SURVEY: Many Adults Regret Leaving Childhood Items in the Past

Childhood items like baby blankets or stuffed animals often carry deep sentimental value, which is why many people hold onto them as they grow older. But between the challenges of moving, smaller living spaces, and limited storage options, it’s easy to lose track of what matters most. 

We often don’t realize how much we miss these items until they’re gone. Even with quick fixes like DIY garage storage, staying organized becomes more difficult as clutter accumulates over time. But when we discard treasured childhood items, we’re left without tangible links to our memories.

This struggle highlights the emotional significance of childhood items, as the desire to preserve them often clashes with the limited space available. Many overlook storage units as a secure way to preserve items without cluttering their home.

To better understand these challenges, we explored how people balance sentiment with practicality. The results reveal how others navigate this conflict and hold onto what matters most.

Key Findings

Over Half of Adults Hold Onto Childhood Items for Less than 5 Years, If At All

Many adults struggle to hold onto childhood items for extended periods, with 34% keeping these mementos for five years or less and 33% discarding anything they no longer need. This struggle is often driven by practical concerns.

For example, limited storage space and shifting priorities, such as family needs or creating a more organized apartment space, frequently force people to let go of items they once valued.

As a result, most people prioritize their current space needs over sentimental attachments, leading them to make difficult decisions about what to keep and what to discard. However, many later regret letting go of items that once had significant meaning.

38% of Americans Keep Childhood Clothing, Only to Discard Later 

While nearly 4 in 10 Americans keep childhood clothing, 62% eventually choose to discard those items, exposing the internal conflict many people experience between holding onto cherished memories and facing the practical demands of daily life.
This chart goes further into detail about this contradiction of values. It shows that while clothing and toys are among the most commonly kept childhood items, they are also the most frequently discarded over time.

After the initial decision to part with these special items, many people later regret their choices. For example, 30% of adults appreciate having saved toys, while 24% feel the same about clothing. This pattern reflects how the true sentimental value of certain items often becomes clearer over time — sometimes when it’s too late to get them back.Among sentimental childhood items, books stand out as one of the most commonly kept. They hold lasting memories for both caregivers and children. Unlike toys or clothing, books are small, portable, and can be preserved for generations, making them easier to justify keeping.

The Fear of Losing Childhood Memories

Childhood items are more than just physical objects — they’re reminders of joy, growth, and unforgettable moments. Yet, many Americans are left with a lingering sense of fear about the potential for these memories to be lost or damaged over time. Over 43% of Americans worry about damage, while 30% struggle with storage space.

Despite these concerns, most people store their keepsakes in attics or spare closets, where dust, moisture, and clutter increase the risk of damage.

Whether you’re keeping these items to pass down to the next generation or simply as a reminder of cherished memories, it’s crucial to take the right precautions to preserve them properly.

Preserving Memories Beyond Baby Years Without the Clutter

Childhood items hold significant sentimental value for both caretakers and children. Whether you’re looking to protect these cherished memories or simply make more space at home, there are many modern preservation solutions. These include:

• Digitizing keepsakes: Scan artwork, photograph baby clothes, or create video journals to preserve memories without taking up physical space.
• Creative storage solutions: Vacuum-sealing clothing removes air, compressing items into a smaller, more compact form, enabling more efficient storage in closets or unconventional spaces like under the stairs.
• Upcycling old items: Repurpose sentimental items by turning baby clothes into a quilt or creating a decorative piece from vintage toys to give them new life and meaning.
• Maximize closet space: Use organizers, shelves, and bins to make the most of your closet space for storing keepsakes. 
• Selective storage: Keep a few meaningful pieces at home, rather than entire wardrobes or toy collections, and consider storing the rest elsewhere or donating them to someone who will cherish them.
• Storage units: Storage units offer long-term storage with features like climate control and 24/7 monitoring to ensure your items are safe from moisture, temperature extremes, physical damage, and theft — keeping them secure and preserved until you’re ready to revisit them.

If you’re looking for an affordable storage solution nearby, SelfStorage.com makes it easy to find options with 24/7 access, enhanced security, and a hassle-free rental process.

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Methodology 

The survey of 1,358 adults ages 18 and over was conducted via SurveyMonkey Audience for SelfStorage.com, LLC, on March 5, 2025. Data is unweighted and the margin of error is approximately +/-3% for the overall sample with a 95% confidence level.