Babies in a Tiny House Part 1

Where do you put all the baby ‘stuff’? 

You can’t imagine how many times I have been asked this.

(I have to start this out by saying that our families choices are in no way a criticism of any other choices, we all do what is best for us!)

My short answer… ‘babies don’t really need much ‘stuff'” (usually met with scoffs and eye rolls…).

The longer version

It’s PARENTS who need that baby stuff. They are usually convenience items for parents. We’ve decided, instead of rolling with the status quo, we will alter our life so that we don’t need ‘all that stuff’.

Sure, there are times it would be super awesome to have a rocker to use and give my arms a break. There are not enough of those times to justify using that square footage for a rocker though. There are certainly not enough of those times to justify getting a different place with a bigger payment and more maintenance just to accommodate that rocker. Or that other stuff for that matter. Besides, it’s kind of nice to just be able to rock my kids, even if not always convenient. Raising littles in the tiny house is not a decisions I feel like I will ever regret. That means something. I couldn’t say that about working full time.

In addition

One of the things ‘they’ don’t really tell you until after you have that stuff – and only if you go out of your way to learn more – that ‘stuff’ isn’t usually that good for your baby or their development anyway.  If you’re like James and I, you go to Babies R Us and look at all the things and get so overwhelmed. Then start to feel like you’ll be a terrible parent because you don’t know what half of the things are or what they are for. But since ‘they’ make it, it MUST be good for the baby. Babies MUST need it, right? Otherwise why make it!? We are all made to feel like we should probably get that thing. All those things. So that our babies have the best shot at being a successful human being.

But wait! They didn’t have most of that stuff 60 years ago. People still survived 60 years ago. Heck, people might have actually been better off 60 years ago!

It’s a trick!  Kind of…

You’re a person who buys things. So am I. Of course they aren’t going to tell us that having your baby stand up in a walker before they are ready may slow or inhibit their ability to learn how to walk naturally. They won’t outright tell you that baby crib bumpers cause more deaths per year than getting baby hands and legs stuck between the bars. ‘They’ don’t want you to feel bad about that purchase because then you won’t buy it.

It is adorable to watch our babies do everything we can watch them do. Sometimes it’s really handy, too! In reality baby stuff is not all bad, like everything there are pros and cons. Usually baby things are designed to keep babies quiet and contained, which for the vast majority of folks is paramount. There is a lot of stuff to do in the world and we live in a society where that is hard to get away from that.

It’s hard to do it all with a crying kiddo about

We have houses that need cleaned. Lawns that need maintained. Food that needs cooked. Possessions that needs taken care of. And relationships (other than with baby) that need nurtured. Oh, and sleep. We need sleep. None of that just go away when you have a baby. Baby contraptions really do become a need unless you go WELL out of your way to change that.

It isn’t safe to just let your kiddo chill out on the floor if you can’t be right there with them. In my case I have a large dog that could step on them. A sibling that could (and probably would) smother her brother with kisses, literally. There are stairs and choking hazards and things that are very dangerous. Unless you can stop doing everything in the rest of your life and sit and watch your kiddo they really are best kept a bit contained.

What tiny house living gives to our family:

• Less bills so that was able to quit my job and stay home with Hazel and Miles. (9-10 hours every day)
• Less house to clean and stuff to maintain so I can be more ‘present’ with them while home. (Weekends clear up)
• No debt (paid it all off after 8 months of saving on house expenses in the tiny) which equates to less stress and more time guiltlessly browsing Pinterest for recipes and crafts that won’t turn out.
• Pocket change to try those things out together!
• I’m afraid I don’t catch any breaks in the sleep department… compared to a lot of parents I got off easy here though too. There are still days spent at my wits end. Kiddos pressing every nerve but I like to think lessening other stresses lets me get through sleepless nights and opinionated toddlers easier :).

All of that adds up to more time with my littles developing their curiosity, their confidence and making memories (mostly for me at this point).  Right now, and for the next several years, that is my priority  and this tiny house helps very much with that.

I am truly grateful for my good fortune. I know it is a rare gift to be in the position our family is in.  These are just one persons thoughts but no matter what the reasons are I hope that everyone can feel as fortunate in their life.

Coming soon (because this post got long enough as it is…)

My minimalist baby needs list and

My thoughts to the ‘your kids will be embarrassed’ and such critics…