It’s perhaps one of the first few thoughts that crosses a young couple’s mind when they find out they’re pregnant, “Where are we gonna put the baby?” No matter how teeny babies can be, they sure seem to require a whole lot of stuff, and that stuff takes up space. Whether you’re just getting established and don’t own your own home or the space you have is already crowded, you may still be able to hold off calling the movers just yet. There are some space saving tips you can implement before bringing baby home that can make the space you already have a lot more manageable.
Maybe financially you need some more time to save or just have too much to handle already. Moving can be extremely stressful and buying a house is not a process you want to rush. Pregnancy comes with enough worries and stresses itself. The less distractions you can ensure for yourself the smoother and more enjoyable your pregnancy can be.
Space Saving Tips And Ideas For Bringing Baby Home
Did you want to sleep here too?
The most important thing to remember is not to feel guilty if you’re thinking that your living situation isn’t absolutely perfect right now. Some of the best advice I received while pregnant was to be reminded that babies do not know or care about the difference between a mansion or a one bedroom flat. All they care about is being loved. Your job is to simply provide a space that is safe as much as it is functional. Keeping things simple and well within your means will make planning for the future feel more obtainable. It will help get your family to where you want to be easier than making the move too soon. Here are a few simple space saving tips for when baby moves in.
Optimize The Space You Have
Hanging things can be a pain, I know, I’ve tried getting away with using a high heel as a hammer a few times with questionable results. Leaving as much open space on the floor as possible though will help keep your home less cramped. Selecting the right pieces for your walls is well worth the hanging hassle. Think a little bit more towards the edge of the box. Utilizing the corners of a room can really help save space.
Corner Shelves
I found these amazing corner shelves on amazon.com. The design is really fun and goes perfectly with the rest of the nursery. It’s important that you don’t hang anything heavy or have items that could fall above a crib or changing station. The corner shelf is a wonderful alternative that can still be safely in arms reach for items you’d like to keep nearby.
Corner Hammocks
There are also corner toy hammocks available. They are super handy for keeping stuffed animals and other toys up and off the floor. You can put them as high as you need. This comes in handy if have a furry friend that’s been eyeing those delicious looking toys.
photo above from myfrugalbaby.com
Curtain Room Divider
Even if you have decided you’re going to have baby sleep in your room for awhile, you may still want to section off a baby area. I mean, you should still get to decorate a little! A super easy, cute, and inexpensive way to create a separate “room” is with curtains. All you need is a pair of extra long curtains (84 inches in length and above is ideal), a curtain rod with large ends, and two screw in ceiling hooks.
You can usually luck out and find extra long curtains at discount stores like T.J. Maxx or Ross. They are usually labeled as patio or outside curtains. Whether baby is sharing space with an older child or you just want to section off a larger room, this is a great way to do so while adding some style.
Hanging Chair
An alternative to the traditional rocking chair could be the hanging chair. They add a unique style, are up off the floor, and would still allow you to sway with baby. They can sometimes run on the more expensive side though.
photo from myapartmenttherapy.com
Not all apartments allow these kinds of installations, or are built to handle them. Another option is “hanging” chairs that hang from a floor base. Even though the base would be taking up some space on the floor, this measure is more about safety. Traditional rocking chairs are not exactly baby friendly. Once baby is mobile the safety of your home is even more important then how big it is. I still have a scar on my left eye from crawling my little baby self right into the runners of a rocking chair while being not so supervised by a babysitter so, so many years ago.
photo from digsdigs.com
Think About What You REALLY Need
It’s pretty hard to rein in your desires when it comes to baby stuff. Besides, you probably feel like you’re required to have everything. The crib, the changer, mountains of toys, and a baby wardrobe for days. There’s no judgement here, I wanted all these things and have been very blessed. However, the truth is if you really need to stick to just the things you really need, there’s a lot you can do with out. I encourage you to talk with other parents and get their opinion on baby essentials.
Cribs are wonderfully beautiful and nice to have but they may not get a whole lot of use for awhile. Many people get by with using a multifunctional play yard for baby’s bed when they’re small. Another option is the “baby nest” for safe co-sleeping.
Baby nest photo from buybuybaby.com
Orgnanize, Organize, Organize
Babies come with a lot of tiny things. Baby socks, and bottles, and blankets, and toys. These adorably small items can end up everywhere. They make your life miserable if you don’t have a system in place. The best things you can do for yourself to reduce the clutter is get organized. There are tons of different storage options available for closets and drawers to help keep things neat and tidy. I made our front closet into a baby closet full of items we need quickly. It is perfect to access them when we’re on the go.
If you are going to invest in some pieces of furniture make sure they’re multifunctional. There are lots of options for baby furniture that have extra storage built in. When it comes to items baby outgrows, oh and they will so fast, stay on top of donating or storing away things you no longer need.
What tips do you have for saving space when baby comes? Share them with us!