Space Saving Tips

One of the biggest downsides, I mean challenges, to living in an urban area, is living in a small space. And that challenge grows exponentially as your family expands. Here are some tips and ideas to help as you add little ones, but not square footage, to your home.

Double Duty.

Choose baby and child items that perform have multiple uses. For example, buy a dresser/changing table combo, instead of a freestanding changing table. Or a crib with storage underneath (also consider a crib that converts to a toddler bed for longer life). You can also skip the bassinet (and having to store it when you infant quickly grows out of it) by having your newborn sleep in a portable play yard that has a bassinet attachment. Then you can use the play yard for its intended purpose, or as a travel crib. In fact, I know a mom of 16-month-old twins, who still has them in a pack and play… two cribs just could not fit in the nursery!

Unconventional items.

Hook-on high chairs are sold as travel gear, but skip the high chair (and the footprint it takes up) and use this as your main feeding seat. You can even hook it onto a breakfast nook if your apartment is too small for a kitchen table. You can also take this along for travel, or to a city restaurant that otherwise does not have high chairs!

And did you know there exists such a thing as a mini-crib? These are about 40” by 40”, perfect for a small nursery, or to use as a second crib while an older sibling is outgrowing the larger one.

Buy used and pass it on.

This is a great tip for anyone who wants to save money! For baby/child items with a short life span, buy a gently used item for a fraction of the price, and when your child outgrows it, pass it on to a friend, neighbor or stranger. For example, we bought a used Jumperoo for $25. My son loved it from 6-10 months of age. Once he grew out of it, I passed it on to a neighbor. If we choose to have a second child, I plan to purchase another one for $25-$35 (and will probably get a newer, used item). In total, I will have spent less than the $84 the jumper originally cost. And I did not have to store the item in the interim.

Kids, especially babies, seem to need so much stuff, but when you live in a small space it forces you to only invest in the essentials. Any maybe that isn’t such a bad thing!