Is a nursery/office a bad idea?

Question

My husband and I live in a small 2 bedroom house. We have 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen. The nursery-to-be is now my husband's office. We are debating on whether or not to turn that into JUST a nursery or to keep his small desk in there.

Is it problematic to have a work-space where the baby sleeps or could we do that?

Answer 1

We have a small 2-bdrm, 1 bath house and had to make things work.  Our nursery was also our "office" and we just didn't have enough room to move everything out of there.  Ideally, yes, we wanted baby to have his own room.  In reality, we just don't have the space.  We still have our computer desk in there, which is kind of a pain when I want to get online at night and baby is asleep (I don't dare go in there when he is sleeping, he wakes on the drop of a feather).  We have just learned to adjust, and do the work we need to on the computer before he goes to bed.  If this isn't possible for you, you may need to find another space.

Someday......a bigger house :)

Answer 2

I'm doing something similar. We also have a very small 2 bedroom home.

Right now, the baby's room is actually a catch all storage room. We do have a desk in there, as well as all my painting accessories.

Right now, there's no computer, but there will be one in the future. What I plan on doing is putting up a curtain or standing screen so that the work space is separated from the rest of the room.

All these people who are saying that your husband can't work in there while the baby is trying to sleep... well, I disagree. If a baby grows up sleeping around noises (and not even loud noises at that!), then he will learn to be a sound sleeper, and not wake up and the drop of a pin.

The only potential problem is that if your husband is trying to concentrate, he may be interrupted by a crying baby.. but that would be the case if he were anywhere else in the house.

:)

Answer 3

Well it all depends on if you need a actual desk or if you just want the room for papers. If you just need the desk for papers and filing you could just get a filing cabinet and put it in a closet and use the laptops where ever you like. If you really need the desk and you feel it is very necessary, then just keep it in there. In the beginning the babys going to barely be in there anyway. Its totally up to you, because sometimes you may not be able to do your work in there because then baby may be napping/ sleeping. So really it all depends on how often you need access to that desk. And whether you guys using the desk will disturb the baby, or be a problem later on. You guys could always keep it in there, and later on if it becomes a issue... then move it. It's totally your choice, it can be done either way.

I don't think the nursery/office will be a probem. Like you said when you need the computer you can just remove it from the room. (thank goodness for wireless internet :)

Answer 4

Well, your baby is not going to be spending much time in a separate room for quite a while. The first few weeks/months, you are going to want him in the room with you. Makes those frequent night nursings so much easier. Don't feel like you have to create some special nursery for your baby. All your baby needs is breast milk, love and a clean diaper.

That said, I think it's perfectly fine to keep the room as an office. You can even put the baby's crib in your own bedroom once he's big enough to sleep in it and keep the 2nd room as an office. My son goes to bed at 7:30 and wakes up around 3 or 4 am. His crib is in our room and once he wakes up, we snuggle together and he goes right back to sleep.

Good luck and congrats on your baby!

Answer 5

If he has a computer, then move it out of the bedroom.  The high pitch sound of the computer fan (even sound YOU don't hear) is damaging to hearing over time.  

If there is no computer, consider moving everything into the closet where you can shut the door.  Baby stuff can all go into a dresser.

Answer 6

That depends on whether he would tend to be working when the baby is sleeping.

My tiny ikea desk is beside my TV in the livingroom ;-)

Works better anyway because then I can see my toddler, nurse my baby, and type all at the same time.

Answer 7

I see it as being a potential issue just because when he is trying to work and if the baby is trying to sleep it could cause a disruption to both.  

Answer 8

I would put the desk in your room or a different room because the baby is not going to be able to sleep if someone else is in there as well. especially when baby gets older, i think you should let her/him have a room of thier own :)

Answer 9

i dont see a problem with it. the baby spends more time in your room anyways during the first year and even when he/she is sleeping in there you shouldnt worry about the noise level. he/she will need to learn to sleep whether there is noise or not because you cant always be in a completely quiet place when its time for a nap.  

Answer 10

As long as you don't work while the baby is trying to sleep I don't see why not. We had our work station in the babies room and it worked just fine. We didn't start until 9 am when he was up and quit before he went to bed.