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Should we stay or should we go? Apartment living

lizerspitzlizerspitz member
in June 2017 Moms
I live in an expensive metropolitan area and have lived in the same one bedroom apartment for the past three years. We have been looking at renting a two bedroom when the baby comes (before or after is currently up for debate). We live without a dishwasher and washer dryer within our unit.

It is cheaper to move to another one bedroom with washer dryer and dishwasher than it is to get a 2 bedroom. However, I have just been completely overwhelmed with making a decision, and if we can't find a comparable 1 bedroom with more space for baby, I think we are going to end up staying put. For us, budget is a big factor in making this decision, but convenience is starting to get more points on the "need" column of the pros and cons list.

Is anyone else going through the "should we move or stay" debate? What are your feelings on waiting to move vs moving pretty much last month? What is impacting your decision to move? 
Married 8/12
MC 4/15
BFP 10/10/16



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Re: Should we stay or should we go? Apartment living

  • XathXath member
    We're moving in August for job reasons; we also moved here when DS2 was 6months old.  The stressful part of moving with a baby is making important decisions while sleep deprived; I found that hiring movers is completely worth it.

    In terms of the 1br, newborns don't need much space and the current guidelines advise rooming in for the first year.  In that respect I wouldn't feel the need to move just yet. (I've also seen super adorable nurseries from converted walk-in closets). But not having a W/D in unit would be a major deal killer for me.  Laundry is a constant with kids.  
    Lilypie - Personal picture Lilypie - Personal picture Lilypie - Personal picture 
     DS1 - 7/2011, DD 12/2012, DS2 - 4/2014, MMC - 12/2015
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  • awillis13awillis13 member
    When DS was a baby I lived in a condo that had coin op laundry in the building but not a washer/dryer in my unit.  It was such a pain, especially when the machines were shut off from 10pm-8am and he would puke or have a poop blowout in the middle of the night and I couldn't immediately get that soaking in the laundry.

    we are looking to move soon, because we have a 2 bedroom now but we already have 2 kids sharing the 2nd bedroom.  I actually just found out an old friend (actually my old babysitter and my current hair stylist) has bought a new house that she and her husband are renovating, and when it's done (around June) she will be renting out her half of her duplex (which is a 3br).  We are trying to see if we can make the increased rent costs work for our budget.
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  • lovesclimbinglovesclimbing member
    Budget considerations are more important than having a two-bedroom in my opinion. H and I are moving into what will likely be a one bedroom (no decision yet, but most two bedrooms are more than we want to pay). The baby doesn't need their own bedroom. My sister and her family (two kids) are still living in a one bedroom. Is it ideal? Maybe not, but it's certainly doable and not what I would consider a hardship. 

    I don't think a dishwasher is necessary, but I would be hard pressed to move into or stay in a place without a washer and dryer, even without a child. I had enough of that in college. 
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  • CurlyMommy416CurlyMommy416 member
    We lived in an apartment without a washer/dryer when DD was an infant.  Just make sure you have lots of quarters and I didn't really think it was that big of a deal.
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  • silliegirlie143silliegirlie143 member
    There are lots of things we've done without over the years and many more things we decided were worth the added cost:

    proximity to a grocery store topped the list

    access to laundry came in a close 2nd

    Having adequate in-apt storage was big for us so was availability of parking

    Also had to have a decent kitchen since we cook from home a lot.

    DD roomed in with us for the first 2 years. Having her own room was more of a storage space.


    Those were our must-haves...

    I married a dishwasher... I call him the Mr. HA! We still don't use our dishwasher. The only reason we leave it in is because people will expect to have it when we sell.


    Good luck with making your own list of must haves and seeing if the cost makes sense to you!!



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  • shmarplershmarpler member
    I have a different living situation, but DD1 slept in my room until she was almost 1, even though though she had her own room. I wouldn't worry about trying to rush into a new place. Even now, she sleeps in our room whenever we have overnight company and it works out just fine.
    Married 8/29/09
    MC: 9/14
    Goober #1 born: 8/17/15
    MC: 9/16
    Goober # 2 EDD: 6/27/17
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  • Moore2love2014Moore2love2014 member
    Is buying a option for you? I would look into it. Renting is so expensive and a waste of money when it all comes down to it. We bought our first home last summer, and it has a saved us so much in the long run. Hope you can figure something out soon! 
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  • Kylieslip24Kylieslip24 member
    We thought about moving before baby or after. We have a 2 bedroom, but have a dd and are having a ds. We decided to wait and save up to buy. The goal is to be ready by his first birthday. We are pretty comfy with a dishwasher and laundry though, just short on space. 
    With dd we had a 1 bedroom with no laundry and no dishwasher. Dhs amazing parents bought us a washer and dryer about a month before dds arrival. It was a total necessity as we are cloth diaperers. We lived with out a dishwasher until last year when out landlord at our place now got us one. This wasn't a big deal because we don't use pacis or bottles at all. 
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  • anitamargarita_82anitamargarita_82 member
    I've always lived in apartments with a w/d and dishwasher.  When I moved into my hubs bachelor pad house he doesn't have a dishwasher.   I hate it.   It's such a pain.  Maybe I'm just spoiled I don't know.  I think ultimately you should do what's best for your financial situation.  Finances will always trump space in my book. But if you could get into a comparable apt with w/d and dishwasher I would do it personally.  
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  • JessyKVJessyKV member
    We didn't have a dishwasher in our first house and it didn't really bother me at all baby wise.  I soaked and hand washes all bottles and pump parts anyway.  Still did after we moved.  So I don't think that is a big deal.

    I also kept both of my kids in our room for 4-5 months but could have a lot longer so I don't think the 1 bedroom is a big deal either.

    Not having a washer and dryer would suck a little with blow outs and leaky boobs but if you can't find something in your budget with one then I would Just stay put until you are really ready to move and the perfect place comes along.  One baby really doesn't need much space! 
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  • mombodmombod member
    I think the laundry is a bigger issue than the diahwasher. I always hand washed bottles anyway bc I think they come out cleaner. The laundry if its in your building probably isnt a huge deal unless you are cloth diapering. We did laundry probably twice a week. To me budget stress is far worse than convenience issues.
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  • ladylolly89ladylolly89 member
    I would be more bothered by not having a washer/dryer than by not having a dishwasher. I rather enjoy washing dishes and don't mind bottle parts (even Dr. Brown's!). I usually hand wash all bottle parts, anyway.
    We cloth diaper so a washer/dryer in the home is almost a must for us.
    It is also nice to be able to soak blowout baby clothing, but as PPs have mentioned, totally possible to do that in the sink as well. 
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  • doodleoodledoodleoodle member
    I agree with the sentiments about not having a washer/dryer. I always hand washed or boiled bottles too. When a blowout happens I would just wash the clothes/blanket/changing cover effected immediately. It's just so much easier (and less stinky). I wouldn't stress too much about only having one bedroom just yet. If baby has trouble sleeping in the same room with you when they get a little older you can always put a pack n play in another room. If once the baby arrives and you feel like your apartment is bursting at the seams and you just have to move, then I would say the younger the baby the easier the move will be, as long as you have dependable childcare. Newborns sleep like 90% of the day and so packing will be relatively easy. Older babies need constant attention and are mobile and into everything. 
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  • email2ashemail2ash member
    We decided to wait and move when DS was 10 months old. It wasn't space as much as we weren't in the town or home we wanted to grow a family in. We also wanted to move closer to family after having him. It wasn't bad even with a 10 month old and a house worth of stuff so if you are on the fence, I would wait until your decision feels more clear. There is nothing worse than having to move twice in a short period of time because you didn't love the place you moved to!
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