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Original poster

Having a baby in a 1 bed flat - help please!

48 replies

RedLea · 01/10/2021 12:49

We are due to have our baby in December and had hoped that we would be able to move out of our 1 bed flat by now. COVID has caused many issues with this and a purchase now won’t happen in time so we tried looking to rent. The market is equally sparse and properties getting snapped up and even over paid the moment they get advertised.
We’re left feeling hopeless and upset that our dream will not happen. Whilst it would be a dream, it also feels more practical to have the space, too.

How many people have brought a baby into a 1 bed flat and survived, please? It’s looking like this is our only option for now and to put our dreams on hold whilst the market gets better 😔
Desperately need some reassurance 🙏

OP posts:

Cruiser11 · 01/10/2021 18:06

I think it will either be one of the kids or the MIL.

BakingOfTheFoodCats · 01/10/2021 18:08

Many people live in council one bed flats with a baby, in my council that wouldn’t even qualify for rehousing so of course it’s fine

TakeYourFinalPosition · 01/10/2021 18:09

I should say that our big “concern” is that people will want to visit and we don’t have room, really… DHs parents especially will find that difficult. We’ve suggested meeting out and about, but that won’t be too frequent with a newborn born in December, and they live an hour away, so I’m not sure we’ll make it to them much… I wouldn’t feel comfortable feeding in their house.

But that’s been the only issue we haven’t found a way to overcome, usually by reducing things down! Minimalist is the way to go (and cheaper too; hopefully)

BakingOfTheFoodCats · 01/10/2021 18:09

On another note my 4 year old is still in my room 😧 I’m sure you will survive

grey12 · 01/10/2021 18:24

@TakeYourFinalPosition we lived in a 1bed flat and grandparents slept on an inflatable mattress in the living room.

Inflatable mattresses nowadays aren't like they were in the late 20th century honestly, ours is a queen size and suuuuper comfortable. Anytime we use it DH says he prefers it to our bed

blossomkil · 01/10/2021 18:28

I brought our baby back to a studio flat, and stayed until she was four months. It wasn't what we planned (admin and house chain stuff) but it actually worked really well, I got to lie in bed and watch tv with the baby, the kitchen was nearby and I could move to the sofa still watching the same tv! I could lay her down in the cot for naps and still be nearby. It didn't give anyone anywhere to escape to, so we were forced to learn about the baby together and confront stuff head on.

Try and move before you've got a crawler though.

gogohm · 01/10/2021 18:29

We only had a one bed until dd was a year old, it's no big deal, they sleep with you anyway for at least 6 months

Arepeoplereallycoolaboutthis · 01/10/2021 18:33

"Survived" in what sense?

MoreThanRubies · 01/10/2021 18:37

Echoing the posters above - it’s been really handy being all on one floor.

Baby stuff spreads, so the best tip I had was to prepare empty space/storage for baby stuff in each room before the baby was born. So, a corner of the wardrobe, a big basket in the living room, a big plastic box in the bathroom, a kitchen cupboard. I confined baby stuff to those “zones” as much as possible and our flat is still (just about) a functioning living space.

Theworldisfullofgs · 01/10/2021 18:42

We lived in a one bedroom flat for 10 months. In many ways it was easier as everything was to hand.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 01/10/2021 18:45

@grey12 Thanks Sadly they’d never dream of an inflatable mattress, they find it quite distressing that we’re expecting and still live in a flat, but I’m going to offer so that I know I’ve done all I can!

They’re keen to be involved and very excited, but only on their terms. They’ve made it clear that they won’t do nappies, or bringing food around, and that they think babies are usually poorly behaved So I should really just accept that I’ve done what I can, I think, but DH is an only child and so excited about introducing our baby to them.

Somanysocks · 01/10/2021 18:47

I know a couple who had twins in a second floor one bed flat, no lift. They are still there and the kids are now at school. They seem to manage.

Original poster

RedLea · 01/10/2021 18:52

Want to thank all of you have given some great advice and helped me feel reassured.
I think whilst we had a plan to move beforehand and everything being out of control to not fulfill that, has made me feel uneasy.
It’s our first child and it’s all new so a scary prospect.
My family live 5.5hrs away so the extra space was more for visitors and so they can stay over as it’s certainly not a day visit journey.
I feel better for sure and sending hugs to all you warrior mums out there who have done this. I’m sure we will be fine, especially with the fab tips you’ve all given.
Wish us luck 🙏

OP posts:

sakura06 · 01/10/2021 19:05

We lived in a one bedroom flat until our baby was 20 months. It was fine and completely doable.

grey12 · 01/10/2021 19:12

@TakeYourFinalPosition I get that I currently live with my inlaws (with our 3kids) and my mum keeps saying that we should buy our own house.........

Iflyaway · 01/10/2021 19:17

Great for leaving newborn on the play mat and nipping to the loo.

Good luck with that one.

Better to leave him/her in the cot.

I felt so relieved at a mum's group when one said she hadn't been able to clean her teeth by midday....

ChevreChase · 01/10/2021 19:19

exH and I lived in a one bedroom flat with DS until he was 2.5, and it was fine. We had a big trim down of our possessions, put up lots of shelving to get as much on the walls as we could, and took out a small storage unit, which we absolutely packed. DS's things dominated the space we had.

We all slept together, with the cot as a sidecar. The sofa was there if one of us needed some alone sleep time.

I'd say the only real issue was pram storage, but we were able to keep it in the downstairs hall.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 01/10/2021 19:27

If you wanted the extra space for guests then you can get over that by getti g them to stay in a nearby hotel. Most towns have a travel lodge or Premier Inn nearby and you can often get rooms for less than £30 a night and if family and friends stay there you also get a bit of space from each other instead of being on top of each other as you would if they stayed at your house, nor would anyone expect you to run around and wait on them whilst visiting.

united4ever · 01/10/2021 19:44

One idea is to use a Japanese futon instead of a bed for you and partner. They fold up in the day and may be able to put in a wardrobe so that bedroom is clear for crawling or whatever use you would like. Not talking about futon that are like sofas but a real Japanese one which you use on the floor. Basically makes bedrooms multifunctional.

Pongo101 · 01/10/2021 21:04

How big are the rooms op?
We have dd 4 and a baby on the way - we had "one bedroom" and a generous size living room and kitchen. We turned the living room into a second bedroom and made more living space in the kitchen.
It can be hard but overall we make it work. Sometimes I think space is overrated. More to clean and easier to collect crap you don't need. If you have a ruthless approach to "things" it can be quite refreshing to be sufficient in a small space.

Twiglets1 · 02/10/2021 06:57

I've been viewing one beds in London recently with my daughter and it's not unusual to see a cot beside the bed. I just feel a bit sorry for the peope who have to tidy up for viewings with a baby as it's not easy to hide the clutter in a small space but they do well.

You're not the first or the last in this situation. I would just concentrate on yourself and the baby for now and put the flat on the market in the Spring.

Jejazz · 03/10/2021 19:33

It's totally 100% doable! We had DS in a top floor 1 bed flat up until he was 2 1/2 years old, and 6 months of that was in lockdown!
We didn't plan for it like that but put off moving because of Brexit initially, then Covid came along. That was the killer, because the first lockdown was so strict, and we had no garden.
I would say for 18 months it's completely fine, 6 months after that still manageable, after they turn 2 it starts to get a bit nightmarish but still possible. Would recommend the Mokee mini cot for sleeping, that will last until they are around 3 and fits in most bedrooms. And be super strict with everyone about not buying too much stuff, both sets of grandparents totally ignored us on that and bought lots of rubbish we didn't want or need!
We are currently doing building works on our new house and we're all back in one bedroom again! With all our stuff as well. Not going to lie, it is horrific, but we have no kitchen or anything so it's way worse than our old flat, but only a couple more weeks to go....

Original poster

RedLea · 03/10/2021 19:34

We have a pretty decent sized lounge. Taking advice from this post and like you’ve mentioned, we’re going to reconfigure the lounge to put a sofa bed in there too. And for sure, we’re gonna declutter and have only what we’ll need. 🙏

OP posts:

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