https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 12 May 2026 13:32:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-866085 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:46:40 +0000 Pirouette 866085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bunnylove08: thanks! the RnP sounds like a good investment. I definitely like things that can lay flat - we have a decent amount of closet space, but i know it will disappear fast!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-865900 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:33:33 +0000 bunnylove08 865900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: We live in a one br in brooklyn and space is tight. I wanted just the necessary things. We got a crib, a used snap and go, rock and play sleeper, car seat, baby carrier and Uppa baby G-Luxe Stroller. </p> <p>We had DD sleep in the rNp for about a month, then we used it as a seat for her when we were in the living room. the great thing about the rNp is that it fold flat. </p> <p>the car seat and snap and go was used a lot. the snap and go also folds flat (huge plus) and was light enough to carry around. (we lived on the first floor but I had to carry it up the stairs once to a friend's apt.) when DD was about 4 months old we stopped using the snap and go and started to use the uppa baby G-luxe. its a light weight stroller and is pretty compact and stands on its own when folded. We also have an Ergo baby carrier and baby k'tan. The Ergo was not great for newborns because they recommend that you put them in his bulky infant insert. So i used the K'tan for the first 2 months then when she was bigger we switched her to the Ergo. </p> <p>we also used a regular dresser and put a changing pad on top. So no space was wasted. </p> <p> I hope that helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-865728 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:29:13 +0000 Pirouette 865728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@plantains: that's awesome! totally looking into that one then :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-865385 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:44:25 +0000 plantains 865385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: yup, DD rode home from teh hospital in the Combi Coccoro. It has an infant insert and the minimum weight for a baby to ride in it is 5lbs, so no problems there. DH just practiced installing it a few times on a friends car, and now he can do it in less than 30 seconds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-865367 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:37:36 +0000 Pirouette 865367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: germs are a big factor, especially since i'm due late december! definitely will be better to baby wear at the beginning to the extent we even venture out much those first few months!</p> <p>@plantains: thank you! (i'm totally going to wall post you when i get a little further because i think i'm going to have a few more questions for you!) your set up sounds almost exactly like what i was thinking. do i need an infant car seat to get home from the hospital? we don't have a car and don't drive ever, so i was wondering if we'd need an infant car seat...forgive my ignorance, but were you able to put your DD in the Combi immediately? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-861766 Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:00:47 +0000 plantains 861766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live in NYC and we lived in a 1 bdr with Dd for several months. now she is almost 1 and we have just moved into a 2 bdr. We got the Uppababy Vista. We picked it because of the amount of walking we do. I just wouldn't have felt comfortable having a 2 week old baby in an umbrella stroller for so long. </p> <p>We went with a regular sized crib over a mini because I felt like she would outgrow a mini really quickly. In our 1 bdr, we had her crib in our room and we all fit fine. We used the top of our dresser as a changing table and that worked great for us. We got a Snugabunny swing which was a lifesaver, and even though my DD turns 1 next week she still loves her jumperoo.</p> <p>As for carseat, we didn't bother with an infant seat, instead we got a Combi Coccoro convertible carseat right from the get go. I figured that we only do Zipcar once a month or so, so why get an infant seat that will barely get used? Well this has worked out great for us. The Combi is actually compact enough that I can fit ini the basket under my Uppababy Vista! Of course it helps that the Vista has such a massive basket.</p> <p>Sorry for the novel, but I have to say I love having a baby in the city. There's so much to do and the space constraints are not actually that bad. Good luck, wall post me if you want to chat more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-861707 Sun, 16 Jun 2013 18:03:10 +0000 LovelyPlum 861707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for this thread! I'm not pregnant, but we think about this a lot. We're in a city(not NYC), but we're in a one bedroom and will be here for at least another year. We have been thinking about a mini crib, though I am nervous about baby outgrowing it quickly. I love the way the Babyletto Grayson Portable Crib looks-this is the one we were thinking about.</p> <p>Thanks for the resources, ladies. I'm excited to check these out :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-861477 Sun, 16 Jun 2013 14:10:43 +0000 lamariniere 861477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: when LO was very young I would also baby wear on the subway. But if I knew we were going to be out for more than an hour or two, I would take the stroller. My whole thing with the Maclaren was to avoid buying a second stroller.</p> <p>We lived in Brooklyn just one year and now live abroad, moved right after LO turned 1. We really liked it though and it was definitely more baby friendly than Manhattan. :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-861097 Sun, 16 Jun 2013 07:48:52 +0000 hilsy85 861097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I personally found thr it was much easier to baby wear on the subway--that also helped keep Lo tucked close to me and away from germs from other people! I do think having a good umbrella stroller is helpful when they start to get a bit heavier and you start taking longer outings! </p> <p>@lamariniere: we are also in Brooklyn! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-861088 Sun, 16 Jun 2013 07:30:57 +0000 Pirouette 861088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: great point about the strollers! Dh is always stopping to help moms with their strollers and I notice he's the only one! Definitely something to keep in mind. I don't take the subway much now but I prob will more once we have a LO (I currently walk a lot). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859757 Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:44:36 +0000 lamariniere 859757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: our 1st was born in NYC and we lived there the 1st year of his life. The only big gear purchases we made in the beginning was a bed (a really nice Oeuf one off of Craigslist) and a stroller. </p> <p>We changed the baby in the crib the first year because his dresser wasn't the right size to use for changing. </p> <p>Some people have suggested the bigger strollers, but we went with the Maclaren techno XT because it lays flat from birth. If you take the subway you know that the elevators are few and far between and they are often out of order. I would often take the subway alone and would often have to carry the stroller up and down the stairs by myself. You will never be able to do this with a larger stroller. In my experience, people don't often offer to help. It was important to me to feel mobile, especially since we eventually moved to Brooklyn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859342 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:55:20 +0000 Pirouette 859342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: I definitely agree on getting stuff that will last, but think we will have to strike a balance on that since #2 will be raised in a house with a nursery...so I'm worried it might be tough to get stuff suited for both! I love your crib!!</p> <p>@Foodnerd81: that is so helpful, thank you! I don't know anyone who lives in NYC with a baby in real life, so it's great to hear what worked for them. I was also thinking it would be great to do the dresser/changing table combo...I'm going to have to look into that.</p> <p> @rattles: I was wondering about how we could use the closet to maximize space...is the closet organizer convenient to use? We have big closets, and they are wasted space, but they have double bars so I'm not sure how feasible an organizer would be...</p> <p>@mrsmate: if it is stuff that would last, we are def willing to spend $. I mean within reason of course! I think I may need to wander through all the baby stores on the upper east side for some ideas! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859323 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:40:05 +0000 mrsmate 859323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: I see you're in ny, so I'd go into a high end store like giggle and see what they're selling. We are not rich but I like to get the best that I can afford bc trying to save $ almost always bites me in the butt.</p> <p>I know you're getting a lot of changing table advice but it is not a must if the space can be better used for something else. You can always change the baby on the floor, bed, couch, etc.</p> <p>For the first 8 weeks DD slept at night in the cosleeper in our room, but napped in her crib in her room. Then one day she went down for a nap at 5pm and slept for 10hrs. After that no more cosleeper. Btw her crib is one place where the cheap option was the best option! We got an ikea crib for $100, rated A by baby bargains. It's exactly what we wanted aesthetically, and still going strong at 2 years+ even with daily jumping by 2-3 kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859272 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:52:55 +0000 rattles 859272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in a one bedroom with DH and our six month old. We have a Davinci Annabelle mini crib in our room and a changing station on the hope chest at the foot of our bed. Half of my closet went into space saver bags under our bed, and I bought a hanging organizer with drawers for her clothes. We used the same resources above for gear and ended up with a City Mini. I also wear her a lot (K'tan and Beco Gemini), since it's easier for some errands (like carrying home the dry cleaning, etc) to have free hands. It's tight, but you can do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859225 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:26:01 +0000 Foodnerd81 859225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: Oh yes-- I used Lucie's List like it was the bible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859223 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:25:04 +0000 Foodnerd81 859223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO isn't here yet, so I won't say what gear was necessary to me or not, but my sister lived in a one bedroom apartment in NYC with her son until he was a year and a half old. It was an elevator building, and they ended up with a Bugaboo Chameleon which held up well on the bumpy sidewalks and curbs and had a nice big storage basket underneath, which was key for her since her stroller was her car. The only furniture they bought for the baby were his crib and a dresser that doubled as a changing table. They got the Stoki crib because it was oval, a little smaller than most but not a mini, and on wheels-- they would wheel the crib into their bedroom or to the baby's 'nook' in the living area. The problem with some mini cribs is some babies grow out of them really fast-- my nephew is 2.5 and still in his smaller regular crib. They had a regular armchair that they used for feeding and stories, no special rocker, and just put his books on the bottom shelf of their bookshelves. Oh, and he slept in a Rock and Play for the first few months before the crib, and they would just move that wherever they were-- next to the bed at night, in the living room during the day. He also had a vibrating bouncy chair that he loved, but no swing (bigger footprint, but also, he hated the swing). </p> <p>For us, we have a 2 bedroom but have a guest bed in the baby's room, so still minimal space in there. We'll have a full size crib, dresser with changing pad on top, and that is pretty much it in the baby's room. I have a glider that we are keeping in the living room b/c it won't fit in the baby's room, and we went with the UB Vista stroller-- again, it's going to be my car pretty much. We have a place i can leave it downstairs, though. I would have done a City Mini if I had to carry it up the stairs every time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859221 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:24:17 +0000 oliviaoblivia 859221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our crib is on NBD for way less than we paid....<br /> <a href="http://www.nobetterdeal.com/shop/en/nbd/-b004ta93au-pu--1" rel="nofollow">http://www.nobetterdeal.com/shop/en/nbd/-b004ta93au-pu--1</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859215 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:21:29 +0000 LindsayInNY 859215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: It looks like this! The crib can transition to a toddler bed and then a full-size bed (with conversion kit or whatnot). That eliminates a separate changing table! </p> [attach=2229/13/moejbu.600x600.master-SCT217.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859214 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:21:16 +0000 oliviaoblivia 859214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also...I used Lucies list for a lot of registry guidance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859213 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:20:29 +0000 oliviaoblivia 859213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: that's what we have and I love it. </p> <p>For us we focused on getting (registering) for stuff that would have a long lifespan. We plan on having a few more so I knew I'd want to save things for #2 but also didn't want to have huge hulking things laying around that we're not actively using. No packnplay, when we travel its usually to visit someone that has one. We chose the jumperoo over the exersaucer because it store more compactly. We got a convertible stroller right away because I knew the infant seat would have a short life (@ 5 months dd is already almost too long for one). Her nursery doubles as a guest room with a daybed and a crib. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859208 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:17:05 +0000 Pirouette 859208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: that's exactly what i was hoping...sort of minimal furniture (just the necessities). we definitely have room in our br for a bassinet for the beginning.</p> <p>@LindsayInNY: i've never heard of that but it sounds amazing! i'll have to look into them. wow, 4th floor walkup, you will most definitely need a lightweight stroller! but you will definitely have great arms ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859202 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:13:18 +0000 LindsayInNY 859202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: I can't help with this yet (obviously lol) but it's definitely something I think about!! We live in a 4th floor walk-up (by choice!) and a lightweight stroller will be a HUGE must for us! Our 2nd bedroom will be a guest/office/nursery. For space saving, what about a convertible style crib? One of the kinds that has a nightstand type dresser attached to the end with a changing table on top then it detaches when the crib turns into a bed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859163 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:58:16 +0000 hilsy85 859163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: we had Lo in the ub vista bassinet next to our bed for the first month. All we have is a crib, dresser, glider, and bookshelf. We didn't have a pack n play, rock n play or bouncer. We did have a swing, which was helpful. I don't think he used much else the first few months! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859156 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:55:53 +0000 Pirouette 859156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: thanks, i'll check out baby bargains! and i'll look into those strollers. did you need to get anything other than a crib for the first few months? or did the baby sleep in the crib right away? we have a full BR that is currently an office, but i'm trying to figure out how much furniture the baby will need, because we'd like/need to keep the desk! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859126 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:39:28 +0000 hilsy85 859126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The most important thing for us was a stroller...we needed something that we could use in place of a car! Everyone in our neighborhood has either an ub vista, bugaboo chameleon, city select, or city mini. I started there and researched all of them and tried them out. </p> <p>Crib, I think it depends on your space. The alma mini crib is a super cute option.</p> <p>Baby bargains has some good lists of what is essential and what is not, and good pricing guides. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/city-mamaswhere-did-you-start#post-859105 Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:32:04 +0000 Pirouette 859105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm still very early and have plenty of time to worry about this, but the few people we've told are already asking me about when i'm going to register, etc. (this is like being engaged all over again!) and it stresses me out because i just have no idea what we realistically need/want for city living! </p> <p>So i'm looking for advice as to where to look to find out what the best type of stroller, crib, etc., what's necessary and what's not for those who live in a smaller space, don't drive, and walk a ton! </p> <p>Anyone know of any sites devoted to what to buy for urban lifestyles with a LO? or books? or maybe there's a hellobee series on this that i've missed! any advice as to how to get started would be awesome! </p>