Mom Shares Joys and Challenges of Raising Twins in One-Bedroom Apartment

Allie Sweeney says living in cramped quarters was "definitely doable" with young infants, but moving to the suburbs was the right call.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Allie Sweeney, a San Francisco mom, has shared the pros and cons of raising her twin daughters Emma and Savannah in a one-bedroom apartment in the city's iconic Fontana Towers. While the compact living space presented challenges, Sweeney says it also had benefits like constant proximity to her babies. After 7 months, the family moved to a larger two-bedroom home in the suburbs.

Why it matters

Living in crowded or cramped conditions can negatively impact both parents and children, leading to increased stress, reduced sleep, and lower academic performance. However, Sweeney's story shows that with creativity and an intentional approach, raising infants in a small space is possible, though not without its difficulties.

The details

When Sweeney found out she was pregnant with twins in 2024, she and her husband decided to stay in their cozy one-bedroom apartment rather than move. They had to be "super-intentional" about what they bought and stored, avoiding bulk purchases like diapers. Noise and light were carefully managed to avoid waking the sleeping babies. Despite the challenges, Sweeney says the compact space encouraged them to spend more time outside, exploring the city. After 7 months, the family moved to a larger two-bedroom home in the San Francisco suburbs.

  • In April 2024, Sweeney found out she was pregnant with twins.
  • When the twins, Emma and Savannah, were 7 months old, the family moved to a two-bedroom house in the San Francisco suburbs.

The players

Allie Sweeney

A San Francisco mom who raised her twin daughters in a one-bedroom apartment.

Emma and Savannah

Sweeney's twin daughters who lived with her and her husband in the one-bedroom apartment as infants.

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What they’re saying

“We always joked we could maybe fit one baby in it [the apartment]. So, when we found out I was pregnant and it was twins in April 2024, it was a little shocking, but we decided to stay since we loved the place so much.”

— Allie Sweeney (Newsweek)

“Trying to become minimalists while bringing two humans into our home was wild. We had to be super-intentional with everything we bought or put on the registry, only getting what we needed for that week and that stage of baby because we had nowhere to put anything.”

— Allie Sweeney (Newsweek)

What’s next

The family plans to continue enjoying their new, larger home in the San Francisco suburbs.

The takeaway

Sweeney's story shows that with creativity, intentionality, and a willingness to spend time outside the home, raising infants in a small space is possible, though not without its challenges. Her experience highlights the trade-offs between urban living convenience and the need for more space when starting a family.