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Original poster

Living in third floor tenament flat with a one-year-old?

86 replies

AlbertaWildRose · 09/07/2007 21:27

Hi there, I'm looking for advice! DH and I and our one-year-old DS are going to be moving house shortly, just letting, not buying. Many of the properties available here are in tenament buildings, on the 2nd or 3rd floor. Am I mad to consider living on anything above the 1st floor with a one-year-old (and hopefully 2nd baby at some point)? I am willing to go look at flats on upper floors, but DH thinks it is a waste of time, and can't imagine me lugging shopping, DS, and eventually a pregnant bump and small baby up 3 flights of stairs. Does anyone have any positive stories to tell about life with small children on upper floors? Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
AlbertaWildRose · 09/07/2007 22:26

rosycheeks: We are in a lower colony flat! I love it, but it is just too, too small. But I love the area, the garden, everything.

OP posts:
1dilemma · 09/07/2007 23:23

3 on the third floor it's crap don't do it, we lasted 3 months (had tried to move several times and kept failing)

1dilemma · 09/07/2007 23:28

Fire big concern of ours too, kept pushchair in car, only prob was we had to park it 3 streets away! (As a total aside and everyone will love telling me I'm wrong have found the travelling has really dropped off, a treat for me is an hour alone in my own bed!)

1dilemma · 09/07/2007 23:32

My dc could climb about 44 stairs before age 2 there's a positive for you!!

midnightexpress · 10/07/2007 08:48

another no vote from me alberta. I'm in a 2nd floor tenement and it's a pita. It was fine with one but with 2 kids it's just really annoying and does keep us indoors more than I'd like. We keep the buggy in the car, but there is almost nothing more annoying than a toddler fannying about on the stone steps when you're trying to get an increasingly heavy baby and the toddler up. Don't do it if you can avoid.

iloverosycheeks · 10/07/2007 12:44

you can get two bedroom lowers though alberta, how often they come up to rent that I dont know, good luck with the search anyway... one day I will have a garden (sigh)

expatinscotland · 10/07/2007 12:47

we're leaving so we can get a garden.

Aitch · 10/07/2007 15:08

really, expat, you're leaving? you've kept that quiet...

ProjectIcarus · 10/07/2007 15:25

oh dear god no. it is a pita i've donr it. 1st floor two flights of 12 steps. 3 fire doors between my front door and the outside world and I could leave my pushchair downstairs. it was unbelievably crap. What do you do when you come in with a sleeping child in a buggy? You either try to bump it up gently(bloody hard as the kid gets bigger) or you sit in the stairwell. Great relaxation not. You can't get any benefit out of their nap because you are stuck watching them.

what about a modern rental with a lift?

iloverosycheeks · 10/07/2007 20:54

the modern flats at Powderhall have lifts and also little playpark in the development

expatinscotland · 10/07/2007 20:55

I'd do it with a lift, yes.

CristinaTheAstonishing · 10/07/2007 21:02

Millions of people around the globe (including Europe!) live in flats and have young children. It's do-able, although life would be much easier with a working lift. You'd be up-and-down the stairs all day if you lived in a townhouse, at least in a flat you're on the same level once you get past the front door.

expatinscotland · 10/07/2007 21:04

'Millions of people around the globe (including Europe!) live in flats and have young children.'

Yes, but it sucks, especially as traditional tenements in Edinburgh NEVER have lifts.

If it's not absolutely necessary to do it, I wouldn't.

CristinaTheAstonishing · 10/07/2007 21:08

Well, that's your experience, mine is different. Both from my childhood and from being a mum now. It's a shame your life sucks because of the flat you live in. I hope you'll be happier in your new place.

expatinscotland · 10/07/2007 21:15

FFS, chill out!

She wanted experiences, people are sharing them.

I didn't say my life sucked only because of a flat, just that I found it sucked living like that with two young children.

It's also in a very busy, noisy road and I have one knee joint full of metal and another with next to no cartilage.

FWIW, if you read the thread, she's decided against it.

It's not everyone's cup of tea.

Millions of people around the globe live in abject poverty, it's 'do able', but why go there if you don't have to?

CristinaTheAstonishing · 10/07/2007 21:23

Why I mentioned the Europe thing, I though some clever clogs may bring abject poverty into it. So glad to hear your life is improving. Chill.

expatinscotland · 10/07/2007 21:24

Yes, well, she's talking about Edinburgh, Scotland, not mainland Europe.

Thank you so much for your concern about my life!

It means a lot seeing as how stressed and wound up you must be.

CristinaTheAstonishing · 10/07/2007 21:29

OK, darling, you're the expert.

expatinscotland · 10/07/2007 21:29

Whatever you say (if it makes you go away) .

CristinaTheAstonishing · 10/07/2007 21:31

Is that the best you can do? There were some other good quotes on that thread.

expatinscotland · 10/07/2007 21:32

No, of course not, but why would I waste it on you?

CristinaTheAstonishing · 10/07/2007 21:34
Hmm
TheGoldenSnaitch · 10/07/2007 21:52

wtf?

bizziebee · 10/07/2007 21:57

[shocked](to calm down the argument and get back to the post) FWIW - I live in a second floor flat in edinburgh with a six-month old and love it. It is a fantastic city to live and so long as I am organised going out is not much more hassle. The benefits of being in such a lovely place far outweigh the negatives. Keeps me fit!

Hulababy · 10/07/2007 22:01

I would only do it if there was a lift, and ideally a back up lift too.

We lived ina fab 5th floor apartment until DD was 3yo and we loved it. However when our lift needed repairing it was out of action for something like 10 weeks - and those 144 stairs felt like 1440! Carrying 16mo DD, my work bags and her nursery bags was a nightmare. And the shopping only possible when concierge gave me a hand.