Baby in a 1-bed flat - what do we actually *need* to buy?

[Glitterygreen]

Hello, I'm looking for some advice from people who have done all this before! :)

Currently living in a (luckily spacious) 2nd floor 1 bedroom flat and expecting our first baby - very early days but just thinking ahead at the moment.

I am wondering what you would consider essentials that we really need to buy/make space for and what you've bought that ended up unnecessary?

I'd be grateful for advice on cots in this regard too - is it OK to get just one that lasts throughout, even if it won't fit at the side of the bed? Or is it better to get a Next2Me and then buy a 2nd when necessary? Is it better to just have a Moses basket that moves back and forward from bedroom to living room?

We do have a loft for storage for bigger items if they are only used for a few months/weeks, but would prefer to minimise that where possible.

Really appreciate any advice, thank you. Also sorry if this is in the wrong place, I wasn't sure where to put it.

@AlexandraEiffel

It depends so much. I'm reading these agreeing and disagreeing. It depends if you want to bed share or not. If you want to use a carrier or buggy. If you want to put them down lots or have them on you in a sling. If you're using disposable or reusable nappies. I didn't really need much, the bed side cot ended up storing washing that needed putting away. I didn't use a Moses basket as they just slept on me. And I used a carrier/sling loads. But it's so personal.

Ah yeah, totally agree it all depends.

Personally I'd be very much hoping not to co-sleep at all.

I'd like to do a mix of carrier and buggy. Carrier would be handy for me if I was on my own for sure, quite like the idea of being able to get around without a buggy at times.

Re reusable nappies, I'd love to give them a go but there's no way my DP would use them so think on balance it won't work as I'd end up having to do all changes.

If you’re anywhere near London Fara charity shops are a godsend for all this stuff.

We were in small 1 bed when ours was born... so we converted living room into 'bedroom' and bedroom into living room...there wasnt much space generally but in the new bedroom baby had more space ... our bed being there he could play on it too... so...generally...at first it was just moses basket and baby chair thing... then shortly after cot bed from baby to toddler size so its still the same now years later... u need jumperoo... baby walker MAYBE , we never had walker.. changing table for sure. And all the rest is just toys and clothes x as much as u are willing to have
Its not too bad but prepare yourself that it all will be covered in toys until u move to another place x

I'm in a one bed and got a chest of drawers for the baby (all their clothes will go there) with a changing station on top. I then got what I think is technically a veg trolley on wheels to go next to that with all the babies bits and bobs on! That has been handy.

I've got a next to me and a Moses the Moses will stay in the living room.

I am due in a few weeks so I can let you know what works out 😬

@sociallydistained Thank you, yes please do :) good luck!!

No room for an extra chest of drawers here but we do currently use 2 between us so think one will need to be repurposed for the baby's clothes.

The baby carrier is good for getting in and out of the flat, even if use the pram when outdoors. Hands free way of getting them up and down the stairs, so you can carrying the pram/shopping/baby paraphernalia. (Doesn't apply if you have a lift-we didn't! And being Germany, the washing machine was in the cellar too...)

"Carrier will be a must...can you get car seats that also double as carriers?"

I meant a carrier like this. As there's no lift I don't think you'll want to be lugging the car seat up and down the stairs - I'd leave it in the car if I were you. Although I guess when baby is a newborn it might not be too bad (mine were both more than 9 pounds at birth and the seat itself was heavy, so it quickly became difficult to carry them in the car seat without putting it on the pushchair wheels).

Do check and consider the weight of the car seats you're looking at. Joie is a good brand and not too heavy I don't think. Don't get Cybex as they weigh a ton!

I think this thread goes to show how everyone differs in what they find essential/useful. I prefer a bedside crib over a Moses basket as it's bigger so it lasts a lot longer, but others disagree. I also had a Shnuggle bath and found it very useful but it also takes up a lot of space when not in use so I'm not sure I'd say it's a must if you live in a flat... although you said your bathroom is quite big so it should be fine. I have a house but a small bathroom!

Our pram comes with a chassis and stand so it can be used for the buggy and also as a Moses basket type bed. We were going to buy a co-sleeper or Moses basket until we got this pram and now we have the bed solution included with it! So this could also be an option for you?

@Somerandomgirl

We were in small 1 bed when ours was born... so we converted living room into 'bedroom' and bedroom into living room...there wasnt much space generally but in the new bedroom baby had more space ... our bed being there he could play on it too... so...generally...at first it was just moses basket and baby chair thing... then shortly after cot bed from baby to toddler size so its still the same now years later... u need jumperoo... baby walker MAYBE , we never had walker.. changing table for sure. And all the rest is just toys and clothes x as much as u are willing to have Its not too bad but prepare yourself that it all will be covered in toys until u move to another place x

No one needs a jumperoo. They take up loads of space. My two didn't have one and survived!

We have a walk from the car too and have bought a maxi cosi coral car seat, the heavy outer shell stays in the car and you lift baby out in a smaller liner that is much lighter to carry. You can also buy a strap to put over the shoulder to help!

@Goldi321

We have a walk from the car too and have bought a maxi cosi coral car seat, the heavy outer shell stays in the car and you lift baby out in a smaller liner that is much lighter to carry. You can also buy a strap to put over the shoulder to help!

Ooh that's clever!

If it was me (2 kids), I'd get:-
Cotbed
Chest of drawers (non baby ones), change mat on top
Chair for the bedroom for night feeds
A sling
A basket for baby toys for the living room
A Tiny Love 3 in 1 Napper for living room sleeps (converts to seat for later age)
A play mat for those first few months
The ikea highchair at 6 months
A stroller that can fold small/be carried/be left in car boot
Infant car seat

First time mama here... 36+6 weeks.
Same situation as you...living in a one bedroom apartment.
We fit a full size crib in our bedroom and I got a bassinet for the livingroom. Crib is not attached to the bed so I will have to get up to attend to him. Sheets and a waterproof sheet to put over the mattress.
Did not get a changing table as we have no space for it but I did get one that you can move from place to place and a little diaper caddy organizer that way everything is in one place.
We got a babybjorn bouncer and a play gym for tummy time. And we got a foam mat as I think placing a playgym on the floor is still too hard for the baby.
We got a skiphop baby bath that grows with your baby...newborn to toddler.
Got different types of baby carrier...ergobaby for hubby and boba wrap for me.
And then consumables and clothes... and of course stroller and a car seat.
There is lots to get for a baby.... I think it will all depend on you on what you will find useful.
Hope all the responses were helpful ☺️

Very little! I was in a tiny 1 bed.

You need somewhere for baby to sleep, we used the bassinet attachment for the pram and simply pushed it wherever we were until 6 months when we bought a cot that she never slept in. We used the top of the existing chest of drawers with a mat on top for changing, we had an inflatable baby bath, I used cloth nappies and washed a lot as I kept clothes to a reasonable amount.

Oh...we also got a high chair from peg Perego that reclines so you can actually have your newborn in the kitchen with you if you're doing something...

A cot in the corner of the room is fine. I'm fact the health visitor who saw us this week said they prefer them not to sleep next to the bed as more likely to be kicked over or have a duvet accidently land on them.

If you're having to take it up two flights of stairs have a look at the maxi cosi coral car seat. It has an insert you can take out so you're not taking out the whole car seat so it's much lighter to carry up stairs.

We are in a small 2 bed flat. We have bought: snuzpod (top detaches so can be carried into other rooms), play mat and gym, caboo Close sling, ergobaby carrier, changing mat to use on the floor/bed, backpack nappy bag, icandy peach (we have a lift!), bath support. Will sell snuzpod and buy a cot when baby outgrows it.

Unless you're very strong you won't want to be carrying your baby in a car seat up & down to the flat, they're very heavy!

Everyone's different, but if I was having a baby now & living in a flat, I'd get...

A travel cot (one that has a high position (then medium & low) for the lounge and some form of side-by-side for the bedroom
(You should have the baby sleeping, even in the day, in the room you're in).

Then later on a decent size cot bed. No need to get it before you have the baby though!

The travel cot will come in handy for (U.K. holidays/visits to friends & family, obviously) but also when they're crawling to put them in while you wee/shower/answer the door/whatever)

Bath depends on your back!! Whether or not you have a bath in the flat etc. I've had a variety from the bucket shape to the full bath shape (went into duty as lots of things afterwards!! Laundry basket/toy storage, outdoor play) for a while I used it on a table when my back was bad.

Changing table... I'm short, so the ones that go across the cot so you're at the feet don't work for me. I preferred having one across a chest of drawers! (But also just an ordinary squishy one in the lounge for on the floor) [these days my back is wincing at the thought!!] but given it's a flat, you might be fine just using the one in the bedroom!

Definitely a carrier like the one in the photo, or a sling. Some people really do well and can carry older children in a sling (but not me).

Baby bag - one you like, because you'll be carting it around for a long time. One that DH is happy to carry so you can palm it off on him!! Depends if you travel light (one spare nappy) or like me, go prepared for all eventualities!! Doesn't have to one sold as a nappy bag, but generally they're good because they're lined and the straps are long enough to fit over the handle bar of the pram etc and are spacious with pickets & internal bottle holders etc. not essential, but generally handy!

High chair, either antilop IKEA -dead cheap & easy to clean, or a trip trap more expensive, but can carry on being used right through to teens fir an extra chair at the table, at a desk or for instrument practice. (And you can get small baby attachments)

Pram - this does not have to cost as much as a car!! Be warned though, they take up FAR more boot space than you think they will, so check before you buy!!

Car seat. Buy new. If I was buying one now I'd look at the birth to 4 (or older) rear facing.

Small things:

Muslins
Vests (look up how to remove when covered in poo!)
Baby towels (obviously not essential, but very cute and easily identifiable so don't get used by accident (repeatedly).

Linen for whatever you decide for sleeping

Nice things for you!! Good quality 'travel' cup.

Thermometer

Don't be overwhelmed, just enjoy it!!
Xx

@NameChange30 Thanks, I realised what you meant just after I replied! Brain not engaged properly.

@Bells3032 That's good to know as we do have plenty of space for a proper sized cot in the corner of our room so definitely something to consider.

What I'm thinking initially from this thread is:

• buggy
• car seat
• carrier
• cot
• changing mat
• trunk/chest for toys
• somewhere to place the baby down during the day (so bouncer/basket etc)

And obviously clothes & blankets outside of this.

Oh and sleeping bags!! It's not the warmest flat.

Does your sofa have legs? If so it’s the ideal storage. That’s where the babybjorn folded lived, an ikea low basket of basic toys for 0-12 months, etc..

They don’t really need a trunk/ chest until standing age as they won’t be able to get toys out themselves

Also remember each stage doesn’t last long. One thing I suggest is storage up high or making sure cables etc are out the way now. Ds was crawling by 5 months and walking before 9 months

We used our bugaboo bee (pram) carry cot as a moses basket. We left frame downstairs and carried him up in that if he was asleep.

Next to me is good for a few months

My main advice would be... Very few things you can't get on Amazon prime these days. Get the bear minimum and find your rhythm then you will.see what you need.

This will be my second DC and we live in a small 2 bed flat (but with my first pregnancy we were in a one bed)
I’ve not bought this exact cot yet (as I’m still early in pregnancy) but think this is what we will get. Doubles as a next to me type bedside crib, but goes all the way until they are 3, is also a travel cot and we can wheel it to another room if needed for daytime naps.
Maybe worth looking at? I’m going to buy a thicker mattress to go with it though.
www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/baby/baby-travel-essentials/baby-elegance-bedside-travel-cot/p/169706?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces_across_google&gclid=CjwKCAiAz--OBhBIEiwAG1rIOlNYXjBUkeGoAjG8yrqzyzGywFcb8oxzoKrMBFz2UYgcLd--w81yWBoCXBQQAvD_BwE

Apart from a cot, I think the basics you need are a lightweight pram, car seat, somewhere to store baby clothes and nappies, a basic baby bath, and a thick changing mat.
We also found a nappy caddy really useful to take from room to room with nappies,wipes change of clothes for baby etc in - as well as things for me when I was stuck under the baby. Like headphones, a book, lots of snacks and a water bottle.

A cotbed for your bedroom is fine, even for a newborn as long as it has a good quality mattress (cot beds can last until the child is around 5 as the side comes off). I would get a Moses basket and stand for the living room for the newborn stage though, they tend to be cheap new and you can even get ones second hand that have barely been used. You can also get a decent set of tall and slim drawers from Ikea for around £60-£100 for the baby’s clothes (I don’t think a proper wardrobe is necessary for baby/toddler clothes).
Don’t bother with changing table, I don’t think anyone actually uses them- I had a c-section and just changed baby on my lap while recovering.

Babies aren’t supposed to sleep in car seats unless they have a lie flat function (see Cybex and Joie- not sure on the exact version), they’re also very heavy so wont be great as a carrier for long. Newborns shouldn’t be kept in the car seat without a break for longer than 30 minutes (unless you can lie it flat) as it constricts their airways to be sat up, it’s the same for baby bouncers and anything that sits them upright.
I’ve heard the Bugaboo Bee, BabyZen yo-yo and Baby Jogger City Mini are good light prams?
Tommie Tippie nappy bin would be great for the flat as it keeps bad smells at bay.