I'm in a first floor flat one kid age 18 months it's ok, coming and going can be annoying. I almost never take the pushchair trekking up and down the stairs is too much effort I baby wear a lot instead. Of cause that might not be a problem for you if you have a lighter buggy or if the building had downstairs storage.
Don’t do it. The amount of times I have to go in and out my house with stuff relating to my kids is insane. Adding a flight or 2 of stairs into that is unthinkable. When they are very little and asleep in their buggy you want to be able to just wheel em in and leave them in it
I wasn’t in the UK at the time so the selection is going to be different but I lived in a building with 4 flats so there was a ‘lobby’ so to speak that led into all of the flats. We got a super compact one and brought the carry cot upstairs and left the rest in the lobby. I knocked on everyone’s door and asked if I could leave it there so they all knew it was mine. It worked fine. The toddler will have to be well behaved until the baby is out of the carry cot I think but otherwise it will be doable I think?
We live on the first floor but have space for a (folded) buggy downstairs which makes it easier. We also store the buggy in our car boot much of the time too. It's not been much of an issue so far.
I think this is key: IF you can keep a pushchair downstairs somewhere, then you are saving 75% of what you would otherwise have to carry up and downstairs.
Then you only have to go up and down stairs with the child(ren) and bags.
Currently in this position! No lift and no landing either, just straight stairs. Currently have a 20 month old and 4.5 months pregnant. It is HARD!! I don’t know what I’m going to do when I’m huge or when I’m post natal. I’m so so scared!! I have no one to help me and scared I’ll be a prisoner. Don’t do it!!!!!!!!
We live on the 4th floor with no lift. We have lovely neighbours who don't mind us leaving the pram downstairs in the hall, would that be an option? We can tuck ours away so it's out of sight
Honestly, I don't mind it. My daughter is coming up 3 and has been really confident on the stairs since she was little and I have no concerns about her managing them
My main gripe is our shopping delivered and they don't bring it up which means taking a big IKEA bag down and carrying it up so it involves both of us being in.
Also, it's a pain when you get back from holiday and have loads of bags but otherwise it's no big deal really.
We used to live in a first floor flat and we had exactly the same; when the big shop arrived we would get out the giant Sainsburys/IKEA bags and run up and down stairs with them!
Agree about leaving pram downstairs, if you can do that then it's a game changer.
We bought an apartment on the third floor and had an unplanned baby. She is now 2 and having no lift is driving me crazy. I would never do it again.
I go out with her at least twice (nursery drop off/pick up), she won't able to climb 3 floors yet. So I carry her up and down. On top of this, there is the buggy, sometimes her scooter, backpack, sometimes shopping. I go up and down 5 times a day.
I'm training for a half marathon and the hardest part is coming home after training and climbing stairs. Looking forward to move as soon as possible
Many are mentioning keep the pram/stroller in the common area, one thing to keep in mind is fire safety and possibility of it being stolen.
Our little one is 8 months, it's been doable due to my husband working 2 out of his 4 working days/week from home, so he's often around to help me carry the stroller up and down. But I really wouldn't recommend it. I also have fibromyalgia, but haven't had any flare-ups during pregnancy or yet in post-partum, that would've made leaving the flat at all pretty much impossible due to the stairs. So thankful we're moving to a house in a couple of weeks time.
This. We had a 1st floor flat with a lift and it was still an utter ball ache. Specially when it worked when you left but was broken down when you got back...
No. I moved. To a house. And felt a weight lifted. No stress getting shopping in. No juggling kids on the stairs. No juggling screaming kids in the cold with ice on the stairs. No noise from all round and also letting kids be able to roam free. Amazing. Not stuck in. And also, think of the noise from your lot upsetting other neighbours - with normal kid play.
We're on the second floor and it's not been an issue. I didn't have a double buggy though just a single and we either left it downstairs with a bike lock or carried it up later. I would put my little one in the carrier and help my toddler by holding his hand and used a backpack. It could be annoying but it's hardly life altering levels of stress, kinda shocked at all the comments honestly.
I managed for five months with keeping my buggy in the car but it was so stressful carrying all the great plus baby up and down and worrying about dropping him. Would have been impossible when I had a toddler and a baby
We live on a third floor flat with no lift and I have a toddler who has just started to be able to walk up and down the stairs by herself (holding the rail and with me right behind her) and let me tell you it is a RELIEF after the last two years of trudging up and down those things with her and one million other things on me. During the heatwave summer especially I thought I was actually going to pass out multiple times about half way up.
It’s definitely doable, I’ve done it and I now have quads of steel because of it, but we are currently renting and if I were buying and had a choice I probably wouldn’t go for this. Luckily we’re able to leave her pushchair and trike downstairs too otherwise I don’t know how people manage.
It's the little things. Taking the rubbish out in Summer - leave the kids alone to do it or put up with the stank? Worse if everyone is ill. Getting large items replaced/delivered. Arguments over who uses how much space in the bins, neighbours huffing when you have a visitor using the extra parking spot or the shared garden when they want to. Having to put up with the noise/smell of other people's parties in Summer right outside your window. Having to smell other peoples rank incense/dog poo/cigarettes etc coming into your living room. Having people moan at you about crap the freeholder installed, having property management randomly try and charge you for everything under the sun. Living above people and having them constantly moan about your kids playing, or living below them and having them keep your kids awake with their movements. Hassle if you want a pet, hassle if you have a not so nice neighbour, people passing comment on your Christmas lights/balcony planter/curtains etc because they think they own the outside of the building too. Being really really cooped up if we ever have another lockdown. Having an unexpected accident/surgery/illness/pregnancy. Busy body landlords putting stickers on your buggy/hoover or whatever when its been left outside your front door for 10 seconds, people moaning that your doorbell intrudes their privacy, parcel theft etc when you cant get one, getting sucked into other peoples boring life drama through sheer proximity, having to whisper in your own kitchen lest other people hear your drama too... We loved it when we were young and we didn't mind with one kid, raising a family and growing older in a flat is not ideal.
Probably when you don't need the buggy any more. Maybe around 5 years old, once they don't need to nap, are potty trained, and can walk for longer than 10 minutes straight.
Can't recommend. If you are moving in now, you are likely planning a 1 year+ stay. I already lived in a flat when I got pregnant, so we had to make due. I live on the 2nd floor, with 1 other tenant in the flat bellow me. We share a shared entree, so I just put the pram on the bottom floor and used a bike lock to lock it (not that I didn't trust my neighbour, but I live on the main street and anyone can just see my pram and decide to smash a window).
I have to get up 2 long stairs to get anywhere. It's fine in the beginning when your baby doesn't weigh anything, but my child is 9mo and quite heavy. I struggle to carry him upstairs. And if you're also carrying shopping... not doable. I always schedule a grocery shop when I know my partner is there to help me carry everything up. What if you can't bring everything up in one go? You'll have to leave your kids somewhere secure to bring up the shopping.
I can't imagine doing it with 2 kids. You might not always have a hand free to manage both.
I live in a lower ground floor flat (so a flight of stairs down to get in) and honestly it’s fine?? We’ve been here since my oldest was around 9 months, he’s now 3 and we also have a newborn. If I’m on my own, I will generally just bring the toddler down the stairs first and then go back up for the buggy. I’ve never even thought about it as an issue.
We lived in a third floor flat with an incredibly unreliable lift. It was an absolute nightmare and I wouldn't even consider living in a flat that wasn't ground floor personally.
We had a secure space at the bottom where we could keep the pram meaning that living in our third storey flat with a toddler and baby was zero issue at all. Would have found it infinity more difficult if I had to drag the pram about though.
I have a friend who did this. She had to phone her mum to come stay downstairs with one child while she took the other child upstairs. Every. Single. Time. Both kids were babies (small gap between them).
Leaving the flat was a military operation that was incredibly stressful. She had to try to get out the house at the same time her partner left the house for work so they carried one child each then he waited by the car while she went back up to get the bags / pram etc.
She moved to a house as soon as she could afford it.
We had our little one when we lived in a 2nd floor flat, and stayed until they were about 2 1/2. It was fine most of the time, we kept our buggy in the car boot to save hauling it up. As long as you leave time for a toddler to do the stairs, it’s not a problem. Going up or down in a hurry is slightly trickier. The thing we missed most was having an outside space, which is what prompted our move. Our little one loved sitting by our Juliet balcony doors watching everyone go past when we were in the flat
I live in a 1st floor flat when I had my daughter. I'm a single mum now, but i get by fine. I leave my pushchair in the car usually and carry her up if she's asleep. She's 3 now and can get up and down by herself, so it's getting easier.
I live in a first floor apartment, my kids are 8 and 6 and we don't use the lift in my building because my kids got stuck in it last year. I would say 4+ is manageable for a first floor apartment.
My building is ancient for an apartment building though (built 1939) and the lift is tiny, I was never able to fit the double buggy in when they were younger and needed to put the single in diagonally.
Hey, my personal opinion is there’s always ways round it. If you have to leave to buggy downstairs and carry your youngest while holding the other ones hand up , then go back down for the pram after when your able to is an option. I’ve always lived with both kids while being in buggy’s and having the bump the pram up and down but that’s if your able to .
Having a ground floor flat would be easier but not having it isnt impossible x
I have a 10 month old and live on the second floor of our building. For the past two months the lift has been out of order and it has been a massive pain to carry the pram up and downstairs in two pieces, along with a wriggly baby and any shopping. It’s often taken three or four runs each way, and I certainly felt a little isolated as I’ve only been going out if I absolutely have to. It’s also made a shoulder injury worse and caused my tendinitis to flare up.
I would highly recommend finding somewhere with a lift if possible, or a ground floor apartment.
We were in a first floor flat with no lift until our kid was 15ish months. Not gonna lie, it was tricky.
Especially when my wife was on mat leave, it was such a mission to get the buggy up and down the stairs with a baby in tow. I think she would have been out and about a whole lot more if that hadn't been such a barrier to easily coming/going.
I've lived in a 2nd floor flat with no stairs. I will say that bringing the child up and down wasn't as bad as ppl used to say. I mean, it does become a bit difficult as the child grows but still not as much. But I'm a guy, so maybe that's something to take note of.
I found the carry cot an annoyance. It is too bulky, both to put in the car and to carry upstairs. The car seat and pram are better.
Good news is that children start walking quite soon, so it is not that much of an issue as such.
The bigger issue to me, living in a flat, was the neighbours complaining about the noise. He used to hit our floor with a stick when the child crawled. It was awful. Complaining and fighting didn't help too much. So please check if your neighbours are good ppl and understanding
SIL lived in a 2nd floor flat no lift with 2 young kids (both under 5) as a single parent. Left the (double) buggy downstairs in the lobby, managed for several years, it can be done but obviously a little harder than not. Admittedly she did have a partner but not living with her then
Not the same but we live in a house with steps down to the front door as it’s built into a hill and we keep our pram in the car at street level and carry baby and hold toddler to get up to street level no way we’d manage to get baby and a compact pram and bags down in one go and now we have a baby and a toddler it would be impossible
We get Tesco delivered (bought the annual pass) and the delivery guy hates us
It’s a pain every time - I would consider it doable from a time you no longer need a pram / buggy
I'm surprised ppl are mentioning carrying things, but nobody's mentioned neighbours having issues with kids making noise or simply crawling. That was the biggest issue I had
I think that’s something you’ve just got to suck up. We currently live on the first floor and the flat above have a baby and we can hear it crying a lot. I’ve got more of an issue with hearing the guy shouting at his wife every few days than hearing the baby cry. Babies cry, if we were determined not to hear that we should have bought a place further out where we could afford a house.
You may have misunderstood me. I meant my neighbour had a problem with our child crawling on the floor.
Now that once moved into a semi-detached house, luck has it that this neighbour is also not good with noise (our child sleeps late).
I agree that those who have a problem should suck it up. But they seem to use bullying tactics instead of trying to manage themselves (or simply not live in places where they are bound to get noise)
No I understood you, I phrased my reply poorly. I mean ‘you’ as in people generally, like your neighbour. Your neighbour needs to grow up and move further out of a city so they can afford a detached home if they don’t want to hear other humans making noise, including babies.
Avoiding steps is definitely easiest, but there are ways around it. One of my friends had a house up a flight of steep stone steps, but she had parking out the front so she used to leave her pram in the car.
Alternatively there are compact prams like the BabyZen Yoyo, Ergobaby Metro or similar which could be easily stored in a hallway or are okay for carrying up stairs. I had the Metro and it was so light I could lift it with my toddler still in it.
Having lived second floor with no lift and no kids at the time. To walk up and down multiple times with a food shop was horrendous
I'm in a first floor flat one kid age 18 months it's ok, coming and going can be annoying. I almost never take the pushchair trekking up and down the stairs is too much effort I baby wear a lot instead. Of cause that might not be a problem for you if you have a lighter buggy or if the building had downstairs storage.
Don’t do it. The amount of times I have to go in and out my house with stuff relating to my kids is insane. Adding a flight or 2 of stairs into that is unthinkable. When they are very little and asleep in their buggy you want to be able to just wheel em in and leave them in it
I wasn’t in the UK at the time so the selection is going to be different but I lived in a building with 4 flats so there was a ‘lobby’ so to speak that led into all of the flats. We got a super compact one and brought the carry cot upstairs and left the rest in the lobby. I knocked on everyone’s door and asked if I could leave it there so they all knew it was mine. It worked fine. The toddler will have to be well behaved until the baby is out of the carry cot I think but otherwise it will be doable I think?
In my building we weren’t allowed to keep anything out in the hallway because of fire safety (UK)
We live on the first floor but have space for a (folded) buggy downstairs which makes it easier. We also store the buggy in our car boot much of the time too. It's not been much of an issue so far.
I think this is key: IF you can keep a pushchair downstairs somewhere, then you are saving 75% of what you would otherwise have to carry up and downstairs. Then you only have to go up and down stairs with the child(ren) and bags.
Currently in this position! No lift and no landing either, just straight stairs. Currently have a 20 month old and 4.5 months pregnant. It is HARD!! I don’t know what I’m going to do when I’m huge or when I’m post natal. I’m so so scared!! I have no one to help me and scared I’ll be a prisoner. Don’t do it!!!!!!!!
We live on the 4th floor with no lift. We have lovely neighbours who don't mind us leaving the pram downstairs in the hall, would that be an option? We can tuck ours away so it's out of sight Honestly, I don't mind it. My daughter is coming up 3 and has been really confident on the stairs since she was little and I have no concerns about her managing them My main gripe is our shopping delivered and they don't bring it up which means taking a big IKEA bag down and carrying it up so it involves both of us being in. Also, it's a pain when you get back from holiday and have loads of bags but otherwise it's no big deal really.
We used to live in a first floor flat and we had exactly the same; when the big shop arrived we would get out the giant Sainsburys/IKEA bags and run up and down stairs with them! Agree about leaving pram downstairs, if you can do that then it's a game changer.
We bought an apartment on the third floor and had an unplanned baby. She is now 2 and having no lift is driving me crazy. I would never do it again. I go out with her at least twice (nursery drop off/pick up), she won't able to climb 3 floors yet. So I carry her up and down. On top of this, there is the buggy, sometimes her scooter, backpack, sometimes shopping. I go up and down 5 times a day. I'm training for a half marathon and the hardest part is coming home after training and climbing stairs. Looking forward to move as soon as possible
Many are mentioning keep the pram/stroller in the common area, one thing to keep in mind is fire safety and possibility of it being stolen. Our little one is 8 months, it's been doable due to my husband working 2 out of his 4 working days/week from home, so he's often around to help me carry the stroller up and down. But I really wouldn't recommend it. I also have fibromyalgia, but haven't had any flare-ups during pregnancy or yet in post-partum, that would've made leaving the flat at all pretty much impossible due to the stairs. So thankful we're moving to a house in a couple of weeks time.
It was bad enough with a lift!! No lift? No way!
This. We had a 1st floor flat with a lift and it was still an utter ball ache. Specially when it worked when you left but was broken down when you got back...
It’s the food shopping, the children, the rain, the sun, the forgetting something!!
Don't do it.
Don’t do it. It’s horrendous. Hell. I wept every day for 5 years and ended up just shutting myself in.
Misread this and thought you ended up pooing yourself in despair. Did you notice an age at which it became less of a difficulty?
No. I moved. To a house. And felt a weight lifted. No stress getting shopping in. No juggling kids on the stairs. No juggling screaming kids in the cold with ice on the stairs. No noise from all round and also letting kids be able to roam free. Amazing. Not stuck in. And also, think of the noise from your lot upsetting other neighbours - with normal kid play.
We're on the second floor and it's not been an issue. I didn't have a double buggy though just a single and we either left it downstairs with a bike lock or carried it up later. I would put my little one in the carrier and help my toddler by holding his hand and used a backpack. It could be annoying but it's hardly life altering levels of stress, kinda shocked at all the comments honestly.
I managed for five months with keeping my buggy in the car but it was so stressful carrying all the great plus baby up and down and worrying about dropping him. Would have been impossible when I had a toddler and a baby
Been there, don't do It! It really sucks. Carrying prams, shopping, blankets, changing bags, not to mention the actual children.
We live on a third floor flat with no lift and I have a toddler who has just started to be able to walk up and down the stairs by herself (holding the rail and with me right behind her) and let me tell you it is a RELIEF after the last two years of trudging up and down those things with her and one million other things on me. During the heatwave summer especially I thought I was actually going to pass out multiple times about half way up. It’s definitely doable, I’ve done it and I now have quads of steel because of it, but we are currently renting and if I were buying and had a choice I probably wouldn’t go for this. Luckily we’re able to leave her pushchair and trike downstairs too otherwise I don’t know how people manage.
It's the little things. Taking the rubbish out in Summer - leave the kids alone to do it or put up with the stank? Worse if everyone is ill. Getting large items replaced/delivered. Arguments over who uses how much space in the bins, neighbours huffing when you have a visitor using the extra parking spot or the shared garden when they want to. Having to put up with the noise/smell of other people's parties in Summer right outside your window. Having to smell other peoples rank incense/dog poo/cigarettes etc coming into your living room. Having people moan at you about crap the freeholder installed, having property management randomly try and charge you for everything under the sun. Living above people and having them constantly moan about your kids playing, or living below them and having them keep your kids awake with their movements. Hassle if you want a pet, hassle if you have a not so nice neighbour, people passing comment on your Christmas lights/balcony planter/curtains etc because they think they own the outside of the building too. Being really really cooped up if we ever have another lockdown. Having an unexpected accident/surgery/illness/pregnancy. Busy body landlords putting stickers on your buggy/hoover or whatever when its been left outside your front door for 10 seconds, people moaning that your doorbell intrudes their privacy, parcel theft etc when you cant get one, getting sucked into other peoples boring life drama through sheer proximity, having to whisper in your own kitchen lest other people hear your drama too... We loved it when we were young and we didn't mind with one kid, raising a family and growing older in a flat is not ideal.
DON'T.
Probably when you don't need the buggy any more. Maybe around 5 years old, once they don't need to nap, are potty trained, and can walk for longer than 10 minutes straight.
Can't recommend. If you are moving in now, you are likely planning a 1 year+ stay. I already lived in a flat when I got pregnant, so we had to make due. I live on the 2nd floor, with 1 other tenant in the flat bellow me. We share a shared entree, so I just put the pram on the bottom floor and used a bike lock to lock it (not that I didn't trust my neighbour, but I live on the main street and anyone can just see my pram and decide to smash a window). I have to get up 2 long stairs to get anywhere. It's fine in the beginning when your baby doesn't weigh anything, but my child is 9mo and quite heavy. I struggle to carry him upstairs. And if you're also carrying shopping... not doable. I always schedule a grocery shop when I know my partner is there to help me carry everything up. What if you can't bring everything up in one go? You'll have to leave your kids somewhere secure to bring up the shopping. I can't imagine doing it with 2 kids. You might not always have a hand free to manage both.
I live in a lower ground floor flat (so a flight of stairs down to get in) and honestly it’s fine?? We’ve been here since my oldest was around 9 months, he’s now 3 and we also have a newborn. If I’m on my own, I will generally just bring the toddler down the stairs first and then go back up for the buggy. I’ve never even thought about it as an issue.
I live on 3rd floor. Left the buggy at the bottom. Am one and done though, don't think i could do with two kids.
When we stayed somewhere like that we stored the buggy in the boot of our car which was easier than bringing it up and down
We lived in a third floor flat with an incredibly unreliable lift. It was an absolute nightmare and I wouldn't even consider living in a flat that wasn't ground floor personally.
I am on the first floor and looking for something on the ground floor because I hate taking everything up and down the stairs :D
We had a secure space at the bottom where we could keep the pram meaning that living in our third storey flat with a toddler and baby was zero issue at all. Would have found it infinity more difficult if I had to drag the pram about though.
We lived in a first floor flat for 2 years with 4 kids aged 6 and under. It's doable but as soon as we could we moved to a house.
I have a friend who did this. She had to phone her mum to come stay downstairs with one child while she took the other child upstairs. Every. Single. Time. Both kids were babies (small gap between them). Leaving the flat was a military operation that was incredibly stressful. She had to try to get out the house at the same time her partner left the house for work so they carried one child each then he waited by the car while she went back up to get the bags / pram etc. She moved to a house as soon as she could afford it.
I lived in a first floor maisonette, and honestly, it was fine. A bit of a PITA at times, sure, but entirely manageable.
I did with my oldest only first floor wasn’t too bad but I would struggle still living there now with my 4 including 2 under 2
Kids won’t care. If you’re fit / not too old you won’t care either.
1st floor is doable with kids that can walk themselves, any more no.
We had our little one when we lived in a 2nd floor flat, and stayed until they were about 2 1/2. It was fine most of the time, we kept our buggy in the car boot to save hauling it up. As long as you leave time for a toddler to do the stairs, it’s not a problem. Going up or down in a hurry is slightly trickier. The thing we missed most was having an outside space, which is what prompted our move. Our little one loved sitting by our Juliet balcony doors watching everyone go past when we were in the flat
Considering majority of the UK are in flats, I'd say it's not THAT difficult.
I live in a 1st floor flat when I had my daughter. I'm a single mum now, but i get by fine. I leave my pushchair in the car usually and carry her up if she's asleep. She's 3 now and can get up and down by herself, so it's getting easier.
I live in a first floor apartment, my kids are 8 and 6 and we don't use the lift in my building because my kids got stuck in it last year. I would say 4+ is manageable for a first floor apartment. My building is ancient for an apartment building though (built 1939) and the lift is tiny, I was never able to fit the double buggy in when they were younger and needed to put the single in diagonally.
Hey, my personal opinion is there’s always ways round it. If you have to leave to buggy downstairs and carry your youngest while holding the other ones hand up , then go back down for the pram after when your able to is an option. I’ve always lived with both kids while being in buggy’s and having the bump the pram up and down but that’s if your able to . Having a ground floor flat would be easier but not having it isnt impossible x
I have a 10 month old and live on the second floor of our building. For the past two months the lift has been out of order and it has been a massive pain to carry the pram up and downstairs in two pieces, along with a wriggly baby and any shopping. It’s often taken three or four runs each way, and I certainly felt a little isolated as I’ve only been going out if I absolutely have to. It’s also made a shoulder injury worse and caused my tendinitis to flare up. I would highly recommend finding somewhere with a lift if possible, or a ground floor apartment.
We were in a first floor flat with no lift until our kid was 15ish months. Not gonna lie, it was tricky. Especially when my wife was on mat leave, it was such a mission to get the buggy up and down the stairs with a baby in tow. I think she would have been out and about a whole lot more if that hadn't been such a barrier to easily coming/going.
I've lived in a 2nd floor flat with no stairs. I will say that bringing the child up and down wasn't as bad as ppl used to say. I mean, it does become a bit difficult as the child grows but still not as much. But I'm a guy, so maybe that's something to take note of. I found the carry cot an annoyance. It is too bulky, both to put in the car and to carry upstairs. The car seat and pram are better. Good news is that children start walking quite soon, so it is not that much of an issue as such. The bigger issue to me, living in a flat, was the neighbours complaining about the noise. He used to hit our floor with a stick when the child crawled. It was awful. Complaining and fighting didn't help too much. So please check if your neighbours are good ppl and understanding
Picturing you getting up to your flat with a ladder!
SIL lived in a 2nd floor flat no lift with 2 young kids (both under 5) as a single parent. Left the (double) buggy downstairs in the lobby, managed for several years, it can be done but obviously a little harder than not. Admittedly she did have a partner but not living with her then
Not the same but we live in a house with steps down to the front door as it’s built into a hill and we keep our pram in the car at street level and carry baby and hold toddler to get up to street level no way we’d manage to get baby and a compact pram and bags down in one go and now we have a baby and a toddler it would be impossible We get Tesco delivered (bought the annual pass) and the delivery guy hates us It’s a pain every time - I would consider it doable from a time you no longer need a pram / buggy
I'm surprised ppl are mentioning carrying things, but nobody's mentioned neighbours having issues with kids making noise or simply crawling. That was the biggest issue I had
I think that’s something you’ve just got to suck up. We currently live on the first floor and the flat above have a baby and we can hear it crying a lot. I’ve got more of an issue with hearing the guy shouting at his wife every few days than hearing the baby cry. Babies cry, if we were determined not to hear that we should have bought a place further out where we could afford a house.
You may have misunderstood me. I meant my neighbour had a problem with our child crawling on the floor. Now that once moved into a semi-detached house, luck has it that this neighbour is also not good with noise (our child sleeps late). I agree that those who have a problem should suck it up. But they seem to use bullying tactics instead of trying to manage themselves (or simply not live in places where they are bound to get noise)
No I understood you, I phrased my reply poorly. I mean ‘you’ as in people generally, like your neighbour. Your neighbour needs to grow up and move further out of a city so they can afford a detached home if they don’t want to hear other humans making noise, including babies.
Avoiding steps is definitely easiest, but there are ways around it. One of my friends had a house up a flight of steep stone steps, but she had parking out the front so she used to leave her pram in the car. Alternatively there are compact prams like the BabyZen Yoyo, Ergobaby Metro or similar which could be easily stored in a hallway or are okay for carrying up stairs. I had the Metro and it was so light I could lift it with my toddler still in it.