Preparing a new room for baby is always challenging, but especially so if you are living in a small space. Here are some tips for carving out some special spaces for baby in your home.
Where will the baby sleep?
In a small apartment there is little space for an actual nursery. The AAP recommends that babies breastfeed for at least the first 6 months. To make it easier, many families are choosing various ways of sharing a bedroom with their babies. Co-sleeping or the family bed is an option some choose. Other parents wish to have their own sleeping space while still having baby nearby and choose to sidecar either a bassinet or a crib to their bed. Some parents go a step further and find a corner of the bedroom for baby's crib, a comfortable place to sit for feedings, and a dresser. If baby is going to share your room, a sibling's room, or a guest room, you can find smaller cribs or cribs that have drawers attached. Some parents have even discovered that their walk-in closet was a perfect place for baby's crib, nice and dark to help promote longer sleep, and still really close for night-time feedings.
Where will baby get dressed and where will you keep the clothes?
One of the biggest space challenges when it comes to making room for baby furniture is having a separate dresser and changing table. Many parents are purchasing a contoured changing pad that can attach to the top of a lower dresser, then using the dresser to store everything, keeping diaper changing things in the top drawer, and clothes in the lower drawers. If you're really tight on space, you can clean out a drawer in your own dresser for baby's things, and just keep the changing pad on the floor under the crib or your own bed.
Where will baby play?
At first, baby doesn't need much other than the loving arms of her caregiver, but as she grows, you will need to make room for baby to play in your home. Designate the lowest shelves of your bookcases for her own books, and a basket or two of toys. Keep a few larger baby blankets on hand to lay on the floor to give her a soft clean space to play with those toys.
Other space saving ideas...
Instead of a huge stroller that takes up valuable space, try a few different slings and baby carriers. They take up much less space, and baby has a better view of what's going on in her new world. Instead of a big glider rocker, get a comfy recliner that rocks. Look for something that will go with the rest of your furniture and still fit in your small space.