diff --git a/docling_core/types/doc/document.py b/docling_core/types/doc/document.py
index 40ab1fe3..10b4e4d2 100644
--- a/docling_core/types/doc/document.py
+++ b/docling_core/types/doc/document.py
@@ -4318,3 +4318,67 @@ def validate_misplaced_list_items(self):
                     hyperlink=li.hyperlink,
                 )
         return self
+
+    def _normalize_references(self) -> None:
+        """Normalize ref numbering by ordering node items as per iterate_items()."""
+        new_body = GroupItem(**self.body.model_dump(exclude={"children"}))
+
+        item_lists: dict[str, list[NodeItem]] = {
+            "groups": [],
+            "texts": [],
+            "pictures": [],
+            "tables": [],
+            "key_value_items": [],
+            "form_items": [],
+        }
+        orig_ref_to_new_ref: dict[str, str] = {}
+
+        # collect items in traversal order
+        for item, _ in self.iterate_items(
+            with_groups=True,
+            traverse_pictures=True,
+            included_content_layers={c for c in ContentLayer},
+        ):
+            key = item.self_ref.split("/")[1]
+            is_body = key == "body"
+            new_cref = "#/body" if is_body else f"#/{key}/{len(item_lists[key])}"
+            # register cref mapping:
+            orig_ref_to_new_ref[item.self_ref] = new_cref
+
+            if not is_body:
+                new_item = copy.deepcopy(item)
+                new_item.children = []
+
+                # put item in the right list
+                item_lists[key].append(new_item)
+
+                # update item's self reference
+                new_item.self_ref = new_cref
+
+                if item.parent:
+                    # set item's parent
+                    new_parent_cref = orig_ref_to_new_ref[item.parent.cref]
+                    new_item.parent = RefItem(cref=new_parent_cref)
+
+                    # add item to parent's children
+                    path_components = new_parent_cref.split("/")
+                    num_components = len(path_components)
+                    parent_node: NodeItem
+                    if num_components == 3:
+                        _, parent_key, parent_index_str = path_components
+                        parent_index = int(parent_index_str)
+                        parent_node = item_lists[parent_key][parent_index]
+                    elif num_components == 2 and path_components[1] == "body":
+                        parent_node = new_body
+                    else:
+                        raise RuntimeError(f"Unsupported ref format: {new_parent_cref}")
+                    parent_node.children.append(RefItem(cref=new_cref))
+
+        # update document
+        self.groups = item_lists["groups"]  # type: ignore
+        self.texts = item_lists["texts"]  # type: ignore
+        self.pictures = item_lists["pictures"]  # type: ignore
+        self.tables = item_lists["tables"]  # type: ignore
+        self.key_value_items = item_lists["key_value_items"]  # type: ignore
+        self.form_items = item_lists["form_items"]  # type: ignore
+        self.body = new_body
diff --git a/test/data/doc/dummy_doc.yaml b/test/data/doc/dummy_doc.yaml
index 92a56c5d..ef0e6bba 100644
--- a/test/data/doc/dummy_doc.yaml
+++ b/test/data/doc/dummy_doc.yaml
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ texts:
 
 
 tables: # All tables...
-  - self_ref: "#/table/0"
+  - self_ref: "#/tables/0"
     label: "table"
     parent:
       $ref: "#/body"
diff --git a/test/data/doc/misplaced_list_items.norm.out.yaml b/test/data/doc/misplaced_list_items.norm.out.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a0b76068
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/data/doc/misplaced_list_items.norm.out.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+body:
+  children:
+  - $ref: '#/groups/0'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/1'
+  - $ref: '#/groups/1'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: unspecified
+  name: _root_
+  self_ref: '#/body'
+form_items: []
+furniture:
+  children: []
+  content_layer: furniture
+  label: unspecified
+  name: _root_
+  self_ref: '#/furniture'
+groups:
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/0'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: ordered_list
+  name: group
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/body'
+  self_ref: '#/groups/0'
+- children:
+  - $ref: '#/texts/2'
+  - $ref: '#/texts/3'
+  content_layer: body
+  label: list
+  name: group
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/body'
+  self_ref: '#/groups/1'
+key_value_items: []
+name: ''
+pages: {}
+pictures: []
+schema_name: DoclingDocument
+tables: []
+texts:
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  enumerated: true
+  label: list_item
+  marker: '1.'
+  orig: foo
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/0'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/0'
+  text: foo
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  label: text
+  orig: bar
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/body'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/1'
+  text: bar
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  enumerated: false
+  label: list_item
+  marker: '-'
+  orig: here
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/1'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/2'
+  text: here
+- children: []
+  content_layer: body
+  enumerated: false
+  label: list_item
+  marker: '-'
+  orig: there
+  parent:
+    $ref: '#/groups/1'
+  prov: []
+  self_ref: '#/texts/3'
+  text: there
+version: 1.4.0
diff --git a/test/test_docling_doc.py b/test/test_docling_doc.py
index cbdb243b..7d9f4a14 100644
--- a/test/test_docling_doc.py
+++ b/test/test_docling_doc.py
@@ -1636,3 +1636,11 @@ def test_misplaced_list_items():
     else:
         exp_doc = DoclingDocument.load_from_yaml(exp_file)
         assert doc == exp_doc
+
+    doc._normalize_references()
+    exp_file = filename.parent / f"{filename.stem}.norm.out.yaml"
+    if GEN_TEST_DATA:
+        doc.save_as_yaml(exp_file)
+    else:
+        exp_doc = DoclingDocument.load_from_yaml(exp_file)
+        assert doc == exp_doc