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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Anyone not going to have a sole room or nursery for their new baby?

40 replies

Carolinesyear · 22/08/2021 13:12

I am pregnant with my first child due early next year.
We (DH and I) live in a two bedroom cottage in a beautiful location with a bit of land, loads of great things about where we live but the house is rather small.
We have a large bedroom and a second bedroom which has two single beds in for my DHs children from his first marriage, they stay one night in a fortnight but here regularly throughout the week for tea etc.
So obviously this room is completely dedicated to his children (my step children) and we are planning to have the baby in our bedroom before eventually getting the room prepared for the three children to stay in. Hopefully we will get a more suitable house eventually but this place is our only option just now.
I feel I'm kind of missing out on the whole new nursery thing you see in films etc where you pick colours and put up pictures etc. Has anyone else gone through not having room for a nursery or even introducing a younger child to other children's bedroom? Also how long can I reasonably expect to keep a baby in our room for?
(Please no replies telling me to buy a new house or that I shouldn't have got pregnant) thanks

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Muma1992 · 22/08/2021 21:19

We lived in one room (with family) when my baby was born, due to reasons out of our control. We are now in our own home and we are decorating our baby's own room. She is 7 months old and has a few little likes (favourite toys, colours she smiles at) so we are decorating now with her little personality in mind and we LOVE IT. So maybe something like that to look forward to?

Juanbablo · 22/08/2021 21:21

None of my 3 ever had their own nurseries. When I had my first I lived with family so me and the baby shared. The other two slept in with DH and I for 7 and 18 months respectively then moved in to their siblings rooms.

AnnaSW1 · 22/08/2021 21:30

We had the spare rooms but kept ours in with us by choice until they were 3 years old! You're not really missing out on decorating their room and getting it ready, you'll just do it later on!!

AnnaSW1 · 22/08/2021 21:31

This also meant they were old enough to choose their own room decor and it was lots of fun for them

HayB · 22/08/2021 21:32

Maybe consider having a small, dedicated area in the kids room, even a few shelves with some nursery bits on and a shelf which you can hang a few items of baby clothes would be cute! Or even in your own room.

It’s not ideal or how you would want it but baby isn’t in there anyways! Think of all the money you’ll save 😉

Amichelle84 · 22/08/2021 21:38

Think of all the money you will save not buying all that overpriced furniture.

We managed fine in a 1 bed flat until baby was 7 months and we moved to a 2 bed.

Babies sleep in with you for the 1st 6 months anyway.

Dinosaurus86 · 22/08/2021 22:26

We’re not! We have a two-bed with the second currently set up as a study (and will be staying that way…). Baby will be in our room to start with and we’ll rejig furniture to fit in some drawers for his clothes etc. Once he’s too big, we’re planning to stick a cot in the study for a bit, but will hopefully move to a slightly bigger place within the next year (so also no point spending loads on decorating).

CatOfTheLand · 22/08/2021 23:27

I've not really bothered this time round.

Dc1 = 4 and slept with us until 2.5, then is basically back in our room again at the moment.

Dc2 = still a baby and we're expecting them to stay in our room until about 2 years old

Jujujuly · 23/08/2021 08:09

Just another thought for you. My sister has a 2 bedroom house. She insisted on doing up the whole nursery to Pinterest standards (it’s a massive cliche - grey walls with those pictures of baby animals lined up over the cot - you know the ones I mean!). Fully kitted out with silver cross baby furniture. In the process her DH lost his study and they have no spare bedroom/place for anyone to stay. It’s been a massive waste of time as the baby is still in their room at 1 and all over lockdown her DH has had to work from home from the kitchen table (massively impacting on SIL and baby’s ability to use the house in the day), and he and guests have had to sleep on the sofa (our parents live far away). If they’d just held off on the nursery the last year would have been much better for them all and I think my sister really regrets it now.

LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 23/08/2021 08:33

Not a stealth boast but we are fortunate enough to have a large house with a few spare rooms and i have no intention of setting up a nursery at all.
The baby will sleep in with us for first 6 months/year anyway. I think those instagram nurseries often arent practical and it all feels very inconvenient having things in different rooms.

Chelyanne · 23/08/2021 08:36

Our bedroom is very big, our newborn will be staying in with us until we move house which is years away. Our twins stayed in our room until they were 5 years old then moved in to bunk beds with their big sisters.
Like you our house is small for our family size but moving is not an option atm so we make do.

Mamaux · 23/08/2021 08:47

I have a 2 bedroom house and a 15 year old son. When baby is here, they will be sleeping with us for the forseable future as we haven't enough funds to move or extend. I'm not too bothered as most babies sleep in their parents room until at least 6 months. Hopefully in the future we can afford to extend.

Ughmaybenot · 23/08/2021 08:49

I don’t think it’s that big a deal at all altho I do understand that you may feel a bit like you’re missing out… such is the joy of social media at times!
I’m pregnant with our first at the moment and while we do have a two bedroom cottage, both good sized rooms, our second bedroom is our office, and we need an office (run a fair sized business from home) so baby will be in with us. The advice is for them to be in with you anyway up to six months.
Once we get to the point of them needing their own space (or rather, us needing ours!) well either have moved (hopefully!) or we’ll have to do something with our currently-unutilised conservatory and use that as the office instead. Or we’ll get an external office option. Who knows? We’ll decide that later 😂

ohfook · 23/08/2021 08:53

We did the same with my second. We were waiting to move house and she didn't have a bedroom in the house we were in at the time. I missed the whole aspect of doing a room up but that's mostly because I enjoy decorating. It was totally fine though she stayed in with us until she was about 18 months and there were no problems.

AlmostSummer21 · 23/08/2021 09:02

Loads of people don't.

I understand you feeling a bit sad that you're preparing a room and doing exactly how you'd like it, but honestly, for most people it's a waste of time & money - or at least, not used for the first year or so.

As for the SDC I'd start now, getting them to tidy away their toys. Baby or no baby there's no need for them to have stuff all over the floor. If you start now, it won't be 'because of the baby' just because it's nicer not to live like that.

I'd buy some new storage and get them
organised!

Depending on the age of the DC & how they play with the Lego, the bag/mats can be good.

Get some shelves in there too so that 'special' things & books etc can go up higher. (Put them at a height where they can only just reach, they'll soon grow & they'll be at a reasonable height instead of stupidly low).

As others have said, you can get your nesting/nursery 'fix' making an area in your enviably huge bedroom!

Best wishes for the arrival of baby x

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