There are a few firsts in our lifetime: our first step, first word, first date, first driving license, first car, first job, first child and more. Each first is a cause for celebration, and each milestone is a new phase in your life, and certain phases call for new changes. 

Anytime our financial situation improves, it’s normal to want to change and upgrade to better things; get a nicer car, or move to a bigger home. Sure, you might pass up on some new items even if you can afford them, but some things don’t need hesitation, like moving into a bigger house. The move to a bigger house can be an easy decision to make, especially when you’re expecting your first baby. 

We’ll give you some pretty good reasons as to why you need that bigger house sooner rather than later.

You’ll need more room: 

That little bundle of joy isn’t so little when it comes to how many things a baby needs. Even before the birth, you’ll find closets are beginning to overcrowd and storage is extremely limited for all those new baby shower gifts, not to mention the things you bought on your own. Your cool bachelor or bachelorette pad might have been okay up until the point when you got married, but it’s not going to be so cool with a baby on the way. Overall, a cluttered house is unhealthy for everyone in it, not to mention claustrophobic. A cluttered house leads to a cluttered mind. A newborn is always a welcome addition, but you and your home have to be organized in order to handle the transition.

Speaking of clutter, it’s essential that before moving out, you leave the place as spotless as when you first stepped into it. This should be done on your own accord out of curtsey, but in many cases it will be required as part of your contract. At that point, you could consider hiring a professional cleaning company.

Also, tots, older children, and you will appreciate the extra space you’ll have for kids to play in or play outdoors in a nice garden under your watchful eye. Maybe you’ve made the decision to move, but you’re stuck in your old home due to your contract. If so, it is of interest to you to read a detailed post on how to get out of a fixed term tenancy, since it’s not always that easy and there are different scenarios on how it might play out. It can cause a lot of stress if you’re still living in a small flat when the baby is born, so the earlier you’re able to move out, the better prepared you’ll be for your newest family member.

You need privacy: 

Babies turn to toddlers, toddlers eventually turn to tweens and tweens turn to teens. In all phases, you don’t want a cramped apartment or house for your children to live in. Anyone with teenagers knows that their privacy comes before anything else, and privacy is just too difficult to come by when in a small living space. If you’re feeling too crowded and experiencing a lack of privacy now in a small residence, imagine how it will be afterwards! Most kids want their own room without having to share with their siblings, and that’s understandable.

Also, while they’re toddlers up until they’re young kids, they, and you, will appreciate that they have extra space to run around, and play indoors and outdoors in a nice garden or backyard, under your watchful eye. True, you might always be together in the same living room still, but at least the option for more private areas is there.

Move before not after: 

Try to move before the birth, if health allows it, instead of after.  Firstly, it will be easier to move without a baby. Secondly, unknown to many parents, babies can be very sensitive to change once they’ve gotten used to their surroundings and bed. A move will disrupt all of that, as well as the routine you’ve settled down with your newborn. Thirdly, it’s really the baby’s schedule that calls the shots more than anything else.  

You might need a change of neighborhood: 

Your current neighborhood might be fine for adults, but is it suitable for children? What is the crime rate around your area? Are there good schools around you? Babies don’t stay babies forever, and much quicker than you realize, they will be going to daycare and school, and running some short errands on their own. If you see that your current neighborhood isn’t designed for families, that’s a huge sign for you to consider moving to a more family-friendly area of town. This is actually a top reason why people expecting to expand their family want to move. They want more parks, more safety, more security and less late-night pubs.

A new baby and a bigger home just seem to go hand in hand; they’re both such an exciting time in your life. Even if you’re on a lease now, you can find ways to end it with your leaser. Circumstances change and an empathetic landlord will take that into consideration. Having a bigger home can provide better quality of life for you and your family.