Making Room for a Baby in a Rental Apartment
Families come in all shapes and sizes, and so do homes. And with housing affordability becoming harder and harder for many young people, lots of individuals and couples can’t put off starting a family until they have a house, because that day may never come.
Despite what some may have you believe, it is possible to have a baby in a rental apartment. Do you have a 1-, 2- or 3-bedroom unit? You can make it work; you just have to be strategic about where you put things and be mindful of clutter.
Foldable furnishings
Put foldable baby items on your registry – including swings, chairs and even cribs. Baby toys and furnishings tend to take up a lot of space, so it’s convenient to have compact or fold-up versions so that they aren’t taking up space when not in use. Instead of a full highchair, get one that hooks onto the table.
These items are also great for travelling!
The 1-bedroom dilemma
What do you do if you’re pregnant and living in a 1-bedroom apartment? If moving isn’t an option right now, you will have to make it work. Luckily, babies sleep in the parents’ room during early infancy – so you can get away with a bassinette in your bedroom for the first six months or so.
Once they outgrow the bassinette, you will have to determine whether you should have a crib in your bedroom (if you have the space) or cordon off an area in the living room.
If you decide to go with the latter, you might have to sacrifice some of your furniture. Get a mini crib and install as much vertical storage as you can. Get a dresser/changing table hybrid and keep it small. You could get a room divider screen to separate the baby’s sleeping space from the rest of the apartment. A white noise machine will also help, as you will want to cancel out as much noise as possible during naptime and bedtime. And don’t forget the blackout curtains!
Apartment nursery
If you’re lucky enough to have a 2-bedroom apartment already, the baby will be able to have their own nursery. Apartments tend to have smaller rooms than many houses, so be mindful of the size and amount of furniture you include. Vertical storage and multi-purpose furnishings will be real space-savers.
If you’re expecting and looking for apartments to rent, look for buildings in family-friendly neighbourhoods. Remember that there’s no shame in raising your child (or children) in a rental apartment. Many people live this way, and it’s possible to live comfortably as a family in a rental. As long as you have nearby parks or green space and are near grocery stores and other key amenities, it will be fine.
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