If babies aren’t expensive enough, I live in Kodiak, Alaska, home of the highest rent in the state of Alaska. My partner and I can’t afford to rent a two bedroom apartment, so we are forced to make due with our almost 8-month-old daughter in a 400 square-foot one bedroom. It’s a tight squeeze and certainly not ideal, but it’s doable (for now). Here are some tips on how to survive in a one bedroom apartment with your infant:
Skip the Crib
I bought a Pack n Play. Not only are they half the cost of a crib, but they’re smaller and portable. We purchased one with a removable bassinet which was convenient for when she was younger. When we had the bassinet attached, I even took advantage of the empty space below the bassinet and stored diapers down there! The Pack n Play sits right up against the side of our bed. When Lilly starts to stir in the middle of the night, sometimes I can just roll over, pat her back, and she falls back to sleep. Score!
Bed Risers
We bought some bed risers to elevate our bed off the floor. This gave us lots of extra storage space for clutter around the house. We store some of Lilly’s clothes she hasn’t grown into yet under the bed.
Get a Changing Table with Drawers
Our changing table doubles as Lilly’s dresser/diaper organizer. Our closet is PACKED with our clothes, totes, file drawers, etc. so Lilly needed a dresser of her own for storing clothes…and this was perfect!
Rubbermaid Containers
Rubbermaid containers are your best friend. You can shove whatever you want in there to the brim, snap the lid on, and neatly stack stuff in your closet, under the bed, etc.
Spring Cleaning
Get rid of any unnecessary items laying around your house. I sold a treadmill that hadn’t been used in over a year and that was sitting in our tiny living room taking up precious space. You’d be surprised how much unused, untouched, or unnecessary items you have laying around your house.
Acceptance
Accept the fact that you will probably be “that mom” who lets her living room become overridden by baby toys. I mean, give yourself a break. Where else will they go? There’s no “baby room” to store all of them, the living room IS the baby room! I do have a toy box (well, it’s actually a Rubbermaid, haha!) that I keep filled to the brim with all of Lilly’s toys, but during the daytime your living room may look like a mine field of baby items.
So far, living in a one bedroom apartment with a baby has been doable for my partner and I. I can’t vouch for what it will be like when she becomes a toddler, we may have to become even more creative. I will keep you folks updated when we get that far! Until then, enjoy your oh-so-cozy abode with your baby!
