[submitted by Kimberly Guay, A Clear Vision Organizing, who participated at our San Francisco Choice Mom networking event:

1. Outsource what you can, like hiring a housekeeper. Ask them to change the sheets and launder them along with the towels while they clean the house.

2. Keep the diaper bag well stocked with extra diapers and a change of clothes or two, Tylenol, gas drops, etc. so you’re ready to go without having to pack up at the last minute. Always pack the night before an outing so you are not rushed and forget things.

3. Keep a notepad in a permanent location so you can write down 'to do's' when you think of them, or use a task app for your iPhone or PDA.

4. Establish a dedicated night to go through mail, pay bills, and file.

5. Establish a day to do grocery shopping.

6. Keep a 'master calendar' of all the events for the entire family - including birthdays, doctor appointments, etc. Keeping it by the phone makes it convenient to write it down quickly. www.cozi.com and www.jibidee.com offer online family calendars.

7. Buy a lined basket or a basket with a solid bottom that fits in a space in your cupboards to keep bottles, bottle lids, extra pacifiers and any other bottle items you may have. One of my favorite baskets is the Interdesign Zia basket from the Container Store. It has straight sides, is very sturdy with a handle for carrying, stacks well and wipes clean easily. Also available from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Zia-Basket-Medium-Clear-14/dp/B000AMGSJA

8. Make folders NOW for those upcoming medical bills, one for you and one for your baby (or babies.) Verify what you are being billed for and when those bills are due.

9. Make a folder for your new baby’s documents. You will need a safe place for their social security card and birth certificate. Consider keeping the originals in a safe deposit box and photocopies at home. An alternative is a fire-proof safe.

10. Keep those empty diaper boxes from Costco. They will come in handy as your baby outgrows her clothes. Put the old clothes in the box and keep it in the closet. Once it is full, take it to Goodwill or pass it along to a women’s shelter. Or, if you expect a second child, launder the outgrown clothes and put them in plastic storage bins with the sizes clearly labeled.

11. Keep a laundry hamper in the baby’s room. Keep your baby’s clothes completely separate from yours. You’ll have to do her laundry much more frequently and this way little socks and shirts don't get misplaced, especially if you have twins.

12. If you have room, keep a small bag in the trunk of your car with extra diapers, an extra pacifier, extra sleeper, any of the essentials - it will come in handy when you forget to pack it in your diaper bag, or forget your diaper bag completely!

13. Designate YOU time! Find a trustworthy sitter and have a calendar that clearly indicates what time and day you will be taking mommy time off, especially important since you are the full-time care provider.

14. If breast feeding, pump also so that others can help feed, allowing you some time to yourself.

15. Take naps -- when baby sleeps, you sleep.

16. Gas drops work wonders on some babies who are prone to excess "gas".

17. Swaddle baby when it's time for nap or nighttime -- they do sleep longer.

18. Keep several binkies around the house and car (i.e., car seat, diaper bag, crib, coffee table, rocking chair, bedroom, kitchen, etc.) You won't have to search the whole house/car/purse for the binkie when baby is screaming.

19. Keep your older child involved with all pieces of taking care of baby so she does not feel left out.

20. Make out a weekly dinner menu the day before you go grocery shopping -- it will save you time figuring out what to eat each day. Make extras or meals that can be stretched for a second day or frozen. Or, better yet, ask friends and family who want to help to bring you dinner.