5 Self-Storage Tips for New Parents

If you have a baby on the way, you need to get your house ready for much more than the baby. With a brand-new human being in your abode, expect a huge influx of stuff. Baby clothes, baby toys, baby furniture — you name it, your newborn probably needs it. What’s more, you’ll also have to find new spots for some of your old stuff. (After all, many items are dangerous for infants, toddlers, and small children.) With new stuff coming in and old stuff moving elsewhere, you’re going to have to strategize about storage. Here to help, our team at Stor-It has put together this guide on expert self-storage tips for new parents.

Tip #1: Keep Hazardous Stuff Locked Up and Out of Reach

Regardless of how much room you have in your house, you’re likely going to have to move some of your belongings to new places before the arrival of your baby. Babies love to touch things and put them in their mouths—which is a no-go for many items around the house. Any harmful liquids such as cleaners, cosmetics, auto products, or other chemicals should be the first things to place out of reach. Next up should be small choking hazards like jewelry, pens and pencils, safety pins, and almost anything you would put in a purse or handbag. Other baby hazards include medications, latex balloons, sharp dishware, and houseplants.

So, how and where do you move these items to keep them away from your baby? In most cases, think high. Top shelves, tall dressers, and hard-to-reach cabinets won’t be accessible for babies and even toddlers so that you can store a lot of stuff there. However, at a certain point, your child may gain the ability to climb or use tools—and when that happens, you need an extra line of defense. We recommend using child-proof locks on cabinets to contain hazardous materials. These locks will also allow you to store items in more places, such as under sinks, in lower kitchen cabinets, and bedroom drawers.

Tip #2: Clean and Clear Out Your Baby’s New Room

One place that should be entirely free of hazardous items is your baby’s new room. Clearing out an entire room for the newest member of your family should be one of the first things you do. Start thinking about which items have no place in a nursery, and you will have a good idea of how much you need to store elsewhere.

Within your baby’s new room, you’ll also have to come up with a few nursery storage ideas for all of your baby’s new stuff. If your baby’s room has a closet, the most baby-proof storage method is to place most things in there. It’s best to avoid furniture that can be tipped over or any fixtures that can be unplugged. (You’ll also want to cover any outlets with childproof outlet covers.) As far as nursery storage solutions go, there are several smart ways to keep toys, essentials, and accessories near your baby. One of these is a chest. Not tall enough to knock over and too heavy to move, a chest is a great way to store toys and other soft goods. Head-high wall-mounted shelves are another way to store essentials out of your child’s reach. (Just be sure that the crib isn’t situated close to any shelf.) Speaking of cribs, you can also buy child-proof bins to store under your baby’s crib.

Tip #3: Get Creative With Storage Around the House

As you clear out your old stuff from your baby’s new room, you’re going to have to find places to store that same stuff. Sometimes, this will require a bit of creativity. If you’re in the market for new cabinets, we suggest thinking vertically to maximize storage space. Not only will tall cabinets give you more room to work with, but they’ll also keep many of your belongings out of your baby’s reach.

There are a few other storage solutions you can use to optimize space around your home. Hangable door racks, corner shelves, and outdoor sheds are all storage quick-fixes that handle some of your extra belongings. Take a tour of your home and see if you can find any walls that could use shelves or hooks. Next, take a look at the storage opportunities you already have. Are your cabinets poorly organized? Do your shelves have some extra space? Is there a chair, couch, or table you never use? Optimize and replace these problem areas, and you’ll be amazed at how much storage space opens up.

Tip #4: Invest in a Self-Storage Unit

Even with the best sorting, you may still not end up with enough room for your baby’s nursery items. We understand — it can be difficult to part ways with collections, historic furniture, hobby equipment, and sentimental items. With self-storage, you don’t have to. By investing in a self-storage unit near your home, you can move a large number of items off your own property and into another rented space. Today’s top self-storage facilities offer flexible month-to-month leases, 24/7 accessibility, and a wide range of storage unit sizes to accommodate your storage needs. If self-storage seems like a solid choice for you, research storage facilities near you to find one that meets your needs and book your storage unit. Expecting parents worldwide use self-storage to make room for baby. Shouldn’t you?

Learn More and Store Your Stuff at Stor-It

With a new member of the family arriving, your life is about to change — but that doesn’t mean you have to stress about storage. With these storage ideas, you’ll be well on your way to preparing your home for your little one. Want extra storage tips? Ready to reserve your very own storage unit? Our team at Stor-It has you covered. Explore our Blog and Storage FAQ pages for additional resources, and head over to our Locations page to view all of our available storage units.

As Idaho’s oldest and largest self-storage provider, we are proud to own and operate 16 storage locations in the Treasure Valley and beyond. Plus, we offer excellent amenities, including 24/7 accessibility, packing and moving supplies for sale on site, flexible month-to-month leasing, and FREE locks with new unit reservations. Most importantly, we have a dedicated customer service team (including on-site managers) to help you with your storage needs. Store your excess stuff in one of our storage units today!