I absolutely love city living and that feeling when you walk outside your door and everything is at your fingertips! Everyone warned me that once I had a baby that I would move out to the suburbs as quick as possible. I knew babies came with a lot of stuff, but I was determined to make it work. Below are a few of my tips on living in an apartment with a baby, or really for anyone looking to simplify their life with little ones!
1. Keep baby registry to the basics.
It’s so easy to get caught up in wanting to get the same onesie in 10 different colors because it’s *just so cute*. I remember when I found out I was pregnant and looked at sample registries, I immediately cried from feeling so overwhelmed.
There are definitely things you can wait to purchase until you meet the baby, but I recommend sticking to the basics to start. Here are my top 3 products that I would say are necessary and will 100% be put to use while living in an apartment with a baby:
- Diaper Backpack: It can be used by both mom and dad, so you only need one! It fits so much, and you use it for years. I even used it when I was pregnant because it’s so comfortable and cute!
- Multi-Use Cover: I used mine every day during the infant stage. They also roll up small, so it doesn’t take up much space.
- Infant Bath Towel: I’d much rather have one quality towel than 5 of the smaller thin ones that don’t absorb anything. Take it from someone who made that mistake the first time around ;)
2. Rotate toys in and out.
living in an apartment with a baby requires some rotation. You know how when you start cleaning stuff out, ALL the kids want to do is play with the toys in the “donate” box? Yep. So what I do is fill 2 plastic bins with toys that haven’t been played with in a while (but are still loved) and put them in our storage closet. The goal is to bring them out in a few months, and they will seem like new again. This keeps the clutter at a minimum in your living space while also not having to keep buying new toys!
3. Facebook Marketplace.
It’s easy to become attached to the things that your baby has outgrown. But if you don’t have a need for it and you're living in an apartment with a baby, I say sell it! I wanted to try a Jumperoo but knew that with such little space, it needed to be something she loved. I felt more at ease by purchasing one for $20 on Facebook Marketplace and then selling it when she had outgrown it.
I also knew I wouldn’t feel guilty if she didn’t like it and it didn’t have to sit in my living room after she was done with it! I do live in a very populated area where Facebook Marketplace is always popping, so I realize it could be different for other cities.
4. Organize and purge.
This one seems like a no-brainer but it’s crazy how much I seem to accumulate every time I do a deep clean. I set a reoccurring Google calendar reminder for once a season to do a big clean out. I only keep things that have a function and place to belong. Not because “someday” I’ll use it. There is likely someone who could use it now, and if you read tip #3, it’s pretty easy to score some cash and have it picked up ASAP!
Living in an apartment with a baby also takes a little more organization. I usually get very creative with organizational bins and storage solutions for our closets to maximize every inch of space. I am definitely one of those people who gets a thrill when walking into The Container Store. I’d love to hear any of your organizational tips for tight spaces with kiddos too!
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