disassembled 4moms mamaroo swing

How to Store a Mamaroo | The Definitive Guide

Feb 23, 2021

How to Store a Mamaroo | The Definitive Guide

Tips for storing a 4moms Mamaroo swing for your next baby

Let me guess… your baby’s things are taking over your home and you’re running out of space.

It’s unbelievable how much stuff our tiny people have!

When your little one hits the age, weight, or skill limits of the Mamaroo, it’s time to pack it up and make room for other gear.

First, a quick rundown of what those Mamaroo swing milestones* actually are:

  • AGE: 6 months
  • WEIGHT: 25 lbs
  • SKILLS: Can sit up unassisted or attempts to climb out

*Go by whichever happens first.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to store your 4moms Mamaroo swing for your next baby.

Related: Sleeping in a Mamaroo Swing: Is it Safe for Your Baby?

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PIN FOR LATER

how to store mamaroo swing

Supplies you’ll need to disassemble, clean, and store your Mamaroo swing

For disassembling:

  • See if you still have the little white auxiliary cable that came with your Mamaroo. No worries if you lost yours like I did — you only need it for its shape, not its function. You can use any audio cable you may have lying around the house, such as the end of your headphones. Or, find a narrow metal tool that’s the same shape.

(No other tools required!)

For cleaning:

  • A soft cloth
  • A mild cleaning solution
  • Dish soap
  • Laundry detergent
  • Mesh laundry bag (optional)

Make sure you have an empty sink and an available washing machine/dryer as well!

For storing:

Now that you’ve got your supplies, let’s dive into the first step of storing a Mamaroo…

If you’ve already taken the swing apart, jump ahead to cleaning and preparing the Mamaroo for storage or how to pack and store your swing.

Step 1: Fully disassemble the Mamaroo

This will take less than 5 minutes and is pretty simple. You can follow these written instructions for how to take apart a Mamaroo swing and watch the video below as you go.

Mamaroo disassembly instructions:

  1. Remove the toy bar: Rotate the arm and pull up. It should easily come right out, you shouldn’t have to force it.
  2. Unsnap the seat fabric in 2 places: at the top (near where the toy bar was) and at the bottom.
  3. Unbuckle the harness if it’s buckled. Pull the straps through the bottom of the seat.
  4. Unzip both zippers to separate the fabric seat from the frame.
  5. Now it’s time to dislodge the side rails or “arms.” This is the only slightly tricky part… but it sounds way more complicated than it is…
    Grab the auxiliary cable (or similarly shaped object) described above in Supplies. Pick a side, left or right, and press the metal tip of the cable into the silver ball on either end of the interior frame. Then do the same on the other end. The arm should easily release. Repeat on the other side.
  6. Pull out the white stopper attached to the front of the metal center rail.
  7. Release the lever on the back side. Pull the central rail up and out.

Make your life easier by watching the 4moms Mamaroo disassembly video in conjunction…

Step 2: Clean the Mamaroo

As much as you’re probably inclined to skip this, I urge you not to!

Yes, you’re going to want to wash everything again before your next baby so this may seem like a redundant activity.

But, keep in mind that any stains and odors on the swing will surface over time. They may appear yellow (and gross!) when you pull the swing out of storage to use again.

And depending on where you’re storing the Mamaroo, this may attract bugs and rodents. Yuck.

Here’s how to clean each part, based on the manufacturer’s instructions:

Plastic and metal parts

Wipe everything down with a soft damp cloth and a mild cleaning solution.

Harness straps

Fill your sink (or a basin) with warm soapy water.

Soak the straps in the water, being careful not to submerge the central rail.

Rinse clean.

Blot with a dry cloth and then allow it to air dry.

Seat fabric

Thankfully, the Mamaroo seat fabric is machine washable!

Wash in cold water on a gentle cycle.

Don’t use bleach.

Tumble dry on low heat.

Plush balls

These toys are machine washable too!

You can place them in a protective pouch like I did (though, 4moms doesn’t indicate that this is necessary).

Wash in cold water on a gentle cycle.

Don’t use bleach.

Tumble dry on low heat.

Once you’ve cleaned all of the Mamaroo swing parts, it’s CRITICAL to make sure everything has a chance to FULLY dry before packing it up to store.

When in doubt, wait an extra day.

Related: Cleaning a Pack and Play (Step by Step Guide)

Step 3: Pack up the Mamaroo

If you have the original box…

If, on the off chance, you kept the packaging that the Mamaroo came in, you can watch the video below for how to rebox it.

(Otherwise, keep scrolling)

Choosing the right storage box…

I got lucky and had a box lying around the house that fit everything quasi-perfectly. It’s slightly too small, but it works.

(My box is 26″ x 18.5″ x 10″)

Here are the measurements of the largest Mamaroo parts so you can figure out what size box will work:

  • Base: ~25.5” long x ~20.5” wide x ~8.5” tall
  • Side rails: ~28.5” long
  • Center rail: ~28.5” long

Depending on where you’ll be storing the Mamaroo, consider using a plastic storage bin instead of a cardboard box. Not only is this more protective in the event of a leak or a flood, but it’s also harder for rodents to chew through.

How to pack the Mamaroo to store it

  • Double check that it’s dry first!
  • Fold up the seat fabric and place it in a jumbo ziploc bag. Consider adding a few desiccants to the bag as well. Close the bag 99% of the way, squeeze out the air, then make sure it’s sealed.
  • Place the 3 plush balls in a gallon ziploc bag. Do the same as above.
  • Consider individually wrapping the plastic and metal pieces if you’re worried about them getting scratched, banged up, or water damaged. (I skipped this).
  • Play some adult Tetris and try to place everything in the box.
  • Add bubble wrap or paper between the parts as needed to keep everything snug. You don’t want the contents of the box rattling!
  • Tip: You can zipper the two side rails together to have one less moving part.
  • Close the box, making sure there are no gaps or holes, and label it.

mamaroo swing storage box

Storage tips for protecting your Mamaroo swing

1) Moisture is the enemy.

If you’ll be storing your Mamaroo in a basement (or similar damp conditions), consider grabbing one of my favorite products for preventing mold, mildew, rust, and musty smells:

This humidifier...

Check out this dehumidifier, it’s fantastic and does what it says it does.

We’ve owned this exact item for just over 6 months now, and it’s been a game changer. We can see on our bedroom air monitor that this thing actually WORKS (and fast)! The humidity is exactly where we set it to be. (We like ~45%).

Before buying this dehumidifier, we were at levels upwards of 70% and all our clothes were getting musty.

Dust and mold thrive in humid conditions, so if you want your Mamaroo to stay in tip top shape while you store it, keep the humidity in the room under control.

This giant DampRid...

For a more affordable option, get these high capacity DampRid buckets

We have them throughout our basement and they’re great! One bucket lasts 6 months, so this set will last a year.

The crystals in the bucket absorb the excess moisture in the air.

DampRids don’t quite measure up to electric dehumidifiers (which literally suck up gallons of water every single week); BUT, they’re an excellent budget friendly alternative.

And, best of all, they don’t require electricity! This is a huge plus if you’re planning to store your Mamaroo in a closet or in a storage space where it’s not practical or possible to plug in (and regularly empty) a dehumidifier.

These desiccants...

(I didn’t know what that word meant either haha)

Here’s your cheapest option, by far.


Moisture absorbers are those little packets that come in lots of packages. You’ve probably thrown away dozens, maybe hundreds, of them over the years.

If you’ve been collecting them in a drawer, now’s the time to use them.

You can also buy a huge lot of them for super cheap. Throw a handful in the Mamaroo storage box to keep everything nice and dry.

Continuing our list of Mamaroo storage tips…

2) Vertical space is your friend!

When possible, store the Mamaroo off the floor just in case of a flood. Keep in mind that groundwater can also seep through unsealed concrete.

We have a bunch of these amazing wire shelves in our basement.

3) Contractor bags are great

Consider wrapping the Mamaroo parts in garbage bags to protect them from moisture inside the box. I love these heavy duty bags and use them for all sorts of things.

4) Seal the box properly

If you do decide to use a cardboard box, make sure it is fully sealed to prevent dust or bugs from getting in.

6) Label it!

In addition to labeling the box “Mamaroo Swing”, write “FRAGILE” or “HANDLE WITH CARE.” (Just in case someone else helps pull it out of storage).

Other ways to store a Mamaroo

You can also think outside the box …PUN INTENDED!

If you’re limited on storage space, consider separating the pieces so they can fit in smaller places.

You can decide whether you want to skip the box and just wrap the pieces in contractor bags, as I often do with irregularly shaped objects.

Think:

  • Under your bed
  • The bottom of a clothes closet
  • A high shelf you can’t reach

If you’d like to measure your space in advance to see whether the Mamaroo will fit, here are the measurements of the base of the swing (the largest piece):

~25.5” long x ~20.5” wide x ~8.5” tall

The other pieces don’t take up much room at all and could easily slide under a bed or even behind a piece of furniture.

Final thoughts on disassembling and storing a 4moms Mamaroo swing & seat

If you take the time to properly disassemble, clean, and store your 4moms Mamaroo swing, it will be in perfect shape for your next baby!

If you’re looking for a replacement “baby container” now that you’ve packed away your swing, consider my all time favorite baby purchase, this bouncer.

I can’t recommend this thing enough. HANDS DOWN, we got more use out of it than any other toy. Aden found it endlessly entertaining.

100% worth the money.

Check it out.

Do you have a toddler between 1 and 4 years old?

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Email yourself this seriously great list of toddler stocking stuffer ideas to save for Christmas 2024.

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How to Store a Mamaroo | The Definitive Guide