed (and a little scared) by your system! I guess the one tip I might give you is to separate things into "historical" items (e.g., medical records, feeding logs), "reference" items (e.g., instruction manuals and receipts, bank account info), and "to-do" items (e.g., book recommendations, questions for pediatrician). Beyond that you have exceeded my organizing skills!
wow go you, I just had to have my 8 yo's hight and weight from his well check written on a slip of paper because I can't put my hands on his baby book rightnow.
I like the "Baby Briefcase", it's a plastic file with a handle so you can take it places (like the Dr's office) and it has tabs with smaller dividers inside of it. Many of the areas you listed are in there, then you can make your own tabs for the others. I think you can just type it in to Google to find it.
