Looking for new home with 11 wks to go - advice?

[JuneMammy]

Hello!

We are expecting our first baby in June and need to find a new home asap as we have just sold our one bed and must move out soon.

I just have a few questions about what might be important when looking for a new place:

• Is it really worth holding out for a ground floor or first floor?

• What kind of space is the baby likely to occupy?! Do people end up with toys and play mats in the kitchen or is the lounge better (if you have one!). Or do you resign yourself to baby occupying all rooms in a smallish flat?

• If you have to rent for a while, how can make make the place feel cosy and welcoming for the baby in advance, given that you can paint/decorate/personalize the place?

Any tips or general advice on flat-hunting in advance of new arrival would be most appreciated. It started out as an exciting project, but as we are getting desperate to find a place now it is becoming stressful, and im just trying to work out what the priority criteria is in light of little baby.

Thanks in advance for any tips!!

We are renting - have been for 18 months our landlord is happy for us to put pictures up which has made it very homely.

Go for something that you can just move into, and yes unless there is a lift, lots of stairs does make live difficult with a pram and small baby although it is do-able if need be.

If you find a 2 bed flat where both bedrooms reasonable size you should be able to keep all the babies stuff in their room.

A nice to have it a kitchen big enough for the highchair....

We moved a month ago from a 1 bed flat to a 2 bed house when I was about 27weeks and I have to say I'm glad I did it then. As I've moved into the 30+weeks I've definitely become much more tired and don't think I'd have the energy to move now if we hadn't already. It did take us a long time to exchange on our new place, so bare that in mind if you're planning to buy? Do you plan on moving out of your current PCT? Luckily we moved so close I didn't have to change MW or hospital or anything, but obviously that's something to bare in mind. I say go go go now if you're going to, don't leave it too late! Plus you need time to sort out baby's room