Sember says some parents don't realize they can access their child's medical records. "It sometimes feels like it is a big secret – the chart is kept outside the exam room and you're not even allowed to touch it, but everything in there belongs to you and you have the right to access it," she says.

When it comes to computer files, heavy users should back up their data weekly, while occasional users who store important data should back up their files every month. Store the computer discs in a safe container labeled according to month or category, she says.

"One good thing a family can do to organize all members is to assign a color to each family member for a different hanging file folder," Nivison says. "Anything to do with the newborn would have its own file."

Organizing your newborn's medical and health records is just as important, if not more important, than decorating a nursery. When you feel the nesting urge, don't just wallpaper the baby's nursery or organize the pantry with baby food. Create a space in your home office for your baby's records, and slip an emergency card and medical consent form into the baby's diaper bag.

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