baby bunching apartment dwelling

We've just relocated back home to Texas and we're temporarily in a furnished corporate apartment.  Apparently, 3 bedroom apartments on the ground floor are in EXTREMELY high demand (think: over a year-long wait list) and so for the next month or so, all five of us are stuck in a two bedroom apartment ON THE THIRD FLOOR.  

Two weeks into this gig, I am surprised to find that the whole "third floor" thing is bugging me WAY more than the whole "two bedroom" thing.  In fact, I am thanking my lucky stars that this is happening THIS year, and not last year.  Or even worse, 4 years ago.

At ages 4 and 5, my Bunched boys are mercifully both big enough to not only walk up the stairs themselves, but be my grocery Sherpas.  Even the Caboose (just turned 2) is able to make it up the three flights of stairs about 25% of the time without being carried.  It's a good thing, too, because the crap-load of crap that three kids require to be shuttled between home and vehicle does not magically disappear just because said kids and their parents live on the third floor.  Yes, we've been more mindful in our grocery purchases and I've even been put on a hardcore Target moratorium, but we still have backpacks, water bottles, coffee cups, mail, library books, and even the ill-thought-out-purchase of a watermelon to shuttle back and forth between the three floors.

In my first year as a Baby Buncher, it took me a minimum of five trips to the car to go anywhere: one carrying Big (who refused to walk at 17 months old), one carrying Baby in his infant seat, one with the diaper bag, one with whatever stroller/sling/backpack, etc. we needed for the outing and one with my stuff (purse, coffee cups, returns, library books, etc.)  Yes, I wore a path in the cement in my garage and driveway that year.  I also had a newfound gratitude for the driveway hidden behind my house that even my friends couldn't find - so surely a child molester couldn't find it and snatch my precious darlings while I was carting coffee cups and coupons between the car and the kitchen.

But how could this work in an apartment?  You can't leave any babies unattended in a car in a parking lot, and it's not much of a better idea to leave them unattended in an apartment (although behind locked doors and in a crib for just a few minutes would suffice in an emergency, I guess).   I'm pretty sure it's a physical impossibility for me to carry a toddler and a newborn in infant seat, let alone their gear, up three flights of stairs in one trip.  But maybe not.  We Baby Bunchers are notorious for sucking it up and doing what sucks, so I guess I would've figured it out.  But my recent experience has made me wonder - how do you city and apartment dwelling Bunchers do it?  Anyone got tips to share?

Comments

[Ruchi]

Hi Cara,
This is a timely post.I was thinking of posting this question but then thought that maybe u stay in an independent house.I stay on the ground floor of an apartment complex.Now that my two year old son has started playschool,I am having a tough time thinking about putting him and the 5 month baby in their carseats to drop and pick the older one.The hubby has taken up the responsibility for now,but not for long.Today I had to drop the hubby off at wok and it was nightmare to get the kids out of the car.If I drop the kids at home first and then the school bag and my purse,the older one starts crying,followed by the younger one.I can't possible leave them in the car while I transport the stuff and if carry all of them together,then the older one likes to run away from me.I would appreciate some tips from fellow bunchers.

[Amanda]

I still don't have it figured out yet after almost 10 months of having a bunch. We only have street parking (on a busy street) with a few small flights of stairs into our house. I have to leave one baby on the porch so I can see them and meanwhile put the other baby in the car. Sometimes though, I have to dash inside for that forgotten whatever (like my purse), and I *cross* my fingers that a walkerby doesn't report me for leaving my child in the car. God, what I'd give for a garage or driveway!

[Sally]

I have three (ages 1,3, and 5) and I drop all kids inside first. I put the tv on if they're cranky and would get into trouble, or give them a snack. I put the toddler in her highchair with a snack, so she's contained if I have to carry in groceries. But, I realize I'm blessed with a driveway and garage.
But with 3 floors? I'd probably do something similar when there are two trips to be made. Kids in first, stuff in second (I'd run down and up the stairs real fast- workout, check!)
Or, have the kids learn to sit somewhere (lawn, right inside stairwell) while I bring everything to the first "station." Then, everyone goes up to the second flight and sits ("station 2"). I bring stuff to station 2. Then, up to flight 3, go inside. I run down a flight and get bags - better than having to run back to car. We moms can be creative in a pinch! It still sucks, but those days are long and the years are short (my mantra to get me through). Things are so much easier with a 1- and 3-year old than a baby and 2-year old. So hang in there mamas!

[Natasha]

Oh crikey - I remember being at a loss with my 19 month old and newborn, wondering how to get them both safely in the car, even *with* a driveway! Now, I can't even remember how I did it, which is no use to you of course...ideas that occurred to me to make any arrangement easier though are 1) invest in a sling for baby even if s/he hates it, if you need to support your toddler in walking the stairs; 2) always keep a fully stocked diaper bag in the car with things you will need, and check on supplies as part of your evening routine when there is another adult to mind the kids; and 3) if there is any way you can possibly transport all the backpacks etc in an easier way, do it! When pregnant with pelvic problems I used an old buggy just to wheel stuff from the car to the front door - obviously this isn't practical with stairs, but if each child can carry the stuff they need soonest (eg homework folder), and you can put the rest in a mesh pop-up bag or basket in the car to take up later, or get another adult to take up later, or you get later once there is another adult in the house. NB - we are in a 2 bedroom house with 5 of us at the moment and it works for us at the moment, hope you continue to get used to it while you wait for a bigger apartment.

[Carolyn]

Yes, someone please help! I'm 8 months pregnant with #2 and my 14-month old JUST started to walk, so still needs to be carried everywhere. I have an underground parking garage in my condo complex that is one very long flight of stairs away. I'm terrified!
My solution thus far has been to keep a stroller and stocked diaper bag in the car so I only have to transport baby #1, and keeping cooler bags in the car for groceries so they can sit for a while until 1) baby #1 goes down for his nap and I can run and get them or 2) the husband comes home and carries them up for me. For stuff that must be transported while carrying baby #1 I use an official backpacking backpack. Huge and sturdy, not much strain on the back. I'm not sure if this will still work when #2 appears next month. I'll let you know. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Janice]

I've been thinking about this question all day and I think I may have the answer to why I don't like to drive anywhere anymore...

We thankfully have off-street parking, in a lot behind the townhouse with a spot assigned right behind our house. So it's still not worst case. To get to it, we go through a small utility room and up a flight of stairs.

I load the kids (Big, boy, 33 months, Little, girl, 8 months) last in, first out. They're safer alone in the house for a few minutes, while I run in and out loading strollers and bags. I try to keep a stroller and a carrier loaded in the car to cut down on the trips. I also keep a small diaper changing kit in the car at all times, but that's really because I try to stash diapers everywhere.

My Big is big enough to walk up and down the stairs most of the time, so I carry the baby bucket in one hand and spot him or hold his hand with the other. If he's being difficult, I move Little landing to landing and then move him along. I unlock the car, open his door, and encourage him to climb in while I drop off the bucket on the other side. I always back into my spot so that opening Big's door effectively blocks him off from running into the street. After I drop off Little, I go back to Big, chase him into the car if needed, buckle him in, and then get into the car myself. And off we go.

I always make sure my keys are in my hand, or that I touch them in my pocket when closing any doors.

Coming home, I take Little out, set her on the sidewalk, then unbuckle Big and help him down. I escort them inside, then go back for any must-have bags while leaving the doors open so I can hopefully hear any catastrophes in progress. If Big insists that we empty the car before going in, I use the landing approach again, move baby, move move bags, get Big down somewhere in between, wherever seems to work with his agenda.

If I have to run back for something, I lock them in the car and go quickly. If they're asleep when we get home and I have to do one at a time, I grab Little, since I can take her while opening doors, lock the car, then run in, leaving the doors open, then go back for Big.

Little's almost outgrown her bucket, so I will be using the sling to get her in and out using only one hand very soon.

I think it's important to remember here just how much stuff you can have delivered! We keep the car trips at a minimum. Car seat that I could buy at Walmart, but have shipped from Amazon for only $5 more? Amazon wins again!

[Cara Fox]

Great, ideas, girls! The idea of "stations" never occurred to me, but that seems logical. Stocked diaper bag left in car, coolers for groceries, and online shopping are all ideas I plan to implement ASAP - don't know what I was thinking to miss these!

[Janelle]

Wow, I am so thankful I don't live in a city right now! It takes me at least three trips to load the car...never thought about if I had to do that from an apartment, or if I was in a situation where it wasn't practical/safe to leave one or both kids in the car while I ran back in for diapers/coffee/cell phone. Thank goodness for country dwelling!

[Molly]

Well.. we didn't live in an apartment but I never made 5 trips to the car... 2 I could handle, not 5. I NEVER carried baby in the infant carseat, even when we only had one. Those things are a pain, they give mom a backache and when overused give baby a flat head. The carseat stayed in the car (we didn't even do an infant carseat for #2) and I wore baby in a wrap or meitai carrier on the front. We always used a backpack for a diaper bag so it was hands free. At 14 months, our older dd wasn't walking well enough to make it to and from the car herself so I carried her until she was probably 20 months and then she was old enough to be a hand holder in the driveway. (Easy to do if you have two free arms/hands). I'd put the girls in the superyard (or the big one in the superyard and the little one in the exersaucer/swing when she was too small to leave with big) and run all the other stuff I needed out first if there was more than just them and the diaper bag going. We always kept a little stroller in the car but didn't use it much unless we were going somewhere that didn't have carts for big. Then run back in and get the girls and the diaper bag and go.

[melissa]

Get rid of the stuff! Okay, so thinking realistically, you really have to just downsize what you have and go with it. I like the suggestion of stations for the different landings...that could even be a good game!

I'd say leave the carseat in the car (that's what I do); and put the baby in a carrier on your front or back. It leaves your hands free to carry items. It's not bad practice to have your older kids carry items as well. My two-year old loves to help.

We have the benefit of having an elevator in our building (a tremendous blessing this time around!), so we are able to use the stroller between the car and the apartment as well.

[clare]

I live in a 3rd floor apartment and have a 7 week old and a 14 month old, this is how I do it:
Carry the baby in a baby bjorn baby sling leaving my hands free to assist my toddler. I carry the toddler on my hip to get him down the stairs but he is walking well enough to climb the stairs now. I can manage to carry him and the baby up if I have to.

The car seats and strolls stay in the car, its far easier. I also keep things like reins, blankets and toys in the car so i don't have to carry them between apartment and car.

I have a double changing bag designed for twins so its 2 bags in 1 which I can put over my body whilst I carry the kids. Only pack what you really need. I put my bits into the baby's bag as that has less stuff in and saves me carrying a handbag.

Be exceptionally organised. Pack things like library books etc in the car the night before once everyone is safely in bed. This means less stress in the morning and less to carry.

If I need to do 2 trips our toddler stays in his high chair with snacks and the baby goes in a play pen. That way both are safe whilst I go to the car.

I also have a spare baby monitor in the car so I can run into the apartment if both are asleep - our car park is secured. That way I can hear them whilst I run in.

Hope that helps

[Cate]

I make one trip, at most two to get my bunch to the car. I have 4.5mo and a 19mo girls. The baby stays in the carrier. It may be heavy, but it's contained and if the worst happened (I dropped it), it's designed to withstand impact. I carry Big, who is just beginning to walk on her own between the car and house, so that should make it even easier soon. She's just a bit slow. Stroller stays in the car. Diaper bag, work bag, etc gets slung over my shoulder and includes any of my stuff that I need. If I think of it, I will pack the car with my things while the girls are sleeping the night before or in the morning before they are up. Big will also help by holding smaller items and turning off lights and such.

I don't grocery shop with the girls by myself. I either do it on the weekend with my husband or in the evening when the girls are in bed. If I have to pick up something with them, I only take in what needs to be kept cold or can't be left in the car until naptime. Baby stays in her seat (contained) and Big will wait in the house if I need to run back to the car to get a few things.

I love carriers and have way too many, but they don't make it easier for me in this situation. It's more work to get the baby out of the seat and into the carrier while everyone is screaming than to just grab the infant seat and muscle through one trip.

I can't imagine making 5 trips. I would just stop bringing things if it took that many trips. At some point it's about survival.

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