Top floor flat with no lift- how to survive late pregnancy/newborn/ toddler stage?

[cantfindthespices]

We're biting the bullet and buying a washing machine/ tumble dryer.
What else do I need to buy/ organise?
I'm going to set up online shopping because it's already getting difficult hefting heavy bags up.

A good sling/carrier, plus a pushchair you can carry (folded) with one hand.

What floor is the top floor OP?

I lived in a 2nd floor flat for MANY years. In all that time, I only had 2 delivery drivers offer to carry the shopping up 1 flight of stairs to my door. They were very small shops! Don't rely on them carrying it any further than the entrance door at road level!

Do you have a balcony? Could you have a basket and pulley system from the street/garden level to your flat? Sounds bonkers, but my mum fills the baskets, then hauls the rope up to her balcony to take her shopping in.

Oh- 2nd! I was banking on them carrying it up. No balcony unfortunately.

A lot of places don’t carry shopping up the stairs! If you have a lovely driver then they will do but most don’t.

I live on the first floor and when both lifts have been out of service, I’ve had to go down to collect it as the drivers won’t bring it up. Both of my cousin’s live on the first floor too and whenever they deliver, drivers don’t come up. Good luck!!

That's one of my plans gone then! Is the delivery alone worth it if you have to strap baby in to carry it all up?

Been there! My best buys were:
-YoYo Stroller with the newborn pack (not the bassinet) - you can fold it easily holding baby and there’s a shoulder strap so you can carry it hands free
-Rucksack nappy bag - again so you can have hands free whilst doing the stairs
-Nappy bin - you’re not going downstairs with every nappy and once weaning they can get a but whiffy so I prefer to keep them out of the kitchen bin
-Yes yes yes to getting everything online + delivered, get Amazon Prime if you haven’t already

You’ll be fine! I’m very jealous of your laundry, we were in the states so had a shared basement laundry room. Is it like a house conversion flat? That was our set up and if deliveries didn’t bring stuff up (most did and I tipped them for it but that’s probably not a British thing!) then I’d pop DD in her cot and do a quick dash down. Obviously wouldn’t do that if it’s a big block though!

Do you have a car? I used to leave pram in the boot. Baby in a sling to go upstairs. That way hands are free for anything else. I’d still get shopping delivered but choose a time when he’s home to heft the bags up for you. Once baby is born you can take turns.

Yes, we have a car. I was going to use a bicycle lock and chain the pram up in the hall though...

Check if you're allowed to do that, lots of flats have rules about not leaving obstructions in common areas as it's a risk in an evacuation situation.

I live in a flat, delivery drivers here always carry the shopping up and we leave our pram in the hall - we don't lock it up, just tuck it under the stairs. Never had any issues, but I guess it would depend on the area/your neighbours. Agree with pp that a rucksack changing bag is ideal!

I have a toddler and a baby in a second floor flat with no lift! It can be a bit tricky tbh but ots of us manage and it can be done. : Would reccomend a good sling to get baby up and down/to the car etc. Keep pushchair in the boot and get out when needed. Keep a changing bag in the car so you don't have to lug it downstairs and if you know you'll need certain things on a day, take down & put in the car the night before!

I've been getting online food shopping deliveries for 5 years & only had an issue with the driver not bringing the shopping up twice (both times drivers were disabled and couldn't physically do it) so very surprised to hear others experiences!

Will come back if I think of anything else!

A rucksack changing bag is genius, I agree.

I used to leave the pram in the car and when DD was newborn it was easier to use a carrier than mess about with the pram for a walk.
Nappy bin is a must as nappies smell in the bin and you can’t always be taking the bin out.

Been there, 3rd floor flat. We would leave the pram in the hallway and a fully stocked changing bag incl formula and sterilised bottles in the car boot. Only ocado would bring the shopping up so we became a loyal customer. You get fitter as the baby gets heavier!

I live in a second floor flat and every delivery service (Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Ocado, Amazon) have carried everything up the stairs every single time.

@cantfindthespices most flats have a specified clause where you are not allowed to leave prams (or bikes) in the common areas. Have you ever seen bikes or prams in the corridor of your building?

I'm up on second floor, no lift, and all my food deliveries have come to my door. I do put in the notes section that we're top floor, never been an issue. I leave the pushchair in the car. If I do a small shop I take a rucksac, much easier . Feel free to ask me any questions, haven't read the whole thread. Oh and I moved in when my baby was 4 weeks old, he's now 14 months. Just me and him.

I would check you're allowed to leave pram in hallway, we're not allowed to leave anything out in communal area.

Carrier
small buggy
delivery drivers bring shopping to our door
do u have a car? Boot is excellent storage.

I live on the 3rd floor with no lift. Here's what helped us.

-Tumble dryer!!!!
-Nappy bin. Triple bag those poo nappies. Husband runs it down to outside bin once a day.
-Infant car seat never came upstairs. Too heavy. Baby was always carried upstairs.
-click and collect shopping. Husband collects and brings it upstairs
-heavy bulk buys are delivered- cat litter etc
-pram stays in the communal hallway. Neighbours are very understanding.
-used a sling carrier a lot in the early days. Now he's 19 months I just carry him downstairs and he likes to climb some stairs himself on the way up and I carry him the rest of the way. Pram still in use and stays downstairs in the hallway as always.
-I just use my normal rucksack for changing bag. Never bothered with anything else.

It's doable! 2nd floor is no trouble. 3rd is a pain in the ass!!!

My pushchair was removed for leaving in landing under stairs as a fire risk although no one would trip over etc aw tucked away.
Most drivers carried shopping up but not all. And remeber its bagless so have to bag it if u have to go down to get it too

I ended up keeping pushchair (when i brought a new one) in the boot of car. Carry baby up with toddler walking

I live on the second floor!! Baby is 9months. I was so worried but we’ve been fine :D pram and car seat live in car, I just carry baby up the stairs. Food shopping gets delivered to door but tbh I just but a couple of bits each day on my walk with baby.
visiting friends/families is actually a pita when you have to climb stairs IN the house 😂when we move, I’m buying a bungalow!!

Indeed. Don't leave it in the Hallway (beyond obviously 10 mins as you take baby up to flat)

I am first floor and supermarket delivery always delivers to my front door.

And it's not just that neighbor don't like items in common areas (which they don't) more that insurance policies say the area must be clear of everything (bikes/ pranks etc)

I put my dd in a safe space (cot) then returned for shopping - no deliveries back then, mostly I got shopping with exh.