How much storage needed with baby?

[Caspianberg]

Baby due late spring. Trying to get the house clutter-free and sorted by then.
We will have a drawer unit upstairs in spare bedroom for clothing, nappies and bits, and changing mat ontop.

But I am wondering how much, if any storage I will need downstairs in main living room? What stuff do you need to usually store downstairs?

Im assuming a newborn doesn't really have many toys that need a home yet (small basket worth maybe). Also have a cupboard in hallway that can hold changing bag, sling and random bits for outside.

In the beginning just somewhere you can keep baby safely during the day eg sleepyhead or A mat and perhaps a box for books/toys. And definitely have a space in the kitchen for any bottles/teats/dummies etc

As baby grows your space may fill again with other things eg I now have a swing, jumperoo, walker and a playmat but baby is 7.5 months old and I don’t need all of that stuff (just wanted It).

Oh and somewhere for the pram

Personally I found it easier having a small basket with nappies, an outfit to change into, wipes etc plus a changing mat downstairs. Then a basket or shelf for toys.

Remember the newborn stage is a few months... By 6-10 months they are Mobile and need more entertainment... And toddler toys are bigger than toddlers.

Our wee one is a month old now. Downstairs we need to have

-Changing stuff. There's no way you'll want to go upstairs each time.

-easy access snacks. For while BF or Formula feeding as you'll likely still be tired and hungry either way.

-spare clothes and cloths. Spare clothes for the baby obviously but if you're like me you will need a pile of cloths to soak up the milk from overabundant boobs.

We have nowhere else for the pram but the living room so we use the carry cot for daytime naps.

Thanks.

Changing stuff, we are going down the reusable nappy route, so I assumed upstairs would be easier as next to bathroom to get clean water, empty nappy or whatever, and store dirty ones in sealed bin until washed rather than next to sofa.

I have an empty lower half of a cupboard in living room, so from what you have said, that should be plenty for the first 6-12 months to store random bits.

Pram will stay in Hallway or car boot. Hallway has bit under the stairs free so hopefully not in the way too much.

Just saw your message - it’s great you want to use reusable nappies. Just be prepared for dealing with up to ten nappies a day in the early days (I actually remember 16 one day) so for me I couldn’t use reusable nappies and I felt it best to have a downstairs Changing area too.

As I exclusively breastfed after about six weeks baby only pooed once every few days so I then changed upstairs only.

Nappies, wipes, cotton wool, spare clothes - dribble bibs & vests especially, muslins n hand always took
Snacks, drinks & remotes on hand for you too!
Blanket for the floor for the baby to lie on & 'tummy time'.
Blanket you can easily pull over you if your baby spends ages feeding/falls asleep on you.

With my first I hauled myself upstairs to my fancy changing table for every single nappy change (after a cesarean aswell) and it was bonkers of me! With my second I had stuff both upstairs a down and it was so much easier so honestly OP do yourself a favour and have a box of changing stuff downstairs for when you just cba moving.

Pram is a biggie it took up my whole hallway and wouldn't fit in my cupboard, changed for a small buggy very quickly.

No toy storage needed immediatley but you will be inundated before you know it so at least have a plan.

Tiny babies don't need a lot of storage but by a year old it was madness with all the 'stuff' in our house.