Do I need a baby bath, and other space saving tips

[Moancup]

I’m due in August and I think it’s unlikely we’ll have managed to sell and move out of our one bedroom flat by then. DP is very anxious about this but I’m trying to be practical and think of ways to make a baby in a one bed work.

What so-called essential kit can we avoid for the first six months? Is bathing in the basin ok? Does everyone find you need a changing table? Does some kind of baby bouncer or chair make life easier? When do they start needing a high chair?

*big house!

East Coast Combination Highchair (All Wood) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002LAQZV0/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_MW7Z2V3F6NNG1FCX0QYD?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

This is the type of high chair we had

You don’t need a baby bath, but they don’t really take up any room because you keep them in the bath when not being used. It’s nice for then to float, supported obviously and not sure a sink will be big enough for that?

Definitely don’t need a changing table and don’t need a high chair until you start weaning. Even then a good space saver is a chair that attaches to a normal dining chair.

The good thing about a bouncer/baby chair is that it allows them to be left sat slightly up so buys you a bit of chore time when they are slightly older than brand new. I could move it into the kitchen whilst I prepped dinner for example. Not essential but certainly useful. It’s just good to have somewhere safe to put the baby down where they can look around.

Depending on how big your bedroom is, you have a couple of options for prams. You could go for one where the bassinet is certified as safe for overnight sleeping and just use that instead of a cot. They tend to be larger though. Uppababy meets this requirement, they also do a bassinet stand that you could keep in the bedroom. Or go for a small pram that folds up neatly, such as the Yoyo but then you’d definitely need a separate cot or bassinet for sleeping. Most babies will grow out of a bassinet within a few months but some next to me cots are a bit bigger and take up less room than a full size cot.

IMO These are the essentials:

Clothes
Nappies and wipes
Changing mat
Something to transport them in - a sling or a pram or both
Car seat
Blankets
Bouncy chair
Something to sleep in - this can be a baby box, doesn't have to be big or posh

www.thebabybox.com/#:~:text=The%20Baby%20Box%20is%20an,as%20the%20Baby's%20first%20crib!

You don’t need a baby bath, but they don’t really take up any room because you keep them in the bath when not being used. It’s nice for then to float, supported obviously and not sure a sink will be big enough for that?

They get in the way though if the shower is over the bath.

I just had a bath with DD.

@Moancup

I’m due in August and I think it’s unlikely we’ll have managed to sell and move out of our one bedroom flat by then. DP is very anxious about this but I’m trying to be practical and think of ways to make a baby in a one bed work.

What so-called essential kit can we avoid for the first six months? Is bathing in the basin ok? Does everyone find you need a changing table? Does some kind of baby bouncer or chair make life easier? When do they start needing a high chair?

Hi I'm on second baby now toddler with the first we had the space brought lots of big bulky clobber but learnt lots along the way for the second. Bath I wouldn't worry a lay down sponge worked amazingly could use in a sink also and if I'm honest I preferred it to the angel care seat we used for the first. No changing table isn't essential, a mat or even a towel on the floor does the same thing if not safer. High chair is not used until weaning 6 months usually but if struggling for space a little bumbo type chair are also good or one that clips to a table chair. If you are going to use bottles instead of a big steriliser mam bottles self sterilise in a microwave.

I always wonder why people say you can do without the Moses basket… I’ve found it to be super helpful because it’s portable around the house so we use it for any and all in house naps and overnight sleeping. Then again, she’s following the 0.4 centile so we’ll probably get far far longer out of it than expected 😅

We were lent a next2me but baby didn’t like it 🤷🏻‍♀️ Space/finance-wise, just pick a cot and use it from the beginning. We have also found that we prefer using a stretchy sling for going out and about, meaning the pram is often taking up space in the house. Might be an option to think about - maybe you could save buying the pram for when you have a little more space for storing it?

Angel care bath seat is great for little ones. You can keep it in the agh and take it out while u shower etc and out it back. I wouldn't buy an actual baby bath though.

We had our fist born in a 1 bed flat and we were there for 7 months.

We had:

A cot
I cleared out a few of my drawers and used them for his clothes
His blankets etc went in storage bags under the bed
We had a angel care bath support but just left it hanging on the bath taps so didn't take up any room
A big enough plastic storage box for baby bottles and pump bits which we had in the kitchen. Breastfeeding will save you a lot of space in that respect.
Our front room was pretty big so we had space for a Moses basket but tbh if you're in a 1 bed baby can nap in the cot.
We had a floor play mat
Baby bouncer too which he never even liked

They really don't need a lot until they are around 6 months.

If there's a bit of space on the floor let them be free, you don't need all these baby 'containers'

And I still don't even get the point of changing tables.

Changing mat works even better and you can move it and pretty much store/hide them anywhere

I've LOTS of experience with babies inc my own dd

Also lots of experience with smaller homes!

What you don't need at all:

Baby bath (we bathed baby in sink then in bath with use and then when she could sit one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Safety-1st-Swivel-Bath-Primary/dp/B00CMR3H0O/ref=ascdff_B00CMR3H0O/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309877365819&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13857679884006978724&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007340&hvtargid=pla-487243015096&psc=1&th=1&psc=1)

Changing table (not only unnecessary bloody awkward!) I find it much easier to change babies on my lap or sofa or bed (with a changing mat in place) you get more practiced the more nappies you change I can change nappies with one hand without looking now! The suggestion of a caddy for supplies is excellent just take the caddy with you wherever you need it. Wedge design changing mats prevent spillage from accidents!

Travel system - these were still a novelty when I had dd and we did get one - total waste of money! The cheap umbrella buggy we bought for a beach holiday thinking we'd wreck it and toss it was actually the one we used the most! Dd was in it until around age 4 (unbeknown to me at the time she has a disability which fatigues her muscles and she still couldn't walk far at this point and was too big for me to carry, I was a single mum by this point too)

Changing bag - I used a rucksack and put a foldable changing mat and the other supplies inside that - top tip replace supplies that night after a trip out so next trip you don't get caught out!

Monitor - unless you live in a mansion or there are particular health concerns waste of money! We always heard dd whenever she even slightly roused and we were in a house

Sling - we got a well rated baby bjorn one? Hardly used it! Partly due to dds length (I'm only 5'2") but some love them

Moses basket - we were kindly given one but dd tall so she wasn't in it long! And she mostly co-slept anyway for first 6 months

What you don't need until later:

High chair (you can get things that are strapped to ordinary dining chairs or can even be positioned on sofas, my own dd was fine being fed in bouncy chair initially)

Most toys

Clothing storage - we knew we'd be moving when dd still tiny (ex was army and we knew we had a move upcoming) so we just used our suitcases!

Things we found essential :

Bouncy chair - she LOVED being in it! Ours had good thick handles so easy to keep her content and move her room to room and she was safe. I used to have her in the bouncy chair on the landing (not near stairs plus stair gate anyway) with bathroom door open while I had a shower and I'd play peek a boo with the shower curtain!

Dummies - I know these are controversial but we simply hadn't thought to buy any, dd had them while in hospital and the 1st night home without was murder! (No 24 hour supermarkets then) we bought about 20 the following day!

Hooded towels - just made it much easier to wrap and warm wriggly baby after bath and also after swimming sessions later, I used them for her until she hit school age! She loved them too would have carried on if I coulda found bigger ones

Muslins! - she's 20 now and I still have the odd one floating about! They're SO useful for many many things

Thermometer - provide reassurance more than anything most of the time

I bf from the start but had to change to ff when my milk dried on me! Each to their own but on ff I would say do not buy LOADS of the same bottles/teats and even formula as you don't know yet babies needs/preferences

My dd we went through 8 types of bottles 6 teats and 4 formulas until we found the right combo for her! This is not uncommon especially if you have a colicky/sicky baby or allergies to contend with

Baby bath is the one thing I wouldn’t skip. It’s just so much easier to bath a slippery baby in a baby bath. Plus you don’t have to scrub your sink before every bath.

We never bought a high chair. Just a seat that could sit on a regular chair. It had a little plastic table that attached just like a high chair. So much more compact.

Changing baby can happen anywhere. If you have a dresser that is the right height, you can just add a changing pad on top. That is really handy of you end up having a C-section.

Possibly a controversial one but my second baby was in the pram maybe 3 or 4 times in his first 8 months of life. Totally could have got away without having a pram. He was much much happier in a sling.

We had a baby in a small flat and found this super helpful

www.wayfair.co.uk/children-nursery/pdp/harriet-bee-pandora-changing-table-rbk1330.html

Put it on the wall in the bathroom and it was fantastic.

I personally appreciated the Moses basket when he was tiny. We then had a space saver cot from Obaby (he's still in it now at 15 months).

Stokke does a folding baby bath that could be good?

I know how you feel, feeling stuck. Keep going and put it on with another agent if it's been on for a while (no extra commission).

Newborn: changing mat, clothes, blankets, nappies, rocking/bouncer chair for baby

3-4 months- baby gym so they can look at stuff and practise tummy time and rolling. One or two Lamaze toys and a few board books

6 months high chair. You can get one that clips onto table that saves floor space. A few toys that they can play with when sitting up. More books.

We had a little soft flannel baby support that went in the main bath. It packed away neatly! Also, no changing table, just a mat and a little try with essentials on the existing chest of drawers. We found a bouncy chair to be invaluable from just a few weeks old, however. DD loved to look around at what was going on!

I bathed mine in the sink, never had a baby bath.
I used to store things under the cot on the floor, in fact that’s where my changing mat lived as I always did changes on the floor - it’s safer as they can’t fall anywhere.
If you have a Moses basket it can be in the cot rather than using a stand, but baby can go straight in the cot. You don’t need a Moses basket.

This was our highchair, great space saver:

www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/baby/feeding-highchairs-and-booster-seats/booster-seats/chicco-pocket-snack-booster-seat-dark-grey/p/171113

I found the baby bath very useful for a long time, get a pram they can sleep in and I have a Chico high chair that straps to a dining chair, used it more than the normal high chair with both children I did have a normal high chair but sold it because she kept escaping.

I didn’t have a changing table. The cot was a waste of space. I had a nuna travel cot with a bassinet setting so the mattress was higher and it’s smaller than a normal travel cot and it’s been used constantly for two children.

Baby bath is the one thing I wouldn’t skip. It’s just so much easier to bath a slippery baby in a baby bath. Plus you don’t have to scrub your sink before

OMG it would not have occurred to me to scrub the (bathroom) sink before bathing.

@cafedesreves funnily enough I was wondering whether we could build something like that in the hall if people had said changing tables were essential.

So many friends have babies a bit ahead of us that I suspect we will be inundated with second hand Moses baskets, so it’s a free piece of kit we’ll probably try.

I found the moses basket useful as it's portable - borrowed from a friend. Apart from a changing mat which I used on the floor, buggy and a sling, some sort of bag to haul DC's kit around, cheap Ikea highchair I don't think I needed anything else. DC hated the bouncy chair and bumbo. It might be worth waiting until DC is born and seeing how you get on - no need to buy everything in advance.

I did use a baby bath but our bath is very deep and I’m very short. MIL also only had a shower so used to take it there.

Most useful thing I had was a tall basket with handles. I used to scoop all of DDs toys into it when she went to bed. The play mat used to fold and we would stick it behind the sofa, DD was a big fan of hers though.

Bumbo is a great alternative to a highchair and can double as an activity chair but wouldn't be needed until 6+ months

You don't need a diaper genie, ours never liked the bouncy chair though she did like the swing and the activity saucer. Get something grippy for the bottom of the sink for baths.

We got a ton of use out of the dock a tot and bassinet and at 10 months have yet to use her crib as she now co sleeps. Her favorite toy is tupperware. Babies don't need as much as you think!

You don't have to clean your sink before bathing the baby unless you're like us and your sink is full of bits of beard hair and dropped toothpaste

Definitely don't feed a baby in a bouncer. The last time I saw anyone doing this was my baby brother and he's 19 now. Weaning has changed, babies are bigger when you start and you start with chunkier stuff so it would be a choking hazard even if you're spoon feeding.

You don't actually need a standalone highchair, fisher price do some great booster seats you put on a normal dining chair which worked great for me for DS1.

I would just think about whether you actually need something immediately before you buy anything. If not, just wait. You can always get it later. Supermarkets tend to stock all the baby stuff and if you wait until you actually need something then you'll have more of an idea what you really need.