I have a 1 1/2 yr. old son and I would love another baby, but I'm worried we don't have room. We have a 2 bedroom small townhome that has been up for sale with not even one person interested. If we are going to expand our family, how do we make it work????
I guess I should say, we are emotionally and financially ready. I'm just wondering how others did it with limited space. Our reason for selling is we want more room. It's nothing financial.
Thanks for the input so far!
How do you make it work? --You just do-- It will all work itself out. If you are ready, go for it.
Kids can share a room....
Do not even worry about the space issue until the kids are in grade school or even older- it does all work out. I too live in a 2 bedroom townhouse with a 2.5 year old and a 2 month old and it really works out also one is a boy the other a girl. The baby is still co sleeping with me right now, but there is a crib in my son's room and he sleeps in a full sized bed. We had to half their closet spce and put a dresser in there while the other dresser that is a changing table is in the room. I shared a room with my sister until we both moved out after college- it really all does work out!!!!!
JB...Your living space is the least of your worries and you probably have more then many young families who already have 2 - 4 children. When you and your husband are ready to start on baby # 2, you will both know. Until you are both in agreement, you are not ready.
Blessings....
A 2 bed house is not too bad , could you fit bunk beds in it , or a bed and a crib? If you are selling because you want something bigger and not because of financial reasons then why not have another kid if that is what you want. Only you and your husband will know if/when is the right time , yes they are expensive but you manage , we have 3 kids and sometimes we are a little short of cash and are holding out for payday but were not starving , bills are paid and the kids are clothed , we just have to sometimes not go out for dinner or get that take out.
Only you can make the decision if you are right or not.
But, one question that came to mind reading your question, do you need to sell your house financially? If it doesn't sell, can you afford a second child?
Just like Karma said, people do it and make it work all the time. If you are ready, I'd say do it.
Go for it, if worse comes to worse you could sublet your townhome or use it as rental property. The economy will eventually pick up again and you could loose money if it sold now.
The baby can sleep in your room for a while if you're comfortable with that. We kept the litte ones in our room, it was bigger by far, for a long time, first in a bassinet then the baby bed when room was limited. The kids can always share until they are older too.
I don't think we're ever ready, but you shouldn't stop trying. That's why God gives us 9 months :) And your place will sell... it just takes time and if you had to have a crib in your room for the first 6 mos that's always an option so the other little one isn't disturbed.
We have been renting in Chicago for 2 years, b/c we couldn't sell our home in CA. We never meant to be renting for this long, but our youngest is still in a crib in our room and my daughter has the second room. I don't think young kids mind sharing space. You have a good 5 years before worrying about having enough room for the second child.
Have you expressed this with your husband.
We have a 2 bedroom with 2 kids and it works just fine. Kids dont care about their own room. Only parents think they should have their own room. It took a couple days for the kids to get used to each others sounds but very quickly they started sleeping through them. I've literally had one or the other out and out screaming and the other slept through.
on the other side, I grew up only ever having 2 bedrooms with my brother, mom & dad. For years I shared a room with my brother. Right before he hit puberty, he got his own room and I shared a room with my mom. (my parents had divorced) I think sharing makes kids have to learn to get along and share. Its not like you can just close your bedroom door.
It definitely does not occur to my almost 3 yr old that she should have her own room. My kids are 2 yrs and 3 months apart in age.
We have two boys 19 months apart in a two bedroom town home. When I found out I was pregnant with the second, I was determined to sell our town home, but it just wasn't in the cards for us. We turned a loft area into a space for the younger one until he was sleeping through the night and then he moved in to his brother's room. They seem to like having each other at night and in the mornings they entertain and comfort each other. I say stick it out and sell your place in a year or two or five depending on when the housing economy rebounds. Unless you can bring money to the closing and make up for it on the purchasing end. We owe to much money between student, car and personal loans (a wedding and two children in two years (two unpaid maternity leaves) and a recession are the reasons we will stay put so we can pay off our debt and start saving before we try to move. Good luck with your decision!
There is no reason why the kids can't share a room, is there?
I wouldn't let space hold you back. I have a friend who lives in a two bedroom condo in the Boston area. Her kids are 18 months apart and have always shared a room(they are almost 6 and 4). The baby can sleep in your room until sleep is more consistent. They'll never know the difference! And hopefully in the meantime the market will improve and you'll find a seller!
Yes you are!!!!!!!! If the only concern you have is space I would just go for it. I have 2 girls (2 and 1/2 years apart). I was going to have my kids even closer in age but I miscarried a baby between my 2 girls. It was hard at the beginning tending to two small children and holding a job, but now that the girls are 4 and 6 I see what wonderful friends they've become. They play, they laugh they teach one another. I can't imagine them not having each other. My husband and I are blessed with a beautiful 5 bedroom home. And guess what? When we finished remodeling and I asked the girls to pick out their rooms, they pleaded be put together in one room! Now they've been sharing a bedroom for 2 years and they absolutely love it! I hear them tell each other secrets and giggle at night before they fall asleep. My older daughter usually reads a book before going to sleep. She chooses to read aloud, so that her sister can listen too. I have to tell you, out of the entire 5 bedroom house, we really just use just two bedrooms! So there you have it. A two bedroom house is more than enough space for a family of 4. Good luck! : )
ps. One space saver tip I would recommend to anyone is Moosehead Furniture beds (you can google the company and its distributors). It is the most wonderfully USA-made solid wood bed that is worth every penny. The under-bed storage is the biggest and sturdiest one I've seen anywhere (and I really did my homework). I put all my girls' clothes, linnens and other things in there and they don't even need a dresser. That's all that's in their bedroom - 2 beds and a little side table. That is all they really need in there. I turned the other spare bedrooms into a guest bedroom, kids playroom, and an office (in case you were wondering what the heck I'm doing with all these spare bedrooms). Again, good luck and don't hesitate! A sibling that is also a close friend is the best gift you can give to your beloved child.
I currently live in a 2BR townhouse and have 2 kids. I am pregnant with #3 due in October. Our house is on the market also but have only had 2 showings.
It will all work itself out in the end. Your kids can share a bedroom and baby will be in your room for a little while anyway.
Good luck.
I just wanteed to say that you can make it work even with limited space. We lived in a 2 bedroom apartment with 3 kids. The room had bunkbeds on one side and a crib on the other. Yes, it was a little cramped and tight, but by limiting buying things we don't need we made it work. It IS possible! It helps to have a well organized room too. It may not always be clean, but at least there is a place for everything when it is put away.
btw, we have a 4 yr old girl, a 3 yr. old boy and a (now) 8 month old boy. My personal feelings are boy/girl at this age it doesn't matter. As my daughter is getting older we are looking for a place where she can have her own room w/o the boys. Also, when baby was first born he was in our room in a pack n play bassinet for the first 3 months anyway!
My older 2 girls are just shy of 2 years apart and have always shared a room. It really works better than you think.
Don't worry! The kids can always share a room. My little guy was in a pack n play in my room for the first 6 mos. and just moved into his crib in my 4 y/o daughter's room. There were little growing pains at first but nothing big. Not everyone has the luxury of having multiple bedrooms so that all kids have their own room and somehow we all make it work - my parents did and I loved sharing a room w/ my sisters :) Good luck!
The baby will probably be in your room for a couple of months or more. That gives you over 10 months to sell your house and move if that's what you really want to do! And that's if you get pg this minute. They can share a room if you want the baby out of your room. I love the fact that my kids are close in age and will be able to be friends easily. My husband's younger brother is 7 years younger, and they don't feel like they grew up together at all!
