My Marie Kondo Baby Nursery: Perfectly folded onesies as a sign of postpartum anxiety

For my second baby, I created a Marie Kondo nursery from the start - one of those Pinterest-perfect, organized baby nurseries with every onesie folded into tiny squares. The baby's room felt calm and ready, no clutter to trip over or stress me out as I navigated life with a toddler and a newborn. Keeping it that way made me feel like I could be more in control this time around—like I was actually prepared for the whirlwind of newborn life - again!

Fast forward and I’m a new mom again - 2 weeks postpartum with my second baby. Leaking breastmilk, wearing a pad, belly still protruding. I have wonderful support from my postpartum doula who comes over and makes homemade ice cream with my 3-year-old to keep him entertained. She brings me food. And she folds my laundry. 

Then right after she leaves, I refold every piece of laundry she just folded to keep my Marie Kondo-inspired nursery in perfect condition.

I don’t realize at the time that this isn’t really normal. I just think “Marie Kondo showed me how to fold my baby's clothing for a well-organized nursery, and the doula didn’t do it that way. It needs to be done that way. I will do it again.” 

I do this every single time my postpartum doula comes over for 2 whole weeks. 

SIDE NOTE: Looking back, I probably should have told my postpartum doula about my obsession with Marie Kondo folding and had her watch a quick tutorial so she could do it the way my brain apparently needed it done! Postpartum doulas are literally trained to adapt to a family’s unique needs—so why was it so hard for me to ask for what I needed? Maybe part of me felt silly, or worried it was too “extra”... A good clue, perhaps, that something more than a need for order was at play here...

Why I needed a perfectly organized baby nursery...

Fast forward to 3 years later when both my kids are at an age where they always seem a little dirty, there are balled up sweaty socks in the dog bowl, and I couldn’t give two shits about how their mountain of laundry gets folded. I just want it out of my living room.

One day as I’m tossing my son’s t-shirts into a semi-organized bin in his drawer, the memory pops into my head of me re-folding baskets and baskets of laundry at 2 weeks postpartum; making tiny meticulous squares out of newborn onesies, uniformly balling up mini pairs of socks and organizing them by color. 

And it dawns on me. My Marie Kondo folding obsession was postpartum anxiety. No one in my household recognized it, and I didn’t recognize it - even with all my years of experience supporting other new families.

Postpartum anxiety can look like this...

It was one of many symptoms that I later realized were postpartum anxiety: intrusive thoughts of dropping my newborn as I descended the stairs, picking at my skin, waking up in the night sure that my baby had stopped breathing. 

Sometimes postpartum mood disorders can show up in quiet ways, and we may not even notice it. But as your postpartum doulas, we’ve been there. We’ve supported countless Salt Lake City families as they navigate the choppy waters of early postpartum. And many of us have our own kids and have personal experience with postpartum mood challenges. If you’re wondering what postpartum doula support can look like, we’d love to chat.

If you’re a new parent feeling anxious or obsessive...

If you find yourself obsessively cleaning, folding, or re-doing things, it could be a sign of postpartum anxiety — not just “being type A.” Talk to your partner, your doula, or your doctor. There are so many great local resources and postpartum supports here in Salt Lake City, and you don’t have to push through alone. Check out some of our favorite local new parent support groups, therapists, and more. We'd love to help you get connected!

You can also try a few small things right now for your anxiety to help your mind settle:

• Pause for one slow breath each time you switch tasks — diaper to nursing, nursing to dishes.
• Touch something steady like the crib rail or counter for a moment to remind your body you’re safe.
• Choose one “good enough” spot in your home to keep tidy and let the rest stay messy without guilt.
• Step outside for 30 seconds, feel the air, notice the sky, then come back in. Be sure to check out our Salt Lake City nature guide for new parents to find easy beginner hikes to enjoy with your baby!

We’ve got you. We’ll even fold your laundry Marie Condo style into tiny perfect squares if that’s what helps you sleep at night. Let’s talk about how we can help you feel calmer in postpartum. Book your free discovery call today.