4 months pregnant - move to a house or stay in flat??

Frugalbride

Hi everyone,

I am 18 weeks pregnant and living with my husband in a first floor flat. We are unsure whether it would be difficult having a baby in the flat and whether we should move to a house in the same area. We rent the flat from a family member at a bargain price, though there are some compromises with this ( storing their belongings being one).

A house would cost over 300£ extra a month in rent alone, but I can see it would be much easier with pushchairs, equipment and noise levels. I am anxious about crying waking neighbours.

The flat is up two flights of stairs with no lift, but there is a garage we could use for storage. It would need a bit of work to get baby ready but is safe and warm.

We are saving up for a house deposit and are doing really well with this. We will be in a position to buy in just over 18months (we have enough savings already but my husband will change jobs then). I don't want to derail our savings plan but then almost instantly think you only live once and why not be more comfortable?! I know my husband would prefer to be in a house, as would, but I can't help thinking of the extra money we would have to find.

I guess I'm hoping that somebody will have experience/tips/views that could help us make a decision about what to do!

claire16c

How many bedrooms are in your current flat?

If you only have 1 Id think about moving so that after a few months the baby can go into its own room, but if have 2 already then Id save the money and buy in 18 months like you'd planned.

£300 a month extra is quite a bit extra when 18 months is likely to fly by.

Yorkie1

I have no experience to draw upon but having a baby can be quite an expensive time, particularly (I'm making assumptions here) if you're going to be on maternity leave from a job and have a drop in income.

You have a longer-term goal of buying your own place, so I'd probably go for the 'staying put' option in order to achieve that sooner rather than later.

peachyprice

I would stay put and stick to your original plan of moving in 18 months time.

If you move out to a rented house now, paying an extra £300 month on rent, then factor all the other expenses that will rise like council tax, water, electricity, gas, insurance, you be putting back buying for an awful long time.

18 months in a flat with a baby isn't unbearable, there's no reason why they have to have their own room, infact it's recommended that they share with you at least for the first year.

You have a solution with the garage to keep a pram so other than that all your baby will need is warmth, food and love, not parents who are stretching themselves and putting of their dream home, all for a bit more space.

Frugalbride

Oops forgot to say it was a two bed flat! Thanks for the advice so far. I would like to take the full year of maternity leave, and as you rightly said it probably will fly by anyway.

Just wondering about the stairs and noise factor really.

peachyprice

Unless you're planning on moving to a detached house in the middle of nowhere you'll always be worrying about your baby disturbing the neighbours

Frugalbride

:rotfl:

peachyprice wrote: »

Unless you're planning on moving to a detached house in the middle of nowhere you'll always be worrying about your baby disturbing the neighbours

Very true! Wonder if we should build a yurt in the middle of a forest? Very MSE and quiet! (Though scary and cold too I would imagine)

System

One of my neighbours has a 3rd floor flat and has just had a baby. It's fine except for when the lift breaks down! I just thought I'd mention it, as you might not want to be lugging shopping and a baby and a pram up two flights of stairs.

Frugalbride

I know, it is difficult with shopping on its own now!
Im going to look into those sling carriers and the pram travel systems and see if they would make things easier.

SuzieSue

Couldn't you have your food shopping delivered mind you, I'm not sure if they will bring it up to your flat door, so it might not solve the problem, but at least you could have it delivered when your husband was at home.

ska_lover

I would stay put and move in 18 months, it is the sensible option IMO.

Main difficulties would be getting a pram upstairs - but if you can store it in a downstairs garage that may be an option if the garage is dry. Getting bags of shopping upstairs is a big of a pain too, but it will only be a short while - 18 months really will fly hun