Nobody quite prepares you for how much stuff arrives alongside a baby.

One minute your home has a reasonable amount of storage and the next there are muslins on every surface, bottles in the kitchen, nappies in several rooms and an impressive collection of tiny clothes that somehow no longer fit.

Baby products are useful, of course, but because children develop so quickly, many items also have an incredibly short lifespan.

Regularly decluttering can make family life feel much easier. It can free up storage, help you find the things you actually use and sometimes even put a little money back into the family budget.

Here are some practical places to start.

Tackle one category at a time

Trying to declutter an entire family home in one weekend is usually a recipe for giving up halfway through.

Instead, choose one category.

It could be:

• baby clothes
• toys
• feeding equipment
• nappies
• toiletries
• nursery furniture
• maternity items
• paperwork

Once that category has been sorted, move onto another when you have time.

Small decluttering sessions are much easier to fit around family life than attempting a complete house overhaul.

Sort clothes every few months

Baby clothing is probably one of the fastest-growing sources of clutter because children can move through sizes incredibly quickly.

Keep a box or bag somewhere convenient for clothes that no longer fit.

As soon as something becomes too small, put it straight into the box instead of returning it to the wardrobe.

Once the container is full, decide what you want to keep, sell, donate or pass on.

If you are planning to have more children, keeping some favourite and practical pieces may make sense. Even then, try to be realistic about how much you need to store.

Keeping 25 nearly identical sleepsuits “just in case” is probably excessive.

Check feeding cupboards regularly

Kitchen cupboards can quickly become full of baby-related products, particularly when feeding routines change.

Take everything out occasionally and check exactly what you have.

Look at expiry dates and separate products you currently use from anything you no longer require.

Most importantly, avoid simply throwing unopened products away without checking whether there is another responsible option.

If you are in the US and have eligible unopened and unexpired baby formula that is no longer needed, for example, you can check SellFormula.com to see whether it can be sold.

Other products may be suitable for returning to the retailer, donating through an appropriate organisation or passing on.

Doing this regularly also stops products becoming forgotten at the back of a cupboard until they are too old to use.

Create a temporary ‘not sure’ box

Decluttering with children can sometimes feel very final.

You may know that your baby has probably finished with a particular toy or item of equipment, but still feel reluctant to get rid of it immediately.

A temporary box is a useful compromise.

Place anything you are unsure about inside and write the date on the box.

If you have not needed or thought about the contents for the next three to six months, you can probably let them go.

It is much easier psychologically than forcing yourself to make every decision instantly.

Sell higher-value baby equipment

Baby products can be expensive, but that also means certain items retain reasonable second-hand value.

Depending on their condition, things such as furniture, carriers, toys and some pieces of baby equipment may be worth listing on resale platforms.

Take clear photographs, describe the condition accurately and check the latest safety guidance before selling anything.

Money from old baby products can then go towards the next stage.

The Moses basket might help pay for the highchair, the outgrown clothes might fund the next size up and unused toys might cover a family day out.

It creates a useful cycle rather than constantly buying without clearing anything out.

Make donating easy

Not everything is worth selling.

If listing an item for £2 is going to require photographs, messages, packaging and a trip to the Post Office, donating it may be far more appealing.

Have a dedicated donation bag somewhere in the house.

Whenever you come across something that is in good condition but no longer required, put it inside.

Once the bag is full, take the whole thing to your chosen charity shop or donation point.

Reducing the number of steps involved makes decluttering much more likely to happen.

Don’t forget your own belongings

It is easy for every decluttering project after having a baby to revolve around baby products.

Your own needs may have changed too.

Pregnancy, parental leave and a completely different daily routine can all change what you actually use.

There may be maternity clothes you no longer need, beauty products you never reach for, old paperwork or household items that have gradually accumulated.

Creating more space throughout the house can make the entire home feel calmer, rather than simply organising the nursery.

Give everything a home

The easiest way to stop clutter returning is to give frequently used items a specific place.

Keep nappies where you normally change your baby.

Create a basket for feeding essentials.

Use drawer dividers for tiny clothes.

Keep toys in a handful of easy-access containers rather than creating an elaborate organisation system you will never maintain.

The goal is not to make your home look like nobody lives there.

It is to make everyday family life easier.

A family home is allowed to look lived in

Finally, remember that having some clutter when you have children is entirely normal.

There will probably be toys on the floor occasionally. There will be bottles drying in the kitchen. The washing basket may never actually be empty again.

Decluttering is not about creating a picture-perfect home.

It is about removing the things your family no longer uses so there is more space for the things you actually do.

A little organisation, regular clear-outs and a sensible approach to selling, donating and recycling unwanted items can make a surprisingly big difference.