Starting a family in a one bedroom flat

schoolhouse

We had our first while living in a one bedroom flat(he was our surprise baby:D).It worked very well for us,a little one does not take up much space...it's all the stuff that comes with them!

For bath time we had this,it lived in the bath and kept your hands free so no slippy baby to hold.We had a changing mat which rolled away.The biggest two items were the cot(next to our bed) and highchair.We got a baby chair that strapped onto a dining chair so no more space being taken up there either. Everything else lived under the bed or in two baskeats(one had toys and one had nappies,creams,etc).

The steriliser was one you used in the microwave,so it lived in there when not in use and did not take up room.Oh! we got a narrow tallboy for my son's clothes too.It lived in the hallway quite happily.

We were there till my first was 13months. It was a lovely time for us and I certainly do not think it was a squueze or a squash. Just cosy and everything was within reach:p.

fannyanna

We were looking at the flat last night and thinking about where we could put things etc.

We'd easily get a cot into the room if we push our bed against the wall rather than having it in the middle of the room with a bedside table each side. We could then put the two bedside tables against another wall. We'd actually have more walking space in the bedroom that what we currently do.

We have an internal storage cupboard and an external storage cupboard (the door to the external storage cupboard is next to our front door). I've looked into renting one of the garages in our street and there are some available at a cost of about £50 per month. We could then move everything in the external storage cupboard over to the garage and move things in the internal storage cupboard to the outside storage cupboard (things like vacuum, ironing board, clothes horses etc). That would then leave the internal storage cupboard free for baby related things - and a good hiding place for toys

Savvy_Sue

Another point is that a baby doesn't need a cot immediately: a moses basket or carrycot can do the job initially.

And DS3 had a travel cot until he moved into a bed. It was a BIG and sturdy one, and we didn't fold it up during the day, but we could have done.

FatVonD

Another one here that left it too late by waiting for the *right* house and ended up needing IVF treatment, I'd say just go for it.

I think the idea of renting your flat is a good one and renting somewhere larger or could you reorganise the space even more? It might not be possible (if for instance your kitchen is off of the sitting room) but, could you swap your bedroom and sitting room to allow more space for a cot (and if it's huge maybe even a stud wall/partition if it drags on.)

fannyanna

Just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone that took their time to share their views.

We've decided to give it a go and as of last night we are now TTC. Sorry if that's too much information :rotfl:

michelle1506

I hope you don't get twins. I am shopping for them right now as I am 28 weeks pregnant - most things you need to buy bigger eg. stroller, or double up eg. cot. One baby might be okay on a short basis, but anymore then that, you will need more room. What about renting your flat and moving into a larger rented property, until you can sell your smaller flat??

michelle1506

Sorry just one more thing - the advice that I have been reading is that the safest way for babies to sleep is in a cot or crib in the same room as you for the first six months. I've skipped the moses basket entirely as the babies are only in the them for a few months at best! To save money I've gone STRAIGHT to the cot, as this will last them for at least 2 years. Make sure you get dropside and adjustable though. It's worth spending at least £100 on a cot. Take a look at 'Babies R U', 'Precious Little One' and 'Kiddicare' for good deals. Mothercare is QUITE good for clothes, but otherwise tends to be pretty expensive. Amazon have also got some deals to be found for things like cot sheets.

onlyroz

michelle1506 wrote: »

It's worth spending at least £100 on a cot.

Sorry, but I disagree. I'd suggest getting a second-hand one. Most are excellent quality because they've been used for such a short time. I'd start off with the local charity shops. In any case, even if you buy new, the thing you should be spending money on is the mattress, and not the cot itself.

vroombroom

we bought our cot and mattress from ikea for £80 - its a lot smaller than standard sizes x

fannyanna

I think we would probably buy a second hand cot (although get a decent second hand cot) but would of course buy a new mattress.

Whilst I adore moses baskets we wouldn't get one as we'd have the cot and no need for a basket.