Life Kit: Parenting Drowning in toys? Here’s how to handle kid clutter
Mar 26, 2026
Denaye Barahona, psychotherapist who helps families simplify home life. She talks about why parents hang on to kids’ stuff and how to reframe donations. Shorter toy collections can make parenting easier. Practical tips include prepping spaces before a baby, sorting daily vs storage areas, and simple limits for art and collectibles.
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There Are No Magic Baby Products
- Having the right things rarely fixes parenting stress because there are no magic products that guarantee success.
- Denaye Barahona says emotional overload makes parents seek quick Amazon solutions, but useful tools are rare compared with connection and practice.
Pause Before You Buy For Baby
- Pause before buying: ask if the item is necessary, replaces something, or is stress-induced impulse spending.
- Denaye recommends decluttering pre-baby spaces like fridges and freezer for breastfeeding supplies instead of buying extra gadgets.
Use Active Versus Storage Spaces
- Separate active spaces from storage and keep only daily-use items in active spots to reduce friction.
- Denaye gives the example of a jean drawer with 30 jeans where only one was worn, so store extras out of the active drawer.