Storage Solutions for Small Homes with Small Children

When I got married, we stayed in a one bedroom apartment. We were married in December and had our first child the following October. We were already crammed into a small space, now it was going to get even smaller as we welcomed our baby home! After my baby shower as I’m looking at all the gifts I’m thinking, “where is all this stuff going to go?”

If this is your story, let’s talk about sharing small spaces with small children. These are things I did and ideas I wished I would have thought of at the time.

Crib

Your baby is small, and they are probably going to be sharing a room with you for a while. Some parents may choose to use a bassinet (which is a good option). I chose a crib because I knew my child was going to get a lot of use out of it, because it could be transformed into a toddler bed down the road. The crib was beautiful but it was giant! It made the already cramped space really difficult to operate in. We had a huge bed, a huge crib and large dressers in a tiny room. It just didn’t work. Here are a few suggestions for your baby:

• Foldable crib: there are a number of brands that make a quality foldable crib. The Dream On Me foldable crib is the one we purchased for my parents’ home when my baby would visit. It rolls, it’s lightweight and is easily put away when space is needed.

• Bassinet: it’s small and compact and many of them are foldable. My two youngest babies used a bassinet temporarily. Again, we used the Dream On brand for the bassinet. It was very convenient and easy to store. We could easily fold it up and put it in the closet.

Clothes and Baby Items

Sometimes it’s easy to just make room in your personal dresser for the baby but if that’s not an option here are a few storage solution ideas:

• Plastic storage bins: utilize the space under the bed. Get risers for your bed and put the baby's clothes and other items in bins under the bed.

• Hanging shoe organizer: believe it or not these are fantastic for organizing and storing baby clothes (ex. Onesies), burping clothes or bibs, baby socks, small blankets, small towels (roll them). This organizer can hang over your door or in your closet.

• Diaper Hanger: it’s exactly what it sounds like! Diaper boxes can be large and bulky. The diaper hanger is compact and aesthetically pleasing.

Toys and Accessories

We have small children, but they come with a lot of needs and desires. You do not have to purchase a large amount of toys but you may want to buy a few items to entertain them. Here are a few suggestions that will be easy to store if you are living in a small home or have limited space:

• Baby Swing: if you decide to purchase a swing (all three of my babies loved swings), buy one that is collapsible. I used the Jool Nova baby swing because it was specifically designed for small spaces.

• High Chair: the Joovy brand is what I chose to purchase due to lack of space. It’s lightweight and foldable. Very practical whether you have a lot of space or a small space.

• Activity Center: I currently use the Baby Einstein foldable activity center. It easily folds away when needed, but is pretty sizable when unfolded.

• Infant Bath Tub: there are collapsible versions of baby bathtubs. When you're done giving a bath, hang it to dry and it’s out of the way!

Encouragement

I have no affiliation with any of these brands. These are products I have personally used for my children. Having a small space does not mean you can not have the things you need for your child. We just have to find creative ways to store or purchase products that take up minimal space.

Remember that your kiddos are small, they don’t need a whole lot to be loved. Make sure you have the essentials and they will be fine! Remember as always, we are walking this journey together and YOU GOT THIS!