Walk in closet=room for baby?

taylorj513

So the new apartment we're getting we're going to have a walk in closet the size of a small room and my fiancé is saying we have to keep the baby in our room and I've brought up just putting her in the walk in closet and keeping the door open, but he wants to put a bed in there for his kids from a previous marriage even though our baby is going to be there more than they are, which I think doesn't make any sense. However he seemed open to having the baby in there when his kids aren't staying with us and putting her in our room when they come. Plus I think it'll be better for when we're sleep training the baby to not have her in the same room. What do you guys think?

kelseyofanne

I plan on having my baby in my room for quite a while - probably up to a year or at least while there are still a lot of night time feeds. So much easier to get more sleep when I just pick him up, nurse and then go back to sleep.

mhwood

How many bedrooms is the apartment? Legally, if there are no windows, you can't use it for a bedroom.

SmrBrd2012

mhwood said:

How many bedrooms is the apartment? Legally, if there are no windows, you can't use it for a bedroom.

Of course you can. It just can't legally be considered a bedroom when you are buying/selling/renting the property out to someone.

Bigboobsmcgee

SmrBrd2012 said:

mhwood said:

How many bedrooms is the apartment? Legally, if there are no windows, you can't use it for a bedroom.

Of course you can. It just can't legally be considered a bedroom when you are buying/selling/renting the property out to someone.

This. The cops won't break down the door and arrest you for letting a kid use a closet for a bedroom.

Bigboobsmcgee

Is your apartment only one bedroom?

This whole post is a little odd so I'm not exactly sure what advice to give. If you don't have any other bedroom and 2 kids plus a baby need to share a closet then maybe you need a different place to live. I understand finances might play a big role in your apartment choice but why move into a place that doesn't have even close to enough room for all those kids???

OP you might want the baby next to your bed in a bassinet or RnP for at least the first few weeks, then you can think about where to put her next. A closet is fine IF that's the only option.

tracij12

Bigboobsmcgee said:

SmrBrd2012 said:

mhwood said:

How many bedrooms is the apartment? Legally, if there are no windows, you can't use it for a bedroom.

Of course you can. It just can't legally be considered a bedroom when you are buying/selling/renting the property out to someone.

This. The cops won't break down the door and arrest you for letting a kid use a closet for a bedroom.

This made me laugh.
My mom has one of those big under stairway closets. She put sleeping bags in there and set it up as a room for my niece and nephew when they visited. Once more grandkids came along it was not practical b/c they all didn't fit but they used to LOVE it. Apparently she should be in jail!

OP, agree with PP that you may want to consider something by your bed for baby in the short term and hopefully you can swing finances for a bit more space eventually.

For what it's worth, I have 2 siblings and we all shared a room growing up. You can totally work with small spaces.

Sarcasm101

Bigboobsmcgee said:

SmrBrd2012 said:

mhwood said:

How many bedrooms is the apartment? Legally, if there are no windows, you can't use it for a bedroom.

Of course you can. It just can't legally be considered a bedroom when you are buying/selling/renting the property out to someone.

This. The cops won't break down the door and arrest you for letting a kid use a closet for a bedroom.

No but OP should probably consider whatever custody agreement her fi and his ex wife have. A lot of custody agreements lay out the need for a suitable living environment for children. And I doubt a walk in closet with one bed (for multiple kids) shared with a newborn will qualify.

Bigboobsmcgee

Sarcasm101 said:

Bigboobsmcgee said:

SmrBrd2012 said:

mhwood said:

How many bedrooms is the apartment? Legally, if there are no windows, you can't use it for a bedroom.

Of course you can. It just can't legally be considered a bedroom when you are buying/selling/renting the property out to someone.

This. The cops won't break down the door and arrest you for letting a kid use a closet for a bedroom.

No but OP should probably consider whatever custody agreement her fi and his ex wife have. A lot of custody agreements lay out the need for a suitable living environment for children. And I doubt a walk in closet with one bed (for multiple kids) shared with a newborn will qualify.

THIS is true. FTR, I don't think all these kids sharing a closet is a good idea but if they have no other choice, then hopefully they can find a way to make it work AND appease the mom of the FI's kids.

Sarcasm101

Bigboobsmcgee said:

Sarcasm101 said:

Bigboobsmcgee said:

SmrBrd2012 said:

mhwood said:

How many bedrooms is the apartment? Legally, if there are no windows, you can't use it for a bedroom.

Of course you can. It just can't legally be considered a bedroom when you are buying/selling/renting the property out to someone.

This. The cops won't break down the door and arrest you for letting a kid use a closet for a bedroom.

No but OP should probably consider whatever custody agreement her fi and his ex wife have. A lot of custody agreements lay out the need for a suitable living environment for children. And I doubt a walk in closet with one bed (for multiple kids) shared with a newborn will qualify.

THIS is true. FTR, I don't think all these kids sharing a closet is a good idea but if they have no other choice, then hopefully they can find a way to make it work AND appease the mom of the FI's kids.

I doubt much will appease the mom, considering this guy is 28 and the OP is 16.

NurseRieger

Bigboobsmcgee said:

SmrBrd2012 said:

mhwood said:

How many bedrooms is the apartment? Legally, if there are no windows, you can't use it for a bedroom.

Of course you can. It just can't legally be considered a bedroom when you are buying/selling/renting the property out to someone.

This. The cops won't break down the door and arrest you for letting a kid use a closet for a bedroom.

Lmao I didn't know what to say for this post but I was thinking the same thing. I don't really get it is it a 1 bedroom or 2? Honestly I say if there are other kids staying at the apartment at times those kids need a real bedroom and share your bedroom with the baby until you can afford a bigger place.

Bigboobsmcgee

Sarcasm101 said:

Bigboobsmcgee said:

Sarcasm101 said:

Bigboobsmcgee said:

SmrBrd2012 said:

mhwood said:

How many bedrooms is the apartment? Legally, if there are no windows, you can't use it for a bedroom.

Of course you can. It just can't legally be considered a bedroom when you are buying/selling/renting the property out to someone.

This. The cops won't break down the door and arrest you for letting a kid use a closet for a bedroom.

No but OP should probably consider whatever custody agreement her fi and his ex wife have. A lot of custody agreements lay out the need for a suitable living environment for children. And I doubt a walk in closet with one bed (for multiple kids) shared with a newborn will qualify.

THIS is true. FTR, I don't think all these kids sharing a closet is a good idea but if they have no other choice, then hopefully they can find a way to make it work AND appease the mom of the FI's kids.

I doubt much will appease the mom, considering this guy is 28 and the OP is 16.

Yep. Just discovered that important piece of information. Oh lord.

dramaphile

Bigboobsmcgee said:

Sarcasm101 said:

I doubt much will appease the mom, considering this guy is 28 and the OP is 16.

Yep. Just discovered that important piece of information. Oh lord.

Bigboobsmcgee

taylorj513 said:

So the new apartment we're getting we're going to have a walk in closet the size of a small room and my fiancé is saying we have to keep the baby in our room and I've brought up just putting her in the walk in closet and keeping the door open, but he wants to put a bed in there for his kids from a previous marriage even though our baby is going to be there more than they are, which I think doesn't make any sense. However he seemed open to having the baby in there when his kids aren't staying with us and putting her in our room when they come. Plus I think it'll be better for when we're sleep training the baby to not have her in the same room. What do you guys think?

QFP

Lulucooks

Please don't put the baby or any other kids in the closet.  If there is ever a fire that blocks the door you or the fire department have no other access to that space.  Figure out a way for everyone to be in the bedroom or maybe get a pull out couch and the parents sleep in the living room.

taylorj513

That's a good point, I never really thought of that. This is why you ask questions. Thanks so much! 

goldie987

In addition to the safety hazards of putting people in a closet (no window to escape in the event of a fire which is why you must have a window to be counted as a bedroom), I'm not sure you've seriously thought this through logistically.  

The average twin mattress is 3.5 feet by just over 6 feet.  Two of them means that closet has to be at minimum 7 feet x 6.5 feet.  Add in 2 feet or so in between the mattresses so they can get into bed and we're looking at 9'x6.5' just for the mattresses, no belongings or clothes for the kids or a doorway.  You say the walk in is the size of a small room but most walk ins aren't going to be hitting those dimensions.   

Then comes the issue of losing the storage space for yourselves.  If you lose the walk in, where do you have to hang your own clothes?  Having children sleeping in a closet with clothes isn't appropriate. 

You mentioned wanting to keep the baby in there while the kids weren't there.  That brings up a whole other issue of either moving the mattresses out of the way or having an even bigger closet.  

Honestly, if I was these children's mother, I wouldn't be comfortable sending my children to your home (your age not being a factor) knowing there was nowhere appropriate for them to sleep.  A pull out couch in the living room may work temporarily but you need a stable location for them to call their own while they visit you and if you can't provide that, then overnight visits might not be the best idea at this point.  

GinnyJ2012

How big is this closet? My walk in is a 6x8 and looking at it we could put a mini crib against one wall and a small dresser to double as a changing table and possible still fit a small old fashioned rocking chair. I would take the door off the hinges as it shouldn't be shut with a baby in there and no windows. That doesn't solve the issue of his other children when they visit though. 

sorarose

Based on your other posts, please stay at home with your parents and forget about the apartment, let alone the closet.