To ask your thoughts on having two adults, a toddler and a newborn in a studio flat?

[0valtine]

How practical do you think this is? Two adults, a boisterous toddler whos walking and into everything, and a newborn.

One room where you sit/cook/eat/play and then one bedroom. Tiny bathroom and no other space.

Thoughts?

That’s not a studio, that’s a one bedroom flat.

Doesn’t sound ideal but if that’s the only option then it’s probably survivable for a while.

My thoughts are 'eeek'. But it's not strictly a studio if you have a separate bedroom and living room. And I suppose in many parts of the world, like Hong Kong, small living spaces are the norm.

Would it be a long-term situation?

for how long?

Sounds like an absolute nightmare. Will be very hard on you, not having any space to yourself, and the newborn may keep the toddler awake. If there is an alternative to this set up I would try and take it.

Where does toddler sleep?

Sorry, thanks for clarifying - not a studio flat! I thought that's what it was called, with the kitchen/living area being all in one

A very small, cramped one bedroom flat.

To answer how long, for the foreseeable future

Not ideal, however it is possible without being a serious concern.

I live with DH, dc age 4 and dc age 2, a dog and a cat in a static caravan with one bedroom so I know it can be done. I'd rather have more space though! But needs must.

Is it you, or someone else?

Didn't see the full post..if there's a separate bedroom it's not a studio flat and would be a bit better than all of you in the same room

Squashed.

Is my thought.

We have 2 adults and a 4 year old trying to rub along living in 2 bedrooms at the moment. No living room. Sitting on the bed to eat ect. But at least we know it's temporary.

That space would be very stressful for the 4 of you. Which area are you living?

Are you renting? Or have you bought the place and are stuck with it for some reason?

Toddler sleeps in the bedroom with us, baby will be sleeping in the bedroom with us and toddler.

This is the current living arrangement, pending the arrival of baby in 8 weeks.

do you envisage being able to move somewhere bigger in the near future or would this be indefinite?

Not great but perfectly normal in many, many parts of the world.

Get a sofabed for you and sleep in the living room at night so the newborn doesn’t wake the toddler

not ideal but doable esp as long as the baby is a baby. Harder with toddler and a 3/4 year old but doable in the meantime I think. Is a 2 bed flat/house out if question financially?

It sounds like it's a bit late to be worrying about it now?! But yeah it sounds hellish if it's for the unforeseeable future.

Could you get triple sleeper? So a high bed over a double bed. That would fit three of you into the bedroom. Cot for the baby.

I realise you'd need extra safety precautions for the toddler up higher, but the double bed to fall onto is part of that. You could get one of those tent things that go round a bed to give him (and the two adults) some privacy it would also make it a bit safer.

It's not ideal but you could make it work for a while.

Longer term both kids in the double bed and two adults in the other space with a really, really good sofa bed.

Live in the most expensive part of the country (Yep you guessed it) but in one of the less desirable Burroughs which costs less than some. We rent.

Can't afford to upsize here but DP doesn't want to leave the city. Even on the outskirts what we'd need is unaffordable.

I'm trying to gather opinions to add weight to my argument that this just isn't suitable or fair on the DC long-term.

A bloody nightmare.

I’m not sure I understand this question. If you have a baby coming in 8 weeks, obviously you already decided this was a workable situation. It’s not a living situation I would choose, but everyone is different.

London is not worth that! Why is he so keen to stay?

He may not want to listen to you now but I would imagine the reality of living with a toddler and newborn in such a small space will be more persuasive than any words. It's not sustainable in the long term, four people in such a small space.

We lived in a tiny place like that with toddler and baby. It gets a lot harder when the second one starts moving around too, we moved when our second was two. It helps if you go out a lot to the park and if you massively downsize your possessions and only have what you absolutely need. A lot of families live like this in London.

Are you looking to rent? Have you found somewhere?

You may struggle to find a landlord that will accept a family of four in a one bed flat.