1 bed flat with a toddler, layout

[HelloR2d2]

Moving into a 1 bedroom flat, with a toddler. Annoying layout which is:

• 1 room (living room) with balcony.
• 1 separate kitchen

-1 bedroom with bathroom.

I can't put toddler to sleep in what is now the bedroom as we wouldn't be able to access the bathroom in the evening/night. So the living room will become the bedroom (annoying because it has the balcony, it's a much colder room - period building with very thin windows. We will lock the balcony door so it's not a safety issue).

Would you put our bed in with the toddler to give us a separate "living" room? Or would you keep one bedroom his and make the other our bedroom?

How long are you planning to live here? Presumably you are renting, not buying (so no structural work)? Do you often have visitors? Do you an your partner usually for to bed at the same time?

12-18 months. It's a close relative's flat, we can make some small changes but no big investment. They're letting us stay at a very low rent and it will really help us £££ so we want to make it work.

Me and Dh go to bed at same time. Toddler goes to sleep about 7.30, we go around 10pm.

How big is the now livingroom? Could you partition off a section for your bed etc to give the appearance of 2 rooms?
you wouldn’t have a window but if it’s just for sleeping it could work. A temporary partition rather than adding anything structural.

It's hard to say without knowing the room sizes. If the bedroom can accommodate your bed and toddler bed, I would put toddlers bed at the hallway entrance end of bedroom and your bed the other end near the bathroom. I would use the lounge to store their toys to free up space in the bedroom.

Yes, I'm thinking of a partition as well. The rooms are quite generously sized (old property, big rooms, high ceilings).

Hi,

The layout is similar to a flat my daughter moved into years ago when she had her first baby. We “split” the bedroom using a telescopic shower curtain pole and then added fabric curtains, nets and solar firefly lights (we stuck the charging block inside the window). We left an opening for the door but used the other half of the curtains as the door if that makes sense.

she has just moved into a 2 bed house and has done the same “split” in the boys room but she has used two wardrobes screwed together. Each of the boys has a wardrobe facing their side and the back of the other wardrobe she uses to pin pictures etc on.

could you not do something similar in the bedroom and have your bed by the bathroom and toddler can have their “room” behind the curtain?

I would do this as well. Does toddler use white noise at night or have you moved past that? It might help soften the noise if you need to use the bathroom after the toddler has gone to bed.

If your relative will let you attach this to the walls, you could use a kallax type night as a room divider and then that gives you storage as well. But it must be attached as it won't be safe if not.

This depends on the toddler. My DD would have been good with this. My ds would have ripped that curtain down bringing everything with it.

Thanks! I'm afraid of using the bathroom as I'm afraid of making noise. He was a such a terrible sleeper for the first 14 months of his life, I'm a bit scared of anything that might wake him!!

It would be nice to be able to shower in the morning before he wakes up for example

I'd just put a (decent) sofabed in the current bedroom, and use it as a living room during the day, and your bedroom overnight. Store your clothes in DS's room.

The three of you need to sleep in the one bedroom until you move. He doesn’t need his own room at this age. Use the shower before the toddler goes to bed to minimise the noise.

I cosleep with my 2yo and to be honest, she is always awake before me anyway. She just potters and plays whilst I have my shower. We have a bag of toys that i put in her cot with her (never used for sleeping obviously 🫠) to entertain her whilst i shower if she's in a particular mischief making mood. You could also always do your teeth in the kitchen sink after you've finished the washing up if you are really worried.

OK so not long term so cheap fix wanted. Got it.

I would probably stick both beds in the "living room" but get a room partition. So stick your bed closer the balcony and toddler bed closer the door end.

Unfortunately I have debilitating back and pelvic girdle pain since pregnancy so I can't deal with sleeping on a sofa bed anymore, even a good one! (Different issue altogether!!). Otherwise this would have been an obvious solution.

I'd divide the living room in two, the big nearest the door is your bed area so you can get up and out without waking the little one. The 'bedroom' becomes the living room.

Is it possible to use the living room as a bedroom and the bedroom as a living room?

I would partition the living room. Half as a living room and half for your bedroom. Leave toddler in the room with the balcony. Best solution all round IMO.

Where is the door to the kitchen? Or is it open plan to balcony living room?

My dc slept with us in the bedroom, the bathroom was off the bedroom and never was an issue

Door to the kitchen is to the hallway, so it's totally separate (thankfully)

Id use the bedroom for everyone to sleep, you should still be able to use the bathroom. Our toddler sleeps in our room and we still use the ensuite. I wouldn't have the toddler sleeping in the cold living room.