49: Small Space With a New Baby? Try These Can’t Miss Tips!
When I was pregnant and set off down an internet rabbit hole to figure out what I needed for our baby, I lived in an 830 square foot house. I really enjoyed pouring over the blogs about minimalist living with kids. I never did achieve a perfect Pinterest minimalist home that photographed so well on those blogs, but I did achieve a mindful home that functioned well within the small space itself. I will admit there were times when I felt overwhelmed by stuff but as time went on and especially as we got through the fenced in baby phase I was able to appreciate the benefits of a smaller space.
For one thing, smaller spaces accumulation less stuff (or they should anyway). Because it seems our amount of things is like a goldfish and it just grows to fill the space we live in.
When you have less stuff and a smaller floor plan, it makes for much faster clean up and overall less time cleaning which is a big perk to me.
As my son became more mobile, it was very easy to keep an eye on him. I pretty much knew where he was at all times. And slept well knowing that even if the monitor went out, I was close enough to hear him call for me. I’m not entirely sure we ever needed a monitor but for me the visual reassurance was helpful.
A small space can and should, encourage you to get out more. This may be as simple as a walk if your location allows, but getting out when you are ready, is good for you and much needed when you live in a smaller space.
Living in a smaller space usually also means you are less squeezed financially. This is bigger than most people realize when they are bought into the cultural norm of more space means you’ve made it and kids mean more space. Because to be financially tight during the period when your fixed costs increase can create a lot of invisible stress. This is especially true if you take in childcare costs. So being less financially squeezed is a, in my opinion one of the greatest perks.
Of course I realize there are both pros and cons, but if you like me and you bought a smaller starter house around 2020 and then you blinked and your neighborhood tripled in housing costs- it might be time to embrace the benefits of living in a smaller place.
Now let’s get practical. If you are expecting a baby and staring at those long internet lists of all the things you “need” wondering how on earth it’s all going to fit, I have some space saving quick swaps for you. These are helpful if you really have no extra space or are trying to embrace your inner minimalist:
waterproof pads instead of changing table (can be used on the floor, a bed, or really any safe surface with supervision of course- and they are great for travel)
Fold up stroller- seems like there’s a stroller for every occasion these days but if you have limited space and need to make it count then opt for a fold up option. No it can’t double as a jogging stroller but if you aren’t jogging mom and just need something for casual outings then a fold up is a great option. Ergo baby is one we have really liked. The yo-yo which fits overhead on planes seems like a great travel option. (???infants? Age range?)*however, be sure whatever you get works with infants be it with a car seat adaptare or on its own if you think you’ll be strolling rather than using a body carrier for the first several months as they won’t have the head or body control to sit and bump around in a traditional stroller.
Mini cribs are a great option if you need something smaller but don’t want to get a bassinet which your baby will grow out of faster. The downside is your child will outgrow this sooner than a traditional crib in theory. But you never know if you’re going to have a climber or when you’ll need to transito from a crib anyway. So in a really tight spot, mini cribs exist. There’s also updated recommendations for safe bed sharing. I know this is not for everyone, myself included, and I know it is strongly prohibited by doctors. But I also know some families still do it so I’m going to link the updated guide.
Skip the nursing pillow. If you need to prop your elbow or support your back while breastfeeding use a pillow from your bed or one you already have in your home. Most people don’t use special nursing pillows properly anyway and should you find you somehow require one they are pretty easy to get.
So…. You can definitely pass on the 72,000 floor space taking loungers and things to plant your baby on that are being sold to new parents and opt for one fold up baby lounger that you know will work in multiple rooms.
A piggyback to that is, Those baby seats that move and rock and play music and basically stand in as third parent are not necessary. I know, I know. It was a lifesaver for someone out there whose baby had GERD (which is a whole other topic of conversation). But they take up a ton of room and you can’t put them away. If I had to pick between a comfortable chair for myself to heal and hold my baby and a giant baby swing- I’m picking the chair that I can rock or read to my child in for years to come.
Countertop Bottle washers and sterilizers. Hot soapy water is fine. If you need to sterilize initially, which I recommend, there’s always a pot of boiling water or a microwave bag bottle kit options.
Baby food makers. Personally, I’m a total minimalist and a snob when it comes to introducing solids to a baby. I like to make it, make it simple, and transition them to something the whole family eats as soon as they are already. So for me, a small pot works great to cook things to an ideal texture and keep clean up super simple. A simple hand immersion blender also works great and takes up minimal kitchen space for those choosing to start on home made purées.
Stuffed animals. Just say no. No matter how cute, be ruthless. You don’t believe me now, but in a merry matter in months you’ll have 30 that take up prime real-estate in the corner of the room. Don’t say I didn’t warn you on this one…
The last space saving tip for today is to get what you need as you go along. For example, Postpone getting the high chair until you need it (usually closer to 6 months). Bring things in and take them out based on the age and stage of your baby to keep the stuff count under control. It’s helpful to have the next size diaper and some clothing on hand for a growth spurt but many future items take up floor space and can be switched out at the proper time instead of waiting around.
We found that legal boxes are easy to pack, label, and stack at the top of the closet for things we want to keep and anything we wouldn’t buy again was donated to a second hand baby store nearby.
Lastly, I want to mention something I don’t suggest compromising on. The high chair. You may want to postpone having it in the house until you’re ready, but please don’t use a substitute version for space saving. Of course you have to use something that actually fits in your home, but I strongly recommend against using a travel hanging seat, a bumbo, or some other funky but tiny option.
Here’s why, because proper alignment and postural support is really important when learning to eat. Some options may take up less space but have no foot support, lean your baby way back, or make it difficult for them to sit with the hips at a 90 degree angle. If your budget allows, you can opt for something that tucks under the table when not in use but still allows for greater postural support like a Tripp trap high chair for example. And there are other options for less that work great with small adjustments too, shoot me an email if you have questions on this.
But I’m going to wrap it up here and encourage you to see the benefits of a smaller space, and to question those marketing adds because you’re baby is not expecting or needing alllll the things we’re being sold which quickly become clutter in a small space.
If you are looking for a list of baby items, including options that take up less room then I’ve got one for you. You can download it right here. And with that, I’ll see you next week!