Storage and Baby Planning

A newborn will soon grace your home, and you have a lot to do to get ready. Perhaps your private study or guest bedroom needs to be cleared out and filled with baby gear, everything from a crib to a changing table to a comfortable rocker where you can relax as you soothe your baby to sleep. All the current contents of the new baby's room will need a place to go. Consider renting a self storage unit to hold it while you rearrange. You may need to store this furniture until you have somewhere functional to place it and time to put into decorating something other than the new arrival's room. If your family has passed on some of their treasured furnishings, you can store them in the self storage unit while you prepare the room. For some excited parents the baby may not be due for seven months, but they cannot wait to buy that perfect crib set and piles of baby clothes and toys. On the other hand, it could be that grandpa has been waiting patiently for the day he could pass along daddy's old, handmade crib and happily delivers it to your house the day he hears news of the new grandbaby. Unfortunately, until the baby's room has been prepped, you may have nowhere to put these beautiful, and rather large, pieces. In addition, as you look at your home with the baby's needs in mind, you may find that some of your furniture will not work well around a baby. Your multi-tiered glass end tables that have been the envy of all your friends might too easily turn into an unstable and breakable jungle gym when your crawler is learning to pull himself up. Perhaps, you will want to clear out your coffee table for awhile because of its sharp corners and to make extra play room. A big, open space right in front of the spot where you relax and watch television might be the perfect place to toss down a blanket and let your infant bat at a mobile-style play gym or learn to scoot.

As you prepare for the baby, keep these steps in mind.

  • Designate space for the baby. Even if you plan to keep a bassinet or cradle next to your bed for the first weeks, you will need to organize space for diapers, clothes and other supplies. Buy a few "can't resist items" like a soft baby blanket or a cute pair of pajamas, but hold off on larger items until you have made room.
  • Designate a storage area large enough to hold any new supplies that you receive before the baby's area is ready. A self storage unit works great for this. Be sure to mark boxes and organize your unit carefully so that you can find what you need at the right time. You don't want to discover a darling newborn dress at the bottom of a box when the baby reaches three months and can no longer fit into it. Babies grow quickly, and you have a short window for them to wear some of those must-have items. Consider installing inexpensive plastic or wire shelves in the unit. Instead of storing items in boxes or bags, you may want to use wicker or cloth baskets. Without lids, these are easy to rummage through. Labels are still important, though.
  • Clear the baby's room of furniture and the closet of other people's clothing whenever possible.
  • Paint. Check with your home store specialists on the best type for a baby's room. You want to avoid ones that will expose you or your child to potentially harmful fumes. Conversely, a paint that absorbs odors may help keep the room smelling fresh.
  • Baby-proof the newborn's room and the rest of the house. Place safety caps over electric sockets and baby locks on drawers and cupboards, even toilets. Soften edges or remove sharp objects. Do not leave anything that could trap a toddler inside. Choose toy chests that leave a cutout or opening between the box and the lid. That way, if your child decides to hide in there one day, he can breathe. Place hazardous objects in self storage. Secure bookshelves to walls or remove and store them.
  • Organize. Think about how you use items. Place the wipes and diaper stacker right next to the changing table. You don't want to worry that your baby is going to roll onto the floor while you are grabbing changing supplies.
  • Make room in the kitchen for bottles, bottle cleaners, nipples, pacifiers and breast pump equipment, whatever is needed. If you have limited space, you may want to place some of your dishes into self storage until your baby outgrows the bottles.
  • Figure out where else in the house it would be convenient to place supplies for the newborn. Is the baby's room upstairs and the family room downstairs? Maybe you will want to place a few extra diapers, blankets or burp clothes in the downstairs closet for quick access.
A handy self storage unit will provide you with extra room while you prepare for your baby and when it is time to tuck those treasures away for future use. After your little one has outgrown the bassinet, the changing table and, finally, the crib, you may find that a self storage unit will help you hold onto the baby gear, and the investment that went into it, long enough to decide when, or if, you will have another child. Check out StorageFront for a list of self storage facilities near you. The advice on this website is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only. "Storage Tips" are offered as-is and no warranty is expressed or implied. For more information, see StorageFront's Terms and Conditions.