Posted by
qwerty123
19 yrs ago
thinking of moving to a flat that is a walk up - 4 or 5 flights......but expecting baby too....is it really hard with a small one (and also when heavily pregnant) to live in a walk up?
Please support our advertisers:
1. Get a backpack and fill it so it weighs some 10-15 kgs. Put on your back. Then get four shopping bags and fill them with things from your larder. Go out of your front door where you live with these things and walk up 5 flights of steps.
2. Get a pushchair, trolley or large suitcase. Unevenly load it with 10+ kg of items - to the dead weight of a tired toddler. Get two bags of shopping and a bag filled to baby items/nappies weight. Go out of your front door with these things and walk up 5 flights.
Oh, and do both when it is 30+ degrees, or when you and your bubs have streaming colds and you are on the way to the doctor.
Of course, it is possible. Generations of mums, and mums-to-be have managed this. But they had no other option. Walk-ups have a certain charm but it is possible that charm can wear off, but that was only my experience.
Please support our advertisers:
qwerty123,
don't know how long you've been in hk, but the summers here are horrific!! really hot and really really humid! so bad that you only have to look outside and you start to sweat all over...
wehn my husband and i looked at flats we also looked at a walk up but very quickly decided that it was a serious no-no. a friend of mine lives on the 3/fl of a walk up and i hate the stairs now.....but it was 10 times worse when i was pregnant during the summer!
my advice - don't do it if you have the choice!
Please support our advertisers:
Seoul has a lot of walkups - and I had an infant when I was considering it. And quickly I decided against it. CLaire's example above, although hysterical (thanks for the laugh Claire) is actually realistic. the baby is in your stomach, but imagine once he or she is out and you have to maneuver baby, stroller, groceries, mail, and going up and down multiple times to get it done.
Luckily in HK you have door to door grocery service, and if you only imagine your child and you traveling and you don't have to do much shopping as your DH can do it, I could see it being a possibility - but I hope the inside of the flat is spectacular and exactly what you want.
Please support our advertisers:
Claire's advice is right on. I live in a walk up (atop a steep hilly street). It is manageable once you get used to it (and good for your health too), but I am really not looking forward to my first entire summer of going up the hill and stairs.
Please support our advertisers:
crj
19 yrs ago
Yes, stairs are hard, but there are lots of advantages...
If you are staying long-term in the flat (own?) and you have the roof - the roof is a fabulous benefit for toddlers and children - you can have a play area, ride tricycles, etc...
Even without a roof, many walk ups have balconies that provide partial outdoor play areas.
Walk ups are usually older buildings which are more 'efficient' in size and often cheaper than a smaller flat with a lift.
I used to live on a 4th floor walk up with roof (a few years ago) and now I live on a 1st floor walk up. Without a doubt, I love both the buildings and the atmosphere of being in a smaller, older building. Also, the space is fabulous, much more than you get with a modern building.
Also, depending upon the building neighbours, you might be able to leave your pram downstairs under the stairs, or if you have a car, you can leave it in your car - that way you don't need to carry it up the stairs.
So there are pros and cons. And yes, some days I HATE the stairs, but then again, on those days I pretty much hate moving in general :)
Good luck deciding!
Please support our advertisers:
i lived on a 2/F walkup when pregnant and after the baby was born. we moved out because it was just too hard.
Please support our advertisers:
crj
19 yrs ago
I have friends who have a 4th floor walk up with roof in Stanley. They lived there through two pregnancies, babies and toddlers - they wouldn't trade it for anything as they have the best play area on the roof.
I am just pointing out that you have to consider the WHOLE PICTURE, not just the stairs.
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail