small(ish) house & rapidly growing family - help me figure this out!!

[TheGirls]

OK, so I live in a house which I love - about 1000 square feet, 3 bedrooms (two medium sized, one small), 1 full bath, 1 tiny half bath (in the basement), decent sized kitchen, living room, dining room, and an extra room that we're finishing in the basement.

Right now, there are 3 of us (me, DP, 2yo DD). However, DP is pregnant with twins! So soon we'll have 5 in our family. Plus my SIL is coming to stay with us for a few months around when the twins will be arriving. I'm looking forward to her help, but I'm a little overwhelmed at organizing this house around twice as many people as it holds now. It doesn't help that everyone keeps telling me that this house is too small even for two adults and three kids - most don't know about SIL yet. Everybody keeps asking if we're moving or putting on an addition soon.

Anyhow, I don't want to move, and I can't afford an addition, so it is what it is for now. We have TONS of outdoor storage space (3 outbuildings), plus an attic and a little room for storage in the basement. Each bedroom has a small closet, plus a linen closet upstairs and a coat closet downstairs. That's pretty much it for storage.

DD sleeps on a full in the tiny bedroom, DP on a queen with a sidecarred crib in one of the larger bedrooms. I split my time between them. The twins will cosleep with DP for at least a year. So SIL will get the other bedroom. SIL has a TON of stuff, but knows she's gonna have to cut back. We plan to offer her that space, plus a shelf in the bathroom, and whatever doesn't fit can be stored elsewhere (in non-living space).

Right now we have 1 dresser for my clothes, 1 dresser for DD's clothes 1 armoire for DP's clothes, and 1 closet each! We desperately need to purge clothes. Drastically purge. None of us are attached to clothes really, just haven't gotten to it...

We also will need a changing area and somewhere to store diapers (currently in a laundry basket on the floor). DD is still in diapers, so I may have 3 in diapers this winter. We do 100% cloth diapers. The bathroom is not large enough to hold a changing area, so it'll have to be in a bedroom, I think...

Alright, that is a novel, I'm sorry. I'm really overwhelmed. I mostly need reassurance that it can work and someone to help me figure out where to start. There's a TON to do, and DP is constantly exhausted (working FT plus pregnant with twins...) so I really need to handle this as best I can on my own.

Also, I'd like to keep the expenses minimal - but I'm good at craigslist for dressers and such.

[gmvh]

Wow! My first thought is something we did for our twins - we had a dresser with a fold out changing table (Ikea) in our living room and just kept all baby-related stuff in there. We'd take a diaper or two upstairs for middle of the night changes but otherwise, the dresser held it all. My children are b/g but we primarily had gender-neutral baby clothes so the dresser was fairly small - a drawer of diapering stuff and two drawers of clothes/sleepers.

Good luck! You'll find a way to make it work; sounds like you've some getting rid of clothes you'd like to do and that should make things feel more spacious.

[ParisApril]

Congratulations on the new additions!

My first thought was is there any way SIL could stay in a room in the basement? Then you would have an extra room upstairs to store all the baby stuff.

We live in 850 sq/ft 2 bed, 1 bath and when we had DS we kept his clothes in a dresser in the living room. He slept with us and we changed him on a change pad on the floor.

I think living in that space is totally doable you just have to purge and limit what comes into the house. Less is more.

[butterflies]

Watching this thread and will be taking notes! We have a similar challenge... 3 br apt with 2 dc and soon 2 babies. We have a good sized kitchen, but no separate dining room and only an unfinished, shared basement storage space. We actually filled our half bath with shelving and use it as another storage area.
Right now, the big kids share a room with bunk beds and currently neither one wants a separate room-- not sure how long that can last though. And we have a foreign exchange student using the 3rd bedroom. We get some much-needed extra income from hosting students but it probably won't be feasible in the fall. We plan to move in about 2 years but we don't really want to move before that.

[34me]

Take a deep breath. It is definitely do-able. Our house is 969 sq feet, three small bedrooms, no basement, 1 car garage. We are a family of 5 - 2 parents and 11, 14 and 16 yo kids + 85lb and 45 lb dogs

[TheGirls]

Thanks all. I do like the downstairs changing table idea - we just schlepped DD up the stairs for each diaper change, but getting all three of them up there for a gobzillion diaper changes a day would be a nightmare.... Maybe actually aa changing table in the basement room - I suspect we'll be down there a lot.

We considered putting SIL down there (it has it's own bathroom) but decided she'd be better off upstairs. The basement has no other way out in case of fire except one small narrow staircase and I have to go through the finished room to get to my laundry room. I'm not thiinking SIL will appreciate that at 5-6am when I usually do laundry. Especially since it's going to be like 4-5x a week now with 3 in diapers...

[zoebird]

it can totally work, so no worries!

It looks like you really only have one task: to purge clothes. So, i would focus on that.

Next task is to look at a changing area. now, i just used the floor (we EC, but used diapers for back up), and i had a basket that had a towel in it (to put on the floor to change the baby), clean dipes, clean wipes and a small bottle with water in it (to moisten wipes if needed), and a small dirty bucket to put dirties in.

essentially, when i had a miss, i would put DS on the towel, and then change him in the normal way. i would remove the diaper and put it in the bucket, and wipe him down and put the wipe in the bucket (cloth wipes). then i would pull out a clean dipe and put it on him.

once that was done, i would take the dirty dipe to the bathroom or laundry room to rinse it, and then put it in the soaking bucket or into the wash (if i was going to do a load of dipes/wipes anyway) that was in the laundry room.

what i liked about the basket is that i could move it. if i was downstairs, i could bring the basket down. if i was up, i could bring it up. it was easy.

a friend of mine liked my basket idea (i just used a large-ish basket that i had), so she did the same but found an old picnic basket for hers. so that was cool.

[ChildoftheMoon]

We use a basket of diapers too, this way it is portable and takes up very little space. We are soon to be 7 in 1100 square feet (no attic or basement, just house room that includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, laundry, living, dining, kitchen). We use no baby furniture- crib or changing table or swing, bathtub, etc. We just don't have the space. I don't feel like I am missing anything though. I would love a bit more living space, but I love my cozy, easy to clean house, and the kids are happy. You can get creative with storage placement. Removing doors from closets and rooms that you don't close doors to helped with space (we hung up curtains instead).

I think you can make it work. Moving furniture and purging and thinking of new ways to use the furniture and storage make a big difference.
Best of luck!

[StrawberryFields]

Chiming in to say you can totally do it!! Especially if you purge clothes. I wouldn't even be stressed about the situation at all, it sounds like there will be PLENTY of room for everyone! We have 5 in our family and we are just a hair over 900 square feet, with three bedrooms and one super tiny bathroom. Just to give an idea, dh and I share one closet, and dd (2 yrs) and ds (4 yrs) share one dresser (PJs, underwear and pants) and a clothes pole (shirts). The baby's clothes are all in one small dresser. Having less clothes totally cuts down on the laundry too, which is really important in a family of 5!

I change the kids on the couch, floor, etc. On the top of the baby's dresser is a fabric bin with the diapers and wipes in it. I also used an all day wetbag instead of a diaper pail and hung it in the shower or on a doorknob. Portable, takes up less space, etc.

Good luck and congrats!

[3 little birds]

I think your situation sounds do-able! We are 7, soon to be 8 in a 1100 square foot 2/1 (no garage, basement or attic). We have twins that share a dresser and we utilize daybeds, bunkbeds, wallspace and we don't keep anything that isn't essential. Congrats on the twins!

[sagewinna]

We have heard for years that our house is too small for us. I start thinking it might be, then I remember how fast I can clean it. We have 1195 sq ft, 4 small bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room and kitchen/dining area.

I kept a basket with a changing pad, diapers, etc in the living room and changed the baby on the floor or couch.

I keep off season clothes in storage bins in the garage and I sort through the kids' clothes 3-4 times a year, as the weather changes. I store a lot of things under the beds, too. Most closets have shelves we installed instead of hanging space and we use storage bins with no lids to hold clothing instead of dressers for some of us.

[mkksmom]

I like the portable diaper area idea as well. With my oldest, we had the pack n play set up downstairs and used it for diaper storage and changes, but I gave it away. I ended up doing most diaper changes on the floor this time around. My brother has twins, and my xSIL definitely did most of the changes on the floor. It was just easier with 2 because she could still have the baby who was not being changed at the moment right next to her. Now things did get interesting once they were mobile and wanting to "help" with changes, but if you have a basket, you can at least put that up high. I learned really fast to put the used diaper up right away too. LOL!

[TheGirls]

I'm thinking a changing basket might work, though I guess the real issue is where to put the diaper pail. We never had a change table for DD but we set up a pad on her dresser with her diaper pail nearby. No one slept in her room, of course, so no one had to smell it if it got stinky (which it usually isn't, but sometimes...)

Maybe I should just put the pail in the laundry room and use a wetbag during the day. Actually, maybe I should just pack a (huge) diaper bag every morning and use that. It would make going out more possible... Hmm....

So, next question, how do you get from one floor to the next with twins? There is no bathroom on my main floor and my 2yo still needs a hand getting up the stairs, and we have a 60lb doofus of a dog who I have to keep from knocking anyone down the stairs. How do I do this with two babies? Multiple trips? I think I'm going to need somewhere safe to put down a baby or two on each floor (baasement, main floor, and upstairs) But I don't want to take up a ton of space with cribs or playpens. And on the floor is in both doggie and toddler range... Any good ideas for small safe baby holders?

I'm thinking of moving the crib to the basement for that purpose, and the bed should work upstairs. But what on the main floor?
Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

[Usually Curious]

Originally Posted by TheGirls

I'm thinking a changing basket might work, though I guess the real issue is where to put the diaper pail. We never had a change table for DD but we set up a pad on her dresser with her diaper pail nearby. No one slept in her room, of course, so no one had to smell it if it got stinky (which it usually isn't, but sometimes...)

Maybe I should just put the pail in the laundry room and use a wetbag during the day. Actually, maybe I should just pack a (huge) diaper bag every morning and use that. It would make going out more possible... Hmm....

So, next question, how do you get from one floor to the next with twins? There is no bathroom on my main floor and my 2yo still needs a hand getting up the stairs, and we have a 60lb doofus of a dog who I have to keep from knocking anyone down the stairs. How do I do this with two babies? Multiple trips? I think I'm going to need somewhere safe to put down a baby or two on each floor (baasement, main floor, and upstairs) But I don't want to take up a ton of space with cribs or playpens. And on the floor is in both doggie and toddler range... Any good ideas for small safe baby holders?

I'm thinking of moving the crib to the basement for that purpose, and the bed should work upstairs. But what on the main floor?
Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

Pack n Play?

[TheGirls]

My issue with the Pack 'n Play is that the top bassinetts come with like a 15lb weight limit, and the main compartment is sooooo deep that I can't ever put, say, a sleeping baby all the way down there. For the pre-pulling up phase I'd really like something shallower. Something i could put 2 babes in at once would be a bonus...

[Ms. B. Sprout]

We live in 1200 SF (3 BR, 1 BA) and are going to have another baby sometime in the next 2 years. So we'll be a 5-person family, and we aren't moving.

What's essential for me is to have clean lines, empty spaces, & minimal stuff. Visually, I want to see as little stuff as possible, to create a peaceful (if false) feeling of spaciousness (empty corners, mostly empty tabletops, mantel, etc.). I try to keep a handle on piles of clutter, knick-knacky things, and the like.

I do this especially in the living room and dining room. If I have a clean, peaceful common area, then it doesn't matter quite so much if I have clothes piled on top of my dresser.

I am also, by necessity, a serial declutterer. If we aren't actively using it/wearing it/loving it, out the door it goes. For example, I keep only one drawer of clothes for my DD, and one drawer of clothes for my DS. Plus a sock-and-underwear drawer that they share. That's it. The rest goes out the door as they outgrow it or stop wearing it seasonally. All our clothes are secondhand and super cheap or free, so it's not a big deal to declutter them.

I also like to have very calm colors on the walls, too. Buttery yellow, sky blue, sagey green.

This doesn't help with the practical furniture arrangement end of things, but it is, for me and my personal taste, the foundation of living peacefully in a small space.

Congrats on all your babies!

[StrawberryFields]

Originally Posted by TheGirls

My issue with the Pack 'n Play is that the top bassinetts come with like a 15lb weight limit, and the main compartment is sooooo deep that I can't ever put, say, a sleeping baby all the way down there. For the pre-pulling up phase I'd really like something shallower. Something i could put 2 babes in at once would be a bonus...

My MIL has a mini crib at her house for the grandkids. Maybe something like that would work? I know she got hers second hand for like $20.

[leigh09]

i want to offer some reassurances. we are currently living in a 900 sq foot house, two bedrooms, 1 1/2 bath (the 1/2 bath is in the basement). there is me, dh, and three kids under four. we are a *touch!* squished and constantly, constantly have heard the "when are moving?". it's annoying and i totally sympathize with you.

how we've made it work, especially because we did not want our children sleeping in the basement (we feel they are too young): oldest ds and dd share a room. it is small and they nearly sleep on top of each other, but they don't seem to mind. me, dh, and baby also all share a room. the change table is in the main living area, but it is FREQUENTLY used so that is quite practical. maybe not so fashionable, but most people who visit also have small kids so can understand it's functional there. the basement is the main play area and loaded with the toys.

i also, as someone else described, attempt to be a serial declutter. i am a constant donater to charities. we just don't have space for storage.

[childsplay]

Originally Posted by TheGirls

I'm thinking a changing basket might work, though I guess the real issue is where to put the diaper pail. We never had a change table for DD but we set up a pad on her dresser with her diaper pail nearby. No one slept in her room, of course, so no one had to smell it if it got stinky (which it usually isn't, but sometimes...)

Maybe I should just put the pail in the laundry room and use a wetbag during the day. Actually, maybe I should just pack a (huge) diaper bag every morning and use that. It would make going out more possible... Hmm....

So, next question, how do you get from one floor to the next with twins? There is no bathroom on my main floor and my 2yo still needs a hand getting up the stairs, and we have a 60lb doofus of a dog who I have to keep from knocking anyone down the stairs. How do I do this with two babies? Multiple trips? I think I'm going to need somewhere safe to put down a baby or two on each floor (baasement, main floor, and upstairs) But I don't want to take up a ton of space with cribs or playpens. And on the floor is in both doggie and toddler range... Any good ideas for small safe baby holders?

I'm thinking of moving the crib to the basement for that purpose, and the bed should work upstairs. But what on the main floor?
Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

I used to keep our diaper pail on the back deck, right next to the door during the day and at night in the garage or bathroom. Would that work?

Also Fisher Price has these neat pod-like bassinete things that can comfortably fit two babies (I had one for my twins) . They fold up flat and even have a little carrying hande. The best thing about them though is they are covered, half is sunshade and the other is mesh, the 'roof' just zips together keeping the babies safe from bugs, sun, pets, other children etc.
I used to cart mine around to wherever I was in the house or in the yard and just pop them in if needed.

[mama to 2 girls]

Your situation is completely do-able. We are a family of five (me, dh and 3 kiddos 5 and under at the moment) and we live in a 650 sq. ft.(no not a typo ) house with no basement, no attic, no garage just a tiny kitchen, 1 tiny bathroom, a living room area and 2 bedrooms, one decent sized and the other tiny.

Dh and I gave up our bedroom for our girls and dh and I are on a sofa bed in the living room and ds is in the tiny room. Our girls share one big dresser in their room and they also have a small closet...... ds has his own dresser in his room and a small walk-in closet.....dh and I have everything that isn't pants or shorts related hanging up in ds's closet and then everything else folded on the shelf....we keep underwear and socks in a small plastic storage thing that has drawers. Towels are in 2 plastic storage bins in ds's closet on the floor and the girls have 2 sets of sheets each for their bunk beds and dh and I have one set of sheets that we put in a "under the bed" storage bin when we put the bed away in the morning.

I have found you have to be REALLY on top of things...i.e. I have to remember to get clothes and underwear and whatever else I might need for the night or morning if he doesn't wake right away out of his room before I put him to bed. And have to constantly evaluate to see what we can get rid of because we have room for nothing more than the bare essentials. The ONLY thing I think that keeps us from going completely insane is our nice big backyard, it really has been a savior.

I just change ds where ever I can but usually on the floor in his room. I have a small fabric bin that I keep his diaper and wipes in on his dresser top. We CD so I use a hanging wet bag which saves a lot of space.

I second what childsplay said, you just need something small that doesn't take up a whole lot of space. I never had the experience of twins but I always just used a small bouncy seat type thing for my kiddos, when I need somewhere to put them. I don't know about going from one floor to the next either, I guess taking them down one at a time would be best, with the dog and your other little one who still needs help.