A Shoe Station Your Toddler Can Actually Use

Having a baby brings more color and clutter into your life, but you don't have to live in complete disarray. This is even true as babies become toddlers. Messy as they may be, toddlers also love to help — and it's the perfect age to introduce easy chores, like putting away their own shoes and outdoor accessories. To start, you just need to make things easy and accessible, so a low-level open bin, basket, or shoe cubby is often the best addition to your entryway. While some pro organizers might suggest a shoe trunk, I personally found it best when my kids had the least amount of steps to get to the end goal. We started with two large, open baskets, and if you have multiple kids, you can even assign each one their own color or let them make cute labels. 

As they grow up, low-level cubbies might be more ideal. Or, if you truly want shoes hidden away, look for a free-standing rack that's low to the ground and can be tucked inside an accessible wardrobe or closet. Another possibility is shoe storage that attaches to the back of the closet door but can be installed closer to the bottom rather than hung from the top where it may be hard to reach. A dedicated boot tray is another easy and accessible idea, especially if you live somewhere with wet weather, and this can be stored in the garage or by a side entrance if you don't have a dedicated mudroom. 

Once your little one has a handle on putting their own shoes away, you might want to look into other cute toddler-friendly storage for your home's entryway. Hooks hung at a reachable level are perfect for tiny backpacks, little coats, and even dog accessories if you have a furry addition to your family. Additional baskets or bins can be great for winter hats, gloves, and scarves, and it's also handy to rotate your entryway items as needed. Clear space by moving seasonal coats, shoes, and accessories to another part of the house when possible. 

Creating a seasonal storage rotation doesn't just make it easier and more streamlined for your little ones to access what they need. It can also help manage the visual chaos before getting out the door. This is especially useful with toddlers, because removing too many choices can help limit unexpected tantrums and decision overwhelm. Decluttering regularly is also helpful, and considering how quickly kids grow out of things, it should be fairly easy to cycle things out of the space.

For all of your toddler-friendly entryway storage, be sure to look for materials that are easy to keep clean. While metal rolling carts are great in some toddler-friendly areas of the home, it's best to opt for plastic, acrylic, or treated wood in the entryway. And as the seasons change, be sure to teach your kids to wipe their shoes and leave wet coats and umbrellas out to dry before storing.