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Conception

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Original poster

Baby in a one bed flat

36 replies

Ridethewaves · 28/04/2018 16:24

Hi,
Does anybody have experience of having a baby in a one bed home? We love where we live and have plenty of space (flat is 850 sq foot) just no second bedroom. Ideally we would like to live here until the (hypothetical...) baby is 18months. Any thoughts? Are we being silly trying to conceive now? Thanks for any advice!

OP posts:

FootnerFace · 28/04/2018 16:28

My friend did and it was fine.
Mine ended up in our bedroom anyway.
Totally do able. Look up minimalist baby and tiny home with babies youtube videos.

You could put bulky items in storage and declutter.

AllyMcBeagle · 28/04/2018 16:28

Is it a rented flat? If not, is there any possibility of putting up a cheap wall to create an extra room?

FootnerFace · 28/04/2018 16:30

A stud wall? You could put curtains and tracks. Sofa bed for you in the living room?

TheShaniaTwainExperience · 28/04/2018 16:31

We did until baby was 9 months, it wasn’t that bad really tbh. We now have 2 in a 2 bed and that’s fine too :)

We used one of those pop up cots with a thick mattress in so that we could move it from the bedroom to the living room, because sometimes he wouldn’t sleep in our room and night when he got bigger so he fell asleep better on his own in the living room!

FootnerFace · 28/04/2018 16:31

I would also check if youre allowed babies there if rental.

Original poster

Ridethewaves · 28/04/2018 16:33

Thanks for your replies. We own it so can make changes however are unable to create an extra room due to lack of windows. We have thought about using a room divider in the lounge. Will look up those you tube videos, thanks for the tip footnerface.

OP posts:

PrimeraVez · 28/04/2018 16:34

In theory the baby would be in with you until at least 6 months old (and obviously a lot of people continue to co-sleep or share a room long beyond this)

I would say it’s more an issue of space - even if you have room in your bedroom for your bed plus a Moses basket, will you have room for your bed plus a cot once they outgrow the Moses basket? (obviously this won’t apply if you decide to do-sleep)

Also, babies come with with a lot of crap so definitely consider how much storage space you have for things like a pram and a high chair. We were in a 2 bed flat when we had DC1 and even though it was a very generous sized flat with a big laundry room where we could hide lots of crap, I still felt like I spent my whole life tripping over toys and trying to jam stuff into cupboards.

That said, plenty of people across the world manage it, so no reason why you can’t.

Monny1 · 28/04/2018 16:36

Yes, l did this, 13 years ago. We ended up being in the flat for 18 months. It was hard sometimes dealing with the lack of space, but you just adapt to the situation, that you are in.

wendiwoowho · 28/04/2018 16:37

We lived in a one bed flat until DD was 10 months and it was fine. We co-slept though.

VimFuego101 · 28/04/2018 16:41

Sounds fine to me if you're OK sharing a room or having someone sleep in the living room. It's easier to have them close to you at night when they're small anyway.

KirstenRaymonde · 28/04/2018 16:43

My DSis and her OH still have their 21 month old in the room with them and it’s fine. Babies don’t need their own room.

Original poster

Ridethewaves · 28/04/2018 16:46

Thanks all. I'm wondering if it would be better to plan to move when the baby is about 10months to a year so we have more space once it can walk.

OP posts:

Original poster

Ridethewaves · 28/04/2018 16:47

Thanks kirsten that's reassuring :)

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TheShaniaTwainExperience · 28/04/2018 16:49

We had a chair fairly similar to this instead of a high chair so it could fold up really small when not in use and also could be used to put him in when doing chores or whatever during the day. Of you could get one of those chairs that straps to a dining chair if you have a table?

Original poster

Ridethewaves · 28/04/2018 16:52

Thanks Shania, that's a good idea! Seeing that photo of the gorgeous baby just makes me think I don't want to wait until we can afford a bigger place! I've been looking at cots on wheels to see if they fit through doors to give us a bit more flexibility.

OP posts:

TheShaniaTwainExperience · 28/04/2018 16:54

The Argos travel cot did just fine for those 6 months tbh, with a good quality mattress they are just as good to sleep in and do up until about 2 I think. And fold up tiny and easy to move!

MoodyTwo · 28/04/2018 17:46

Our LO was in our bedroom (co slept mostly) till a few weeks ago he is now 15 months. And if have done it longer , but my husband was sick of sleeping on the sofa. Look up safe co sleeping and you'll be fine

pandamonium88 · 28/04/2018 17:51

My friend does and its fine but she does want to move, he's just over 1 now. She lives in London though so its hard.

pandamonium88 · 28/04/2018 17:53

Im guessing you own- do you earn enough for going back to work after baby is born so you can afford a bigger place with childcare being taken into consideration...?

I would look into how realistic it would be for you to buy a bigger place before you TTC.

LolitaLempicka · 28/04/2018 17:53

We lived in a one bedroom flat with 2 babies, then moved to a four bed house and still all slept in one room! Totally doable.

Baubletrouble43 · 28/04/2018 18:02

I had to live in a one bed ( granny ) flat attached to my parents home with my four year old when my life went massively tits up and it was fine. We were there two years to save money and it was great.

Original poster

Ridethewaves · 28/04/2018 19:07

In theory we could afford to move to somewhere larger now but it would mean moving to a different area. Hence we are keen to save for a couple of years. It's reassuring to hear those of you who have done this and managed fine. I wouldn't want to be selfish regarding location of our home if it would have a detrimental impact on a little one. Appreciating all the advice and tips for small space living :)

OP posts:

Ohyesiam · 28/04/2018 20:09

Buy the cosleeping bible, three in a bed by Deborah Jackson. It will convince you that a one bedroom home is the best.
We co snoept for years, it was great.

Ohyesiam · 28/04/2018 20:12

Posted too soon.
We have three bedrooms, but only used one for several years. Would you rather be getting up in the night or turning onto your side to snuggle your baby and feed it.
So much easier in one room.
Best of luck op

Bambamber · 28/04/2018 20:15

Was in a 1 bed flat until DD was a few months old, would have been happy to stay longer if we needed to. My DD is 12 months and still in our bedroom anyway. We used a next2me crib for the first 6 months and now her cot is next to our bed with one side down so she can crawl into our bed for a cuddle and a feed. We find the things that take up the most room are things we don't really need anyway. We found not having a pram saved a lot of room, we use a baby carrier instead, although they don't work for everyone

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