Third floor, no lift, two under three. Is it time to move?

silver_tiffin_650929 Jun 2026

We've been in this Domalguda flat for six years and love it. Then our son arrived, and now every outing is one child on the hip, the other holding a hand on the stairs, plus the bag. When I'm at the hospital, our caregiver does this alone. Rent for anything nearby with a lift is noticeably higher, and we'd lose the neighbours who have become our backup. If you stayed in a walk-up with two small children, did it get easier once the younger one walked, or did you regret not moving?

3 comments

violet_bookmark_830629 Jun 2026
Second floor without a lift here, baby plus a 7 year old. Second is not third, but it's manageable now that the older one climbs on his own. The hardest year was when he was 2 and wanted to be carried up every time. Your daughter is roughly at that age now.
pebble_veranda_826430 Jun 2026
Count the trips. Two outings a day is one thing. If the caregiver is also carrying groceries and a stroller up three floors every day, that is what will break first, and caregivers do leave over it. I'd ask her what she thinks before deciding.
violet_sandal_113330 Jun 2026
A good carrier made our stairs much easier, baby on the front and both hands free. Ours is under one, so I can't speak for the toddler-plus-baby stage. The neighbours part matters a lot though. That's hard to find again ❤