What did you learn you needed/loved in a home (layout etc.) after 1-3 years of parenthood?

[Anonymous]

I hear alot of people mention this, and am just wondering if everyone is different or if there are things that parents all say they were so glad they had or wished they had. I'm TTC and, in looking around my current house, I'm wondering how it is going to work for me or what might be more ideal.

[Anonymous]

With twins, bedroom level laundry is a huge plus. I'm sure it is a bonus for singleton parents, too, but I know that we are overwhelmed with laundry from twins and having to drag that up and down stairs would make an already difficult time, even more difficult.

Have a diaper station on every floor of the house, so that you don't have to run up and down stairs for a diaper change.

[Anonymous]

I think you generally make what you have work. When our first came home we were in a 1B apt where you walked through the bedroom to the bathroom. That got old fast. Currently renting a SFH, and while I'd love more space, the real thing I would change is to completely fence in the backyard so my kids could come and go a bit easier, and ideally have it directly off the kitchen / main living area. Kids are at the age where they want to play outside all the time, and it would be great to be able to let them without having to watch my youngest like a hawk.

[Anonymous]

One floor layout, we lived in an apartment until our oldest was 3 and enjoyed not having to climb stairs or babyproof.

Also, love having dedicated room for play, cover the floor with the soft easy to clean mats, put some simple plastic equipment there to let kids climb and throw things around and put a couch where you can lay down and watch them when you are tired

[Anonymous]

We just need more living space. Toys take up a ton of room.

[Anonymous]

The #1 thing I love about my house is the location (in the city) because I don't have to commute far to work every day (home in less than 30 minutes). Every extra minute I get to spend with my son is valuable and makes up for our smallish and quirky house!

[Anonymous]

One floor layout has been good for us, but we only have 2BRs which has been hard with kids sharing a room (1 and 2.5). Might not be too bad in a few years. Also has been nice not to have much to clean or a yard to keep up. But that means no yard for them to play in. Which is ok because there are playgrounds, but no playing in the yard with the older one while the younger takes his morning nap.

Also love that the kitchen has full view of the living room. Kids can play while I cook and I can see what they're doing. Also love having a huge island so that they can sit and eat on one side and I can cook on the other.

[Anonymous]

agree with pp about the fewer stairs the better. I grew up in colonials and loved them, but for some reason the areas we looked and the price ranges were lots of ramblers (600-700k in falls church/mclean).

We bought one and really love it. The rooms all on one floor for the most part mean I don't have to go up and down the stairs all the time to get the kids and eat dinner, put away laundry, etc. We can then go down to the finished basement after the kids go to bed and hang out/watch tv.

other features are a bathtub in the kid's bathroom and a separate master bathroom if possible. Also, and open floor plan between the kitchen and eating area or the kitchen and family room/hang out area during/around meal times is awesome.

[Anonymous]

Love having a small family room adjacent to / part of the kitchen. We put a gate across the entrance to the kitchen, but DD could play in the family room while we cooked and cleaned. She still felt included (very social kid) as we could still chat together and we knew she was safe. She had one shelf of toys there, so it wasn't as if the whole area became a permanent kid zone of mess.

I prefer having the laundry on the first floor, close to the kitchen. With it located there I can hear when the washer and dryer are done. I also prefer to fold at the kitchen counter, as it is easier on my back.

We do have a fenced back yard, but I don't think DD played out there alone much until she was 3 or so. She was probably 2 or 3 before she would play in the playroom alone, too. If you are going to be a SAHM, I think it is helpful to have different rooms or zones for play. It somehow breaks up the day and can reignite their interest.

A handsprayer in the tub is really nice to have. Makes it easier to clean the tub, but is also nice for washing hair. I think ours actually came from the pet store, as we had it for the dog long before DD joined the world, but it is an inexpensive item that makes life easier. If you don't mind spending more, you can get a nicer one like this: http://www.amazon.com/Speakman-VS-223032-Anystream-Refresh-Polished/dp/B0054ANVKC/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1336668096&sr=8-14

[Anonymous]

Fenced in backyard, easy access to backyard, garage (not for a car of course, but for all the gear -- strollers, bikes, scooters, outdoor toys), family room or playroom off kitchen, foyer with large coat closet, eat-in kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Open layout, tons of storage.
Enough separation between child's bedroom and living space that they can sleep while you are up in another part of the house.
Blackout blinds in child's bedroom.
Laundry!

[Anonymous]

1) Location. Being in bounds for a good public school means one less move, not having to play the OOB/charter school lottery.

2) Garage or reliable easy parking. Nothing worse than having to walk three blocks to your car in the rain with a toddler and an infant and a bag of groceries.

3) Open kitchen. It's great being able to cook and keep an eye on the young ones.

4) Efficient layout. This is more important than size. Having all the bedrooms on one floor is important with young children.

5) Ample storage.

[Anonymous]

Oh absolutely about the fewer stairs, the better. If that's not a possibility, bedroom-level laundry and a bathroom on the floors that you spend a lot of time on are great, esp when it's to be potty-training time. I hate hauling stuff up and down the stairs 10957486x/day.

Kitchen with easy line of sight to family/living room so kids can play while parents cook/clean and room to sit and eat.

At least one tub, with a hand sprayer.

NOT wall-to-wall carpeting, it's just too hard to keep clean.

An entryway with a coat closet and space for muddy boots, etc.

[Anonymous]

Oh, reliable parking or garage x10000.

And location too. The less time in the car or on the Metro (for everything, job commute, groceries, playgrounds, etc) the better.

[Anonymous]

I have a driveway but would have killed for a garage when mine were infants and I had to get them to and from the car in the rain, snow and ice.

I would do anything for a mud room or even an entryway. My front door opens right into the living room and I hate that.