Tff without lift, toddler and 5 months pregnant

[Cachetonita2]

I live on a top floor flat (3rd) without a , have a 16 month old toddler and am 21 weeks pregnant. Anyone has a similar experience? How did you and your babies survive? Would you move? I think we should move. I’m not from the UK so I’m not sure if I’m just not strong enough or if it’s actually quite crazy to continue in this situation. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks!

I meant without a lift

How do you get up and down? Small block with carpeted stairs, fine- large clock with lifts which might not always work not so great.
What are your concerns?

I moved out of a fourth floor flat when I was around 7 months pregnant with DS1. I was already struggling with the stairs myself let alone a baby, pram, shopping and what have you.

My SIL lived in a third floor flat until she was pregnant with DD2, her DD1 was nearly three but she really struggled getting up and down the stairs carrying bags or the pram and she didn't want to try and handle that with a newborn in tow.

If you've no choice then you'll manage of course, plenty of people do. But there is no doubt that a ground floor flat or house is infinitely easier.

I’ve done it twice. What made a big difference was having stairs that a toddler could navigate safely- carpeted, not long flights and not enormous or steep, not open treads. Is there space to leave a buggy safely downstairs? Once inside it was lovely being on one level.

We're in a second floor flat with 11 month old. No doubt a house is easier but I put baby in a carrier and use that a lot, keep buggy in the car etc. I order shopping online so I don't have to carry it up and down etc.
My plan if we have another is to use a sling as much as I can and buggy in the car. But if the age gap was as yours is that probably wouldn't always work. I don't think you should move though, kids are loads easier in a flat

I did live in a similar place in Europe for a year, I feel for you. I really do. A varicose vein popped out from under my knee to my groin. With old pram I had to take baby first and go back for it, same with going out. When I would go out, I'd pack for the day because it wasn't worth leaving the house for half or less. Mentally some days really got me, if LO was being difficult etc.

If you want to stay there and can survive that stress don't move. Once they're like 2.5 they can go up by themselves and you can go behind them carrying everything just be ready to drop everything and catch LO.
Its hard. Really hard. I'm amazed how so many Europeans live like this. Now I go visit twice a year and with a walking 2.5 YO its not as bad. Keeps your butt tight but if I had to live there I'd buy a house but that's because I'm lazy and my varicose vein pops out epically every time I visit there.

I live in 2nd floor flat (3rd level) full term pregnant and a 15 month old. I wouldn't cope if I couldn't keep the pram downstairs, other than that no issues. You can put newborn in a carrier, have food shopping delivered and only buy essentials so you don't have to carry them. I love living in an apartment as everything is on one level and easier to watch little one.

Thank you all! Your comments are very useful. Just to be clear: I’m not asking if You’d move only to a house but also, and mainly, if you’d move to a flat on a ground floor or on a lower level. Now I’m on a third floor (fourth level, about 55 steps)

We're in third/top floor with no lift, DD is 2.5 and I'm 13weeks with #2. We decided to stay because I've got it down to a fine art getting the buggy up and down although as I get further along I plan to leave it under the stairs for dh to bring up when he gets home. Also planning to use a carrier/wrap/sling a lot at first. We like being upstairs because the noise/disruption from other apartments is minimal and I couldn't cope if upstairs and downstairs neighbours were both noisy (no knowing what you'll get when you move). We miss having a garden to just send dd out to play in but we have lots of lovely parks close by and that's the price we've paid to level up in careers/get ahead financially. DD was 18 months when we moved here and I haven't found it too bad really.