Need to Make Space

Another option might be to get a loft bed (it's like a bunk bed on top but no bed on the bottom...just open space) and then you could place the crib underneath the loft bed. A murphy bed could be an option for the living room for yourselves but the can be very expensive. Good luck!

Hi, If you do make the bedroom into the kids room, you could always get a full or queen size futon so that during the day it becomes a couch and at night it pulls out to a bed. As far as the bedroom is concerned, there are many options. The best I find is bunk beds(to for the 9 yr old) and/or the trundle which goes under the regular twin bed so there is more room. Best of luck.

Dear S., Sorry if I sound abrupt (I'm in a hurry) but I strongly advise & urge you to $ave..$ave..$ave for a new place asap. Or please find a place for your "THREE" dogs! That's a big expense.. food, vet, shots, and not always so healthy for little children.

If it were just you, your husband & the beautiful 13 mo. old daughter...no problem. But once you're blessed w/the arrival of your Son.. your daughter will be how old? almost 2? So keep this in mind: Sharing the room.. when the baby wakes during the night.. so too will your daughter. PLUS even if it's just ONCE a month-- you should have a space to WELCOME the 9yr old!(I've read that). Now I don't necessarily think a 2 yrold & a newborn NEED their own rooms! What I'm suggesting is you have a few years to $ave, take advantage of it. Sometimes people don't realize how much they CAN afford or how much they really CAN cut-back on. I'll share this story: My sister was finanically in trouble & so I asked her to take a good look at her spending habits, to make a budget, etc. I asked 'what' can she eliminate? Naturally her defenses kick in & she says: "I DID THAT ALREADY". As we continued on with our conversation she (not realizing)just happened to comment on how her husband wasn't home, he was "playing golf" & how she has "100 cable channels" .. & how they ordered "pay-per view" the night before... not to mention all the features on her phone "3-way, call forward"..she puts me on hold to answer the door for the "pizza delivery" She screamed at her son who just "bought another online $12 video game this week".. we had to hang up casue she was going to "get her nails done" and wanted to make it to "Dunkin Donuts" for a "Cappucino"!!! As she was talking (to myself) I was ADDING up ALL the obvious ways she COULD save.. but she couldn't see it (or didn't want to). Now I'm not here to point fingers.. sorry if it sounds that way.. I'm a firm believer that couples---you & your husband need your own space.. your own room! I also understand not being able to make a move at the moment; therefore in the meantime.. there are allot of nice room dividers out there.. Look on line.. Google? Good luck & God Bless your new arrival.

Have you thought about a murphy bed frame that folds up into the wall? You could look on craiglist to try and find a murphy bed that is not too expensive. My husband and I just purchased a murphy bed for our livingroom as a guest bed. Some murphy bed frames will be deep enough for you to use your current mattress.

Good luck!

Hi S. my name is M.. I am in the same predictament as you. I have a 14 mos old and a son on the way. My husband and I decided to make the living room as our bedroom. we have a couch that turns into a sofa. We got most of our ideas from Ikea. the one bdrm belongs to the kids. If you can devide your living room into two rooms i would definetly go with that idea first but if not you can try the sofa bed idea.

sounds like you need a 2 bedroom, or move to the burbs. BOL...

Hi S.!
This situation sounds sooo familiar to me. My husband, my two babies and myself live in a spacious one bedroom and we just found a two bedroom so we are on our way but we went thru it trying to make this space look good and be functional. our living room is together with the dining room there is no divider so we have a sectional (which sucks) i do not recommend that kind of sofa, we recommend a sofa and a chair. anyway we divided it in to the living room and the older daughters room. We have her crib and a play area. In my bedroom we have the bassinet with my 8 wk old girl. So i mean there are alot of things you can do believe it or not. i wish i could send you a picture so you could see. But you can get a futon to accomadate the step daughter and have it as a sofa. IKEA has some nice cheap ones. mY sister in law has it. um you can i guess decide how big you want your living room to be and then plan it that way so you know what to get when it comes to furniture. If you don't want new furniture tell me what you have and i try my best to give you some ideas. With a sofa you can move around it makes it easy to switch things when you need to. MY sectional killed me. My husband says a bunk bed for you on the bottom and the 9yr old on the top...and a bassinet for the new baby and a crib in the living room. Just a suggestion, also its true when my baby cries it wakes up my older one so i have to keep the older one separate. the newborn is with us in the bedroom and the older one is in the living room. I say keep the room for you its important to have your room you know, its how i feel. You give up alot in life and you deserve your own room at least. I also feel that the kids don't know the difference really. I hope i helped or atleast made you feel better about your space. You are not the only one in a one bedroom with two kids and visitors lol.