To think we can have a baby in a 1 bedroom apartment?

[MummyToBe89]

Hi All,

Our first baby is due in December and we're confused over whether we should move out of our one bedroom flat or stay there until the baby comes to need their own cot.

We currently live in a 1 bedroom flat. It's ground floor, has a small patio area and is an old Victorian era house, so nice high ceilings and fairly roomy living room, but doesnt have much spare space in the bedroom or much storage. A few of our friends have told us the baby won't need their own cot until they're about 6 months old and to not bother moving until then.

We live in a very expensive part of the country (currently paying around £1000 per month for our 1 bedroom place) and are trying to save a deposit for a house. Staying where we are would save us about £500 per month, but I'm just worried the baby will get here and I'll wish we moved to a bigger place and have a room to put all the baby's stuff.

Has anybody lived in a one bedroom place with a baby? How long was it before you put your baby in their cot or in their own room?

We could afford to move to a 2 bedroom place, it'd just mean a big hit to what we save each month towards a house deposit.

TIA :)

i think you’ll be fine, you make it work. just don’t buy pointless stuff you won’t need. we have a bouncer, walker and ball pit in our lounge and my 7 month old barely uses any of it. i recommend a next2me as my long and big 7 month old still fits in it fine so doesn’t sleep in his cot yet. you might still need a moses though or somewhere for baby to sleep during the day as you’ll want it in the same room as you for a while.

In London lots of people do this, even with more than one child. I think the key thing is to not too have too much stuff.

We lived in a studio until DS was 15 months. As soon as we moved to a bigger place, he started walking - the studio was so cramped that there was always furniture to cruise around.

I'm just going to add that I've had big babies and they survived in Moses basket until 6 months

But in the event that they don't just get a pop up cot. It's completely doable

We live in a 1 bed flat. Baby is almost 8 months now. We have a chicco next to me cot. Would that be an option for you or something in similar size in the bedroom? It's bigger than a basket but not too big.
We didn't bother with a changing table. We change baby on the bed using a changing mat.
We also bought chest of drawers and put in the living room to put baby's things in it.
It's doable for short term.

The “next to me” style ones you suggest last longer than a standard Moses basket so that should take you to 6 months. Also, no need for a change table. I have a changing mat on the chest of drawers but you could easily have a change mat that slides under the sofa or whatever.

Definitely worth hanging on and saving that extra money so that the home you get to next lasts longer!

We lived in a 1 bed flat till DD was 5 months and it was fine, we didn't have a changing table!

2 separate friends lived with their husbands and their respective 2 children for years in 1 bed flats

Children had the bedroom and parents had a sofa bed.

I was in a 1 bed until my child was 15 months - it was fine. It's when they start moving around a lot that it becomes a problem

I had DS whilst in a cramped 1 bed flat, we were there for about a year and made do, my bedroom wasn't big but I had his cot between my bed and the wal there was just enough room for us to walk around the bed and have a wardrobe at the bottom of the room. I would look into storage units (think ikea stacked shelving types) and you don't need things like changing tables, a changing mat and box does the job.

YANBU at all, infact I'd say it would be more sensible to save towards a deposit than to rush into renting an extra bedroom which you won't really need for at least 6 months.

We lived in a single room in my Mums house until my DS was 4 months then he shared a room with us until he was 14 months as he never slept through so it was just easier!

They need a lot less than you think so having less space will make it less tempting to buy a load of unnecessary stuff.

We had a small travel cot with a bassinet attachment so it could be folded away during the day then we used it for daytime naps downstairs in our own place. Didn't bother with a changing table for either of mine and managed fine, a foldaway mat worked just as well. If you have a car leave the car seat and pram in there when you can to save on storage and get yourself a box for baby stuff (toys, books etc)

We were in a one bedroom flat till DS was 1, and it was fine. We didn't even have the benefit of the patio area that you have. We never had any need for a changing table, and in fact regretted having a baby bath given that, when was small, it was much easier to bath him in the basin.

My baby was quite dainty and had outgrown the moses basket by 3 months.

Kinda do able but you'll need a proper cot eventually. We have a next2me and are looking to replace it because DD 6 months is now able to pull herself up from sitting (doing it using me as a climbing frame as I type ) and is starting try and get up from lying down. I thought we'd have a couple more months, she has space but I don't want her to fall from it. I looked at mokee, I think they've sped up their turn around now.

We have a changing table that was once my kitchen island in my studio flat, but she's got tummy problems and I'm to lazy to walk to the bedroom to change her again so the change mats in the living room.

I tried doing without the baby bath but she was so sicky lying flat in the sink didn't go down well so I got the shnuggle one which is small and great (and fits in the sink which is handy)

We were given a play mat arch thing but the wooden a frame one I got that folds gets used more because it's easy to get out and put away. We have a bouncer but no jumpy-swingy-playstation. I got a thing that you can attach toys to and also store stuff under that's supposed to be good for years just swapping out the toys and it takes up about the space of a dining chair.

Do able but you just have to be conscious about the amount and size of stuff.

For 6months or so you'll be fine.
Don't buy too much unnecessary stuff / don't accept unnecessary hand me downs. Gifts is a tricky one..

After 6-12 months you might well feel you need the additional space. I know I did.

I'd prioritise saving up for a deposit to buy a place. A one bed is fine with a baby or small child.

You don't need a changing table. A mat on the floor or bed is fine.

I think you fill the space that you have. If you do want to stay, just look for good storage options, a smaller size pram (some are huge!), cot with storage space.

We put our DS in his own room early (yes, I know it's not advised) as none of us were sleeping and it was much better, especially as he rapidly outgrew the Moses basket and next2me.

They’re supposed to be in your room for at least the first six months, I’ve always kept mine in my room for the first year. You don’t have to rush out of the flat, it will be fine until your baby is one.

My 10 month old has just moved from the bednest next to my bed to her cot in her own room. Her bedroom has really just been a storage area till now. 6 months is really the minimum they should be with you. The risks (associated with being away from you) do drop at 6 months, but they are much lower if you try to wait till 1 year, and it’s still common to have them in with you till 2. That would be a lot of money you could save -3K, 6k even 12k if you managed till age 2. It’s easy to get caught up in the consumerism of having babies, thinking they need all this stuff that takes up space, but really they just need you...I’d prioritise longer term security over stuff/space/convenience while they are so small.

Thanks all for your advice. It’s good to know that so many of you have done it, or even on studio flats.
I had a bit of an epiphany on my walk home and I think we’re going to move to our bedroom in to the large living room and vice versa. The bedroom is large enough for the sofa and TV and then we’ll have plenty of space in the living room for our bed/extra wardrobe/draws and a cot. Plus we have a nice fire in the living room so it’ll be nice and warm for the baby when they’re in bed.

😂I lived in a one bed flat with 3 children. It’s normal for people living in council houses plenty manage fine.

Yes; you can absolutely have a baby in a 1-bed apartment. The likelihood of you (adults) using a bed for up to 4 years is slim. Your baby will hog your old bed and feign sleep in 1-2 hour intervals while the two of you alternatively pace the floor and decide who gets to lie next to the cherub for a good starfish kicking to your face and/or groin. Save up for your next home and invest in coffee while you wait. The coffee doesn't actually help but gives you the illusion that you are in control of your sleep habits. You may also wish to invest in a playpen. It's a good place to hide while your toddler trashes your home.

I am, of course, being humorous. I know one mom who had all 3 of her kids sleeping through from approximately 7 weeks old. Although, I do know about 100 moms. But you could be that 1 in 100. And you can get convertible cribs that are toddler-bed-sized, which would fit into a corner of your bedroom. So, either way, you are good for a few years without making any significant decor changes. Felicitations on your pregnancy and good luck with the birth. :) x

Have you got a comfy couch or sofa bed? We’ve managed fine in a one bedroom flat with our DS - just have to be very organised. However, at times we’ve really longed for a spare room so that one of us could get a uninterrupted night’s sleep.