Hoping I might find some kindred spirits here with this one. I’m 27 and currently expecting our fourth, and while you’d think I’d be an old hand at this, the nesting instinct has hit me in a rather peculiar way this time around. Instead of a frantic urge to buy things, I feel an overwhelming need to simplify and carve out space. With our eldest Brightling at nine, and the two littles, Lark and Roderick, practically on top of each other at two years and 16 months, our home is already a bustling (but loved) space. There’s no spare room for a traditional nursery.
My solution so far has been to create a small, calm ‘baby nook’ in our bedroom. I’ve been using my textile background to dye some old muslin cloths into a lovely muted colour palette and am planning to upcycle a pre-loved Moses basket that’s seen our other babies through. It’s about finding beauty in simplicity, but I am starting to wonder if I’m missing any practical essentials. For those with larger families in smaller spaces, how have you cleverly integrated a new baby’s needs without accumulating a mountain of gear? Any favourite multi-purpose items that were true life-savers?
On a deeper level, I think this focus on creating a physical space is my way of mentally preparing for the shift. I’m feeling surprisingly anxious about this birth, maybe more so than with the others. There’s this assumption that the fourth time is a breeze, but the unpredictability is what’s getting to me. I find that methodically organising a tiny, peaceful corner for our new arrival helps to quiet some of that inner noise. Does anyone else find that practical ‘nesting’ helps soothe labour anxieties or worries about the changing family dynamic?