Easy Ways to Create a Practical Home for Small Children
From washable surfaces to handy storage, here’s how to make life easier with your newest (and messiest) addition
Laura Wheat
27. juni 2019
Coming home with a brand-new baby is a daunting enough undertaking without the worry that your house isn’t set up ‘correctly’. Of course, your little one doesn’t need much more than milk and cuddles, but if you’re making changes anyway and are keen to put practicality at the forefront of your plans, take a look at these baby-proof pointers.
Set the scene
You’ll probably have your baby sleep in your bedroom at first, but it’s helpful to free up some storage ready for clothes, nappies and a million muslins. Feeding and changing your little one in their future bedroom also creates a familiar and safe environment to aid a smooth transition later on.
Since most babies struggle with sleep, calm nursery décor minimises distractions. Consider adding a mirror, so you can peek over your shoulder to see if their eyes have (finally) closed, and a chair for nursing and/or collapsing into when your cot transfer efforts are unsuccessful.
You’ll probably have your baby sleep in your bedroom at first, but it’s helpful to free up some storage ready for clothes, nappies and a million muslins. Feeding and changing your little one in their future bedroom also creates a familiar and safe environment to aid a smooth transition later on.
Since most babies struggle with sleep, calm nursery décor minimises distractions. Consider adding a mirror, so you can peek over your shoulder to see if their eyes have (finally) closed, and a chair for nursing and/or collapsing into when your cot transfer efforts are unsuccessful.
Create a cohesive kitchen-diner
Logistically, being able to prepare, eat and clear up food while your little one sits nearby is a priority. When they’re tiny, you’ll be able to pop them in a highchair, from where they can look on while you cook and clean.
Once you’re weaning your baby, you’ll be forever running to the sink for cloths and going to fetch extra food after they throw theirs on the floor.
Whether you position a small table in the kitchen or have your dining room alongside the cook space, keep this tip in mind when planning or rearranging your home layout.
Logistically, being able to prepare, eat and clear up food while your little one sits nearby is a priority. When they’re tiny, you’ll be able to pop them in a highchair, from where they can look on while you cook and clean.
Once you’re weaning your baby, you’ll be forever running to the sink for cloths and going to fetch extra food after they throw theirs on the floor.
Whether you position a small table in the kitchen or have your dining room alongside the cook space, keep this tip in mind when planning or rearranging your home layout.
Work on a washable floor
The area around the dining table needs to be washable, wipeable or removable. This could entail simply folding a corner of the rug out of the way and positioning the high chair on the floor, choosing a polypropylene-style scrubbable rug, putting a removable floor covering, such as an oilcloth, down, or just having bare floorboards.
You should also think about nearby soft furnishings, such as curtains, to ensure they’re clear of the splash zone. Realistically, this is at least a metre.
The area around the dining table needs to be washable, wipeable or removable. This could entail simply folding a corner of the rug out of the way and positioning the high chair on the floor, choosing a polypropylene-style scrubbable rug, putting a removable floor covering, such as an oilcloth, down, or just having bare floorboards.
You should also think about nearby soft furnishings, such as curtains, to ensure they’re clear of the splash zone. Realistically, this is at least a metre.
Adapt easily
Once your baby becomes more alert, you’ll notice he or she will tend to rise with the sun, making blackout blinds or curtains a wise addition.
Furniture suddenly needs to be a lot more secure, as little hands use it to pull themselves up or cruise around the room. See which pieces it’s necessary to screw to the walls for stability and safety.
As children grow, toys tend to inhabit every corner of the house. Having a few baskets ready for a quick relocation effort makes a difference to your space – and your sanity.
Once your baby becomes more alert, you’ll notice he or she will tend to rise with the sun, making blackout blinds or curtains a wise addition.
Furniture suddenly needs to be a lot more secure, as little hands use it to pull themselves up or cruise around the room. See which pieces it’s necessary to screw to the walls for stability and safety.
As children grow, toys tend to inhabit every corner of the house. Having a few baskets ready for a quick relocation effort makes a difference to your space – and your sanity.
Evaluate your layout
Open-plan living spaces really come into their own when your child is old enough to entertain themselves for short periods. Interrupting their play sessions often breaks the spell and leads to your required involvement, so being able to keep them within view as you unload the dishwasher or enjoy a quick cup of tea is reassuring for both parties.
Open-plan living spaces really come into their own when your child is old enough to entertain themselves for short periods. Interrupting their play sessions often breaks the spell and leads to your required involvement, so being able to keep them within view as you unload the dishwasher or enjoy a quick cup of tea is reassuring for both parties.
Build in book storage
From their first black and white board books, many of us hope to encourage budding bookworms, but practical storage can become an issue. Picture ledge shelves or a specialist design, like these, provide lots of space while keeping covers on show.
Positioning shelves low down ensures children can reach their favourite books without help and may secure you a few minutes of peace.
From their first black and white board books, many of us hope to encourage budding bookworms, but practical storage can become an issue. Picture ledge shelves or a specialist design, like these, provide lots of space while keeping covers on show.
Positioning shelves low down ensures children can reach their favourite books without help and may secure you a few minutes of peace.
Assign areas for destruction
Since toddlers love nothing more than tinkering with non-toy toys, aka your stuff, it’s useful to leave some areas available to them, rather than child-locking every door and drawer in the house.
These bedside tables would certainly be raided, but you might at least get to change the sheets while they play. A kitchen cupboard teaming with Tupperware is also a useful distraction when attempting to finish a task that requires the use of both hands.
Tell us…
What tips would you add for planning a home for small children? Share your ideas and experiences in the Comments section.
Since toddlers love nothing more than tinkering with non-toy toys, aka your stuff, it’s useful to leave some areas available to them, rather than child-locking every door and drawer in the house.
These bedside tables would certainly be raided, but you might at least get to change the sheets while they play. A kitchen cupboard teaming with Tupperware is also a useful distraction when attempting to finish a task that requires the use of both hands.
Tell us…
What tips would you add for planning a home for small children? Share your ideas and experiences in the Comments section.
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Love the colour scheme
Great tips here from the post and commenteers. Slightly off subject, but my WILKINET* baby carrier... the best design by far.... was a Godsend. Babies tend to wake when you stop moving and so often when you get home, you have things to attend to, which don't warrant the distraction of a crying child, such as making a start on dinner. I was able to keep baby attached to me and asleep for a bit longer!
*Looks complicated to get on but it's a breeze believe me... Used one for 4 children. The leg straps support baby's thighs unlike other designs out there. Bonus: One size fits all, so Dads can carry too!
Some great tips in the article and comments. I would add that your child will want to play near you even as they start school so having storage for quiet or non messy toys that fits your decor in the family room or other grown up space. That way it will be easy for them to get things out to amuse themselves, for them to tidy up after themselves and for your living room to look perfectly grown up after their bed time.
I'd also make space for messy play in your kitchen - we cover the kitchen table with a wax cloth and have play dough and arts and crafts supplies within reach and make a big mess which is easily cleaned up.
My last tip would be to make tidying up part of your routine from very early on. As soon as your child is mobile get them to help tidy up their toys as part of the daily routine and then you won't have toys throughout your home.