Baby and toddler rooms are often the trickiest spaces to declutter, with overflowing toy baskets, outgrown clothes and constant new additions to manage.
That’s why we've teamed up with professional organisers and decluttering experts Elizabeth Wickes of The Lifestyle Organiser, Kate Galbally of Better Organised, Kate Yiannacou of Tidy Happy Calm Decluttering and Liz Mansell of LM Home Sort to share 11 expert tips to help you declutter your child’s room and keep it that way.
11 expert decluttering tips for baby and toddler rooms
- Don't declutter for longer than 30 minutes at a time
One of the biggest mistakes parents make when decluttering is trying to tackle everything all at once. Instead, Elizabeth Wickes suggests “Work in small chunks of time and by category. When you break down the process into small periods of time, 15 to 30 minutes, and by category, it will manage the overwhelm and limit decision fatigue for everyone.”
Kate Galbally adds “When time is limited, pick one area like a toy box or a bookshelf. You can sort through the items quickly, either putting like items together or setting aside to donate or sell.”
- Create a “drop zone” for unwanted items – you’ll thank us later
"Set up a drop zone within your home - this can be a hamper or even a large bag/box - for decluttered toys and clothing but keep it out of sight of your children!" recommends Elizabeth Wickes. This simple strategy ensures unwanted items are ready to donate, sell, or recycle without taking up valuable space elsewhere in your home.
- Don’t buy new storage before you’ve decluttered
It’s tempting to buy storage bins or baskets when starting to declutter, but Kate Galbally warns “Buying storage solutions before an area or category has been decluttered can be costly, time-consuming and can add to the accumulation of ‘stuff.’ As you declutter, you naturally free up space and storage, so do that first and then assess whether anything new is required.”
- Duplicate or similar gifts? Don’t be afraid to return or exchange them
For special occasions like birthdays and Christmas your child may receive toys or outfits they already have or they have something very similar. Elizabeth Wickes advises, “Don’t be afraid to return or exchange gifts. While gifts from well-meaning friends and family are kindly appreciated, don’t keep items in your home that closely resemble toys or items they already own, and you know they’re not going to play with or get any use out of (not age appropriate etc).”
Or Liz Mansell suggests “Put away their old toys somewhere out of sight, then let the child enjoy the new toys. Once they are bored by the new additions, do a swap with the old toys, and the chances are, they are re-engaged and entertained by them again.”
- Teach toddlers to tidy up with this clever picture hack
Even young children can learn to tidy up with this hack. Elizabeth Wickes suggests, “Take photos or cut out an image from a magazine or book of each category of toy, print it out, and place it on the front of tubs or stick it on labels, so they know where certain things go.”
Kate Yiannacou also recommends storing baby and toddler items by category: “For example, keeping all the puzzles together, all the cars and trains, and all the role-play items. Once items are grouped like this, you can easily spot the items that never get chosen, and those are the ones you can move on.”
- Don’t involve toddlers in the decluttering process
Although toddlers can help to tidy away their toys it’s not recommended for them to get involved in the decluttering process. Liz Mansell warns “I don’t advise that toddlers are ever involved in decluttering, as I don’t believe they are old enough to comprehend what decluttering means.” She continued “Instead, make a game of it with your child, and ask the toddler to make a pile of the ‘baby’ toys. So, you get inside the head of the child and see what they regard as something they are too grown up for now. Then once they are in bed, you can look through the pile and see if you agree.”
- Always start with “easy wins”
While it may be tempting to start with the messiest area, Elizabeth Wickes advises doing the opposite: “Focus on easier tasks that take less time. This creates a sense of progress and helps build momentum for bigger projects.”
- Simplify decluttering with the four-pile method
As parents, it can be hard to find a free window of time to declutter and when you do it can be difficult not to get overwhelmed. Don’t overcomplicate the process, advises Elizabeth Wickes. “Create four piles for items: recycle, keep, sell or donate.” Then follow three simple steps:
- If it’s outgrown or no longer fits, donate or sell.
- If it’s worn out, recycle it.
- If it’s unused, takes up too much space, or you have duplicates, donate or sell it.
- Try the “one in, one out” rule
To keep clutter under control both Kate Galbally and Kate Yiannacou recommend the one-in, one-out method. Kate Yiannacou explains, “If there are new story books to add to the shelves, check through and find any that they don’t love and get them donated.”
Kate Galbally adds, “Items are leaving the house at roughly the same rate as they are coming in. This keeps things at a manageable level and makes it easier to maintain a comfortable level of organisation.”
- Rotate toys to reduce clutter
A lot of clutter happens during playtime when every toy is available at once. Elizabeth Wickes suggests, “Limit the number of toys that your baby or toddler plays with. Keep toys on rotation, so that you’re limiting the mess and tidying away a smaller number of items. Rather than having every toy available to them and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.”
Kate Yiannacou agrees: “We often feel like our children need newer, better, more when actually they are quite happy with the toys they already have. To reduce the clutter, consider instead rotating the existing toys, so they have access to a smaller amount of things but you switch them up more often. It provides the novelty factor without turning your home into a toy store.”
- Keep memories, not clutter
It’s hard to part with sentimental items, but keeping everything isn’t practical. Kate Yiannacou advises, “There can be a lot of emotions tied up in all these childhood items, and so we end up holding on to so much of it. So, ask yourself—who are you really keeping these things for? Is it actually for your child, or is it for you? And if it is for you, is there another way that you can keep the memory of that time without holding on to the object?”
Liz Mansell recommends making a memories box but be selective with what goes in it. She explains “For example, if a parent is decluttering baby clothes, create a memories box and keep, the first baby grow, their first dress, their most loved outfit and so on. Pass on the outfits that don’t hold that same value.”
Finished decluttering? Here’s what to do with baby and toddler items you no longer need
Nuby recommends donating these items to your local baby bank. Baby banks support families with young children who are in need. Something that is no longer useful to you could make a significant difference for families who are struggling. You can use this map of UK baby banks to find the nearest one and make a donation.
United Kingdom
United States