Downtown Loft or Suburban Condo?

scuba2011 · March 2011

I need some advice. I am expecting my 1st and will be moving with my husband to a new city for 1 year in May or June. We are stuck between 2 very nice rental options- one a loft downtown and the other a large 2 BR 2 Bath townhouse style condo/apartment in a suburb. My husband could walk to work from the loft and would have a 25 minute drive from the condo. The downside of the loft is although it is a "2 bedroom" there are no walls to divide up the space. Has anyone lived in a loft with a baby? Bad idea or would you do it again? We have owned our home for the last 4 years and have never done the downtown/loft lifesytle and thought it might be fun in a new city for a year but I am not sure it would work with a baby. I will get to be a SAHM for the year. Any advice or thoughts would be great!

WorkingMomofTwo · March 2011

I've always thought of a surburban life is the life for families, but thats my own opinion

IOmommy2005 · March 2011

Could you put up some sort of room dividers?

I would love to live in an area where there is a lot to do in walking distance when I had a newborn.....but that being said. It was also nice to be able to shut DS in his room and not worry about us making too much noise

DMBfan41 · March 2011

I think they both sound nice -- the loft is walkable (and I think it'd be fun to live downtown) and the condo obviously has walls (and 25 min. is not a long commute).

I know that there are companies that put up temporary walls (using glass blocks) that don't leave damage that could be an option. (My cousin did that.)

dougsbestgirl · March 2011

I haven't lived in a loft with a baby but I think it'd be fun to live in such close walking distance to so many things for a year.

Jay_Cee · March 2011

I suppose it depends on whether it's a true 25 min commute or not. The Mr. and I live about 15-20 min from his office; however, some days it takes him an hour to get there due to traffic.

If it's a true 25 min commute, then I'd likely pick the condo over the loft since you are used to having a house. It would be really fun to live in a loft for a year, but I'm not sure how that would work with a baby space-wise.

theluckiestduo · March 2011

I'm sorry I can't weigh in on the loft living but I'd pick the city! I'm a city girl and get scared when I go into the 'burbs. Indifferent

Gummybear · March 2011

I would pick the city loft. if you will be there for only one year, chances are baby won't even be walking yet (or much) by the time you leave. I think living in the city is ideal with an infant! You could take walks all over with the stroller, you wouldn't even need a car. There would be restaurants and parks and small shopping areas all within a stone's throw!

Now if baby was older, say 2+, a suburban setting might be better, but at that age, plus the convenience factor for DH, I would go city all the way. In fact, I am jealous.

As for the walls question -- I am a firm believer in training baby to sleep in all noise and light conditions. I never did blackout curtains or white noise machines or made the dog or visitors be quiet when baby was sleeping -- IMO this creates better sleep habits long-term, so I wouldn't even think twice about the wall issue. But other posters had great suggestions if you did want to address the issue.

FunNSunAZ · March 2011

Gummybear:
I would pick the city loft. if you will be there for only one year, chances are baby won't even be walking yet (or much) by the time you leave. I think living in the city is ideal with an infant! You could take walks all over with the stroller, you wouldn't even need a car. There would be restaurants and parks and small shopping areas all within a stone's throw!
Now if baby was older, say 2+, a suburban setting might be better, but at that age, plus the convenience factor for DH, I would go city all the way. In fact, I am jealous.
As for the walls question -- I am a firm believer in training baby to sleep in all noise and light conditions. I never did blackout curtains or white noise machines or made the dog or visitors be quiet when baby was sleeping -- IMO this creates better sleep habits long-term, so I wouldn't even think twice about the wall issue. But other posters had great suggestions if you did want to address the issue.

ITA!

FordFalcor · March 2011

Gummybear:

I would pick the city loft. if you will be there for only one year, chances are baby won't even be walking yet (or much) by the time you leave. I think living in the city is ideal with an infant! You could take walks all over with the stroller, you wouldn't even need a car. There would be restaurants and parks and small shopping areas all within a stone's throw!

Now if baby was older, say 2+, a suburban setting might be better, but at that age, plus the convenience factor for DH, I would go city all the way. In fact, I am jealous.

As for the walls question -- I am a firm believer in training baby to sleep in all noise and light conditions. I never did blackout curtains or white noise machines or made the dog or visitors be quiet when baby was sleeping -- IMO this creates better sleep habits long-term, so I wouldn't even think twice about the wall issue. But other posters had great suggestions if you did want to address the issue.

My husband and I both sooo agree with this. We have some couple friends whose children must have absolute silence to sleep. They'll have us over and the wife will give my husband a death-stare if his jovial conversation exceeds a certain noise level.

TristaD81 · March 2011

theluckiestduo:

I'm sorry I can't weigh in on the loft living but I'd pick the city! I'm a city girl and get scared when I go into the 'burbs.

LOL - me too!

chocoholicchick · March 2011

Team city loft. Like a few other pps, I'm a city girl and love that type of environment. I would look into putting up temporary walls just to have some privacy though.

sarahanderic2009 · March 2011

It depends on what city....

MrsCase1 · March 2011

if money is an option, go for the cheaper location. if it is not, i would say got for the loft! it will only be for a year and you can buy a partition for the bedrooms. this will be the least mobile time for baby so why not enjoy it in a sexy, fun locale?

growingmybun · March 2011

We live in a city loft and LOVE it. It's also nice to have your husband close by with a baby in case you ever need him to come home during lunch or something.

damabo80 · March 2011

I would opt for the downtown living space, soley for the reason to cut down his commute.

However, an open loft style isn't very good for a baby. This means that if the baby is napping, then you can't watch TV, run the blender, etc.

Are there ANY other 2 bedroom options downtown? Maybe one with walls, perhaps?

johnsonia · March 2011

If it were me, I would choose the townhouse.

Also consider being new in an area.... It might be easier to meet people, other new moms & families living in a city (not sure how many playmates you'll do in a year, but...)

Mom2forrest · March 2011

downtown loft! You will be much less isolated and suberbs can be pretty boring with a newborn imo. Plus hubby will be right there if you need help and you can always visit him for lunch etc.

hcdekarske · March 2011

I am a city gal and we live downtown...but just recently, July last year. We lived in the 'burbs for years in a nice home with a huge yard....and no, I wouldn't go back. I hated it.

I love that we can walk anywhere, I love that I can take my baby out when she comes and walk to parks everywhere, places to eat, shop, museums, etc.

Seeing how the loft is "open" I can see your concern, but I look at it this way, you plan to be there a year, right? And I know that many mommies plan to have their babies in bassinets for the first few months (if not longer) so will the "lack" of walls matter?

hcdekarske · March 2011

Gummybear:

I would pick the city loft. if you will be there for only one year, chances are baby won't even be walking yet (or much) by the time you leave. I think living in the city is ideal with an infant! You could take walks all over with the stroller, you wouldn't even need a car. There would be restaurants and parks and small shopping areas all within a stone's throw!

Now if baby was older, say 2+, a suburban setting might be better, but at that age, plus the convenience factor for DH, I would go city all the way. In fact, I am jealous.

As for the walls question -- I am a firm believer in training baby to sleep in all noise and light conditions. I never did blackout curtains or white noise machines or made the dog or visitors be quiet when baby was sleeping -- IMO this creates better sleep habits long-term, so I wouldn't even think twice about the wall issue. But other posters had great suggestions if you did want to address the issue.

Great point!! ITA!!!

Want a personalized experience?

Downtown Loft or Suburban Condo?

Re: Downtown Loft or Suburban Condo?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards