Parents with guns

We didn't have guns in our home growing up until my mom re married when I was around 13. My step dad showed us how to shoot a small 22 and how to load it. Now that I'm starting my own family I'd like to bring my 45 into our home but I don't know where I should put it. At my moms we had loaded guns all over the home from the kitchen to sock drawer. We have a 5 year old and a baby girl on the way. Where's the safest most effective place to keep it in your opinion?