Tips for Decluttering Before Your New Baby Arrives

Mother holding newborn in her arms and smiling

When a new baby comes into your life, things change drastically, especially if it’s your first. Most parents will tell you that nothing is ever the same again, including the amount of usable storage space you have at home. That’s because a new baby means buying many items you’ve never needed before, including changing tables, cribs, dressers, toys, strollers, and so much more. If you’re a parent-to-be worried that you’ll soon lack storage space, the tips for decluttering below will be incredibly valuable. They’re brought to you by iStorage, the storage leader and friends of new parents everywhere! Get them below and prepare your home for the inundation of stuff to come! (We’re here if you need self storage right away, Mom and Dad!)

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Top Decluttering Tips

1. Start Decluttering as Early as Possible

This tip might be the most important of all simply because, in the days directly leading up to the baby’s arrival, you’ll be too busy to get everything done. Experts recommend starting to declutter 3 to 4 weeks before your due date, but depending on how much you have, even earlier would be a good idea. The more time you have before the baby arrives, the better!

2. Assess Your Space and Storage Needs Before Your Baby Arrives

Knowing how much space you can spare and how much extra storage room you have, is critical when you’re ready to welcome a new baby into your home. For example, if you have a 2-bedroom house or apartment, and the spare bedroom is already filled with regular furniture, you might need to clear it out.

The question then becomes, “Do I have room to put this stuff in other parts of the house?” If the answer is “nope,” figuring out a solution will be your next step. For many parents-to-be, the best solution is to rent a 5’x5’ storage unit (or larger if necessary) so that you can keep those good pieces of furniture until your baby grows up and needs them.

3. Organize Your Belongings Before Your New Baby Comes Home

organized clothes in drawers

Decluttering before a baby arrives often goes hand-in-hand with organizing your home or apartment. Here’s the thing; once your baby comes home to stay, if your home is disorganized (no judgment), it will be more difficult to store all the new stuff you need. That includes diapers, wipes, baby bottles, teething rings, toys, car seats, clothes (onesies are so cute!), and all the rest. However, if you’ve gotten your nursery organized beforehand (plus the other rooms in your home), staying organized will be a snap.

In short, while you’re decluttering your home or apartment, organize it simultaneously. That includes things like your kitchen cabinets, bedroom closets, bathroom storage, and, if you’re lucky enough to have it, basement and attic storage too. Remember, you’ll need baby toy storage and baby food storage, among other storage needs.

4. Sell or Toss Items You Don’t Need, Want or Use

Decluttering can be a fantastic exercise to get rid of stuff you don’t need, no longer want, or haven’t used in forever. Remember, the less you have in your residence, the more space you’ll have for all of the baby stuff that will be coming (or has already arrived). Also, since babies cost an arm, leg, and half a foot, selling some stuff will put a few extra dollars in your pocket. (Dollars you’ll no doubt immediately spend on items for your new bundle of joy.)

Here’s a good rule of thumb from many of the organization and decluttering experts out there; if you don’t need it, don’t want it, or haven’t used it in a long time, get rid of it. It’s really that simple and will leave you with a living space that’s more manageable, less cramped, and easier to keep organized after your baby comes home.

5. Donate Still-Useful Items to Goodwill

person handing another person donation box

Many people today are financially strapped, some quite severely. If you’re lucky enough to be earning a good income and financially stable, why not consider donating your old but still useful things to Goodwill or another organization that helps folks in need? Those old clothes, kitchen items, electronics, and other stuff might not be worth it to you anymore but might make a world of difference to someone financially struggling. Goodwill often comes right to your door, so there’s no stress transporting all that stuff. Even better, Goodwill will give you a receipt for your donation that you can use as a tax write-off!

6. Have a Yard Sale to Help Your Home Organization Project

Yard sales have been around since people started accumulating too many things and filling their homes to the brim. Not only can a yard sale net you a few extra bucks, but it can also let your neighbors know a baby’s coming. (Some of them might be able to help you by donating their old baby stuff to your new baby!)

7. Store Baby Items for Later if You Plan to Have More Children

This tip is from iStorage, the self storage experts; don’t give away your baby’s unneeded things if you plan to have another baby in the near future. Think about it this way; if you spent hundreds or even thousands of dollars on baby things like dressers, changing tables, strollers, carriages, car seats, clothing, diaper bags, toys, and the rest, why do it again in a year or two if you know you want more kids?

A small or medium-sized storage unit would likely cost much less than buying all those items again. Even more importantly, you might truly like the items you purchased for baby #1 and some might be out of production, making them impossible to buy again. In other words, renting a storage unit and keeping those things makes financial sense if you plan on having more children.

Store with iStorage

When your new baby’s arrival is imminent, and you need self storage to keep your home or apartment from overflowing, count on iStorage. Our storage units are always clean, always super safe and every iStorage facility is secure. That includes 24/7 video cameras, keypad-controlled entrance gates, and on-site managers keeping a close eye on everything. Want convenience features? We have those too, check out our drive-up storage units with some facilities even offering 24 hour access!

Not sure what size storage units you’re going to need? Take a look at our storage unit size guide before you reserve your storage unit, and you’ll be sure to have enough space! If you have more questions about self storage for your baby items and other stuff, you can also check out the iStorage FAQ page and get quick answers to your most pressing storage questions. Until then, best of luck with the delivery, and if your bouncing baby is already home with you, congratulations!