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?

I never had a baby bath. I used a sponge support in our bath

We had a vibrating chair. That was essential

I never used a high chair at home. I had a bumbo that strapped onto a chair

You dont need a changing unit. Put a mat on the floor or bed ?

Get a compact pram. Only 1. Choose wisely. Read reviews and take recommendations.
So many people buy the wrong buggy and end up with a massive contraption filling the hall. Or, worse, 2-3 buggies for different types of outing 🤦‍♀️
We had a bugaboo bee which saw us through 2 DC and we never needed anything else. Lightweight enough to take on public transport etc. Easy to fold and fit in the boot of the car. Can steer with 1 hand. Bit out of date though, was a few years back !

Changing Mat - I much prefer having one in set place so can see why people buy table. But ours is Mat on chest of drawers, have used every single change since Ds was born 20 months ago. All nappies and clothes in drawers under so easy.

Babybjorn bouncer and maybe some others folds. Ours lives under sofa when not in use.

Babyzen yo-yo pram. Folds tiny.

Basically buy essentials you think you need, and can always order anything else afterwards and it will arrive quickly.

Storage ottoman has been our Best Buy. It lives in living room and now contains all toys. Extra seating for visitors. You can buy smaller footstool type ones also. And they hold a lot

Baby bath seat or bath in sink is fine, they can be a bit slippery in the sink so I'd get a bath seat personally so you can relax.

Changing table isn't necessary but you will need somewhere to put babies clothes so might be worth getting a chest of draws with changing table on top unless you already have somewhere to store clothes.

Baby bouncer 100% necessary, you can get fold up ones.

And yes for the pram get the most compact/lightweight thing you can find and get a sling/carrier too (will be easier to get out with in a flat if you don't have somewhere convenient to store the pram).

They won't need a high chair until you start weaning.

Playmat can wait until a couple of months old.

This was us - and for various reasons still in the one bed at 15 months! But we are surviving! In terms of what we had - we got a foldable bath stand, so easy to store out of the way (ok baby). Found we didn't really have enough hands to support and wash baby in sink. No changing table - just a changing mat and nappy caddy so we could move the changing station between living room and bedroom. We got a narrow dresser, with less than half the footprint of a chest of drawers, for storing clothes and bedding. Foldable compact buggy - we had the Ergobaby Metro, which has a foldable newborn attachment. Less known alternative to the Yoyo and I highly recommend. We were given a bouncy chair but tbh DD didn't love it so probably wasn't worth the space - suggest getting stuff like that secondhand so you don't feel bad ditching it if it doesn't work out. Definitely a baby gym after a month or so - again we got a fold flat one (Fisher Price). We started with a Moses basket so she could nap in the living room. That's now been repurposed as a toy basket and we have a travel cot in the living room for naps but that's only because the desk is in the bedroom for wfh/gaming purposes. Essentially - all very doable if a bit cluttered, but babies are small. Enjoy!

We used the big bath not a baby bath. The sink would also work for a newborn.

We changed nappies on a mat on the floor.

A bouncy seat is useful. A play gym is too - it's a playmat with arches you dangle toys from. The usual type folds flat in seconds and can be put under or down the side of a sofa when not in use.

You don't need a high chair till 6 months.

You don't need a cot till 6 months either. A crib would be smaller and last till 6 months.