Baby on the way, Yet not ready to move out of our 1br apt....?

Question

I am 4 months pregnant. We have a rather large 1br apt. My hubby and I got married June 10th 2006 and we did run out of room in our kitchen for all of our "wedding crap". So we put that in our storage above our closets. I have many ideas of what we can do in our bedroom to fit a baby crib, changing table and whatever else our baby will need in the forst year. After i have our baby i plan to quit work and then we will be more open to where we can move to be closer to my hubbys work and where he works there is more affordable living. None of this Studio apt for $950 per month crap! More like Super Cute Townhouse for $550! We are doing this to finish paying off debt and to save whatever we can for whatever we want. So since this is my first what do we really need in our bedroom for our baby the first 6 months??????? We plan on moving next spring since I am due in october. Not good moving whether when u live in the poconos lol

Answer 1

Been there!!! For the first 4-6 months, the baby only really needs a basinet. Our kids stayed in a portable crib (like a bassinet) due to lack of space, and it fits nicely beside your bed. Also, when it comes to storage, think VERTICAL, not horizontal!! Go crazy with shelves, nets, bins, and be creative.

Answer 2

Skip the change table. Find a nice dresser (which you will need as baby clothes and blankets take up a surprising amount of room). If it is a good height you can use it as a change table (partcularly if you buy one of the change pads that is a U shape to hold the baby in. Realistically though it isn't long before they are moving so much you change them on the floor or for awhile in their crib (then you have to drop the crib mattress and forget it.

If you don't have room in your bedroom for a second dresser, toss it in the living/diningroom. Half the time you will be doing dressing out there anyway. And spit up clothes you need all the time.

Crib is up to you. Some people co-sleep. I do, but I have a crib that I turned into a cosleeper so there is enough room for the three of us. If you breastfeed it is easiest to have the baby right there. And I can't stress this enough, for all parent: even if you say your baby will never, ever sleep with you PLEASE babyproof your bed. Chances are one day you will snuggle in bed, or feed in bed. And you may fall asleep. You babyproof everything else. Make sure your bed is safe too!

At some point you will want a playpen for the livingroom, even more so if you don't have a crib. However MOST playpens are smaller than cribs and while I don't recommend them for sleeping (because the mesh allows gaps if you place a mattress in them). If you want to buy a cute crib/nursery set you can use a crib as a playpen in the livingroom. Some places still sell wooden playpens. Otherwise really unless you are using the playpen to travel a lot I really think the only good ones are the oldschool big ones. I have a Graco Totblock, it's fantastic. It's 38" square so there is enough room to actually play... even now that my son is 14 months.

Toybox -somewhere in the apartment. Babies do end up with a lot of toys somewhere.

So yeah in the bedroom all you really need is umm well nothing. You can put clothing storage/changing stations anywhere (and realistically most diaper changes happen during the day anyway). You can have a crib if you want, or you can skip it or use a large or small cosleeper. Toy storage can go anywhere.

Ohh an nightlight you need a nightlight in the bedroom bright enough to change diapers by ;-) If you don't have a nightable you will probably want one to keep some wipes and a change pad on. Ummmm and a small garbage can?

Answer 3

All you need is a bassinet that can hold at least a max weight of 25 lbs, that should do it till the baby be at least 5-6 months, or get a crib that turns into a toddler bed so later on you wont have to buy one. Babies dont need much to keep them happy and comfortable. Forget the changing table you wont need it, its a waste of money. Change the baby in the bed, crib, etc. Stack up on diapers, wipes, and clothes- they need that more. 1st time mommies always like to go crazy in baby stuff and we all want to make sure our babies aren't in need of anything. I went crazy with my first and then I ended up giving most of the stuff away, a year later I ended up pregnant again with my second. It's only good to go crazy with baby stuff if you know you want more children in a short period of time, then you can pass on the baby gear to your other kids instead of giving it away after using them for only a few months or throwing it away-which is worse cause thats throwing $$$ away. I'm kind of going through what your going through right now. I have a 3 bedroom apt. & I have 3 children. My 2 daughters share room, they're only 2 years apart and both get along well. My son has his own room & he's 1, and now I'm 39 weeks pregnant and another girl is on the way. I bought a bassinnet for convinience and a small little dreser for clothes etc. I bought the main things and not too much of everything because they always seem to outgrow the clothes fast.

be creative everything will work out fine.
Good luck!

Answer 4

You probaly could do with just a bassinet. And the changing table, that's just an optional thing. Most people change their baby on the bed or on the floor (on a blanket) or on a sofa, you name it! Most people, even those with big houses use a bassinet for the first 3-6 months simply because the crib is a little big and it can be placed in a bedroom next to the bed for easy access to the baby. I've seen some bassinets that are on top of a playyard (Graco Play-yard bassinet - something like that) so with that you get 2 in 1.

Answer 5

We are staying in our two bedroom until baby comes, too and I can tell you the only thing we bought was a cosleeper (smaller than a crib but not by much). We decided we didn't need a changing table, as we'll use the spare bed in our second bedroom and an old towel.
I'd say you really only need a bed and somewhere to put baby stuff, like clothes, diapers, etc which can be put in a closet or a cart (we have a wheeled cart).

Answer 6

When my hubby and I had our first we were in a 1bdrm and as long as the room is spacious you can make it work. Why have anything more then a crib? thats all we had. other then toys and that kinda stuff but we opted out of not having a changing table. Wait until you get a bigger place for that stuff... some ppl 'need' it i guess. We just didnt have the space and didnt want to be cramped just to have somewhere to change the baby. We got on of those 'portable' changing tables..and it works just as good... cuz ya can lay it on top of the bed.. couch.. floor.. can even fold it up and take it on trips with you!

Answer 7

I live in a very small apartment as well. We have 2 bedrooms and live with my elderly parents. My fiance and I have had to become a bit inventive when it comes to storage. We have under the bed storage for some of our clothes and have learned that shelves are very helpful!!! For our baby (due in one month) we bought a portable crib (it's about the size of a pack and play and can also be folded up and put away when not in use). We also have a swing for him, but it's the kind that can also be folded up. (Fisher Price Rainforest) These portable items are extra helpful because we can bring them with us when we're out visiting relatives. We put the baby's clothes in baskets on one of our shelves..and he has a lot of clothes! You really don't need to go out and buy anything else..even the swing is optional. Newborns mostly just eat and sleep, so as long as you have things for that, you're all set. Good luck to you!

Answer 8

My parents and my Aunt/Uncle had very small apartments for the first year of a baby. You only need a crib, clothing, diapers. Normally, the crib mattress is set pretty high up to do changes early on, but then use the bed for changing. VERY few toys. Everything is new to baby, so you want a few things they can put in their mouths, but otherwise, they are entertained by a lot of stuff.

Answer 9

Until the baby can pull himself up to a sitting position on his own a bassinet will do nicely. After that you will need a crib. If you are cramped for space a changing table isn't necessary. All you need is a place for him to sleep and a place to keep all those darling little clothes. I kept all 3 of my children in my bedroom until they were 1 yr. old. After that the separation may be more difficult on both of you.

Answer 10

Instead of a crib, you could use a playpen, they've got the same height safety rails but are much smaller. Or opt for a circular crib rather than square, they take up less room.

And you could forgo the changing table and use your bed. Or choose a changing table that doubles as a dresser.

There are "travel" swings that take up much less space than a full size swing.

And a half-sized mesh hamper can be used for all the little chew toys (rather than a full size toy box), and it has the added benefit of being easy to take to the living room.

Rather than a full sized high chair, you can get a compact one that straps directly onto an already-exisitng dining chair.