Reader/mom/activist ChilangaMama wrote in with some great tips for living with a baby or toddler in a small space:
• Skip the changing table; all you need is a pad
• Skip the glider
• Skip bulky opaque storage: it's not very kid-friendly
• Limit toys by rotating items in and out to storage (this also keeps up interest)
• FLOR tiles make for easy mess cleanup (see this post for another POV)
• Avoid loose cushions: you'll constantly be putting them back on the sofa
• Remove the coffee table until 30 months to avoid injuries
• Don't buy stuffed animals; you'll get plenty as gifts
• Both breast-feeding and co-sleeping help save space: no need to store bottles and formula; no need for separate baby quarters
• Keep a bag around for clothes as they're outgrown. When full, pass along to a friend!
Thanks ChilangaMama!
Image: Angela
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To expand on ChilangaMama's suggestions, many attachment/natural parenting practices are awesome for small space living. I have 2 kids under 3 years old and we've lived happily without cribs, kids' rooms, high chairs, bulky strollers, and bottles and accessories. We make space for great items like "The Learning Tower" that make it easy for the kids to be involved in cooking (educational and helps me get dinner on the table) but we skip the mountains of junky plastic toys. Things are bought with play value in mind: our great IKEA Hissbro leather couch/bed is a plaything because it has a nook underneath and can be jumped on.