A two-bedroom that works with a stroller

Start while you still have energy

A one-bedroom often feels small by month four. If housing is in your contract, ask HR in writing whether a two-bedroom is possible and who pays the difference. Do this in the second trimester.

The building, not the listing photo

You need a working elevator, a door wide enough for a stroller, and a ground-floor exit that is not a ring of bikes. Walk the route from the apartment door to the street with a suitcase. If that is hard, a stroller will be harder.

South-facing rooms matter in a Beijing winter. Ask about heating (集中供暖 vs electric), water pressure, and whether the compound allows a yuesao to stay overnight.

Neighborhoods that come up often

Wudaokou and Zhichunlu: close to 北医三院, smaller rooms, older elevators. Olympic Village and Datun: newer towers, longer trip to some hospitals. Wangjing: easier English-speaking pediatric care, farther from Haidian schools. Huilongguan: more space for the rent, longer commute to Chaoyang hospitals. Shunyi: close to the international schools, a long trip into the city. The neighborhood guide covers each area in more detail.

Two-bedroom rents vary widely by compound and season. Treat any number you hear in a WeChat group as a starting point. Walk two buildings before you sign.

The lease

Landlords sometimes object to a newborn or to a yuesao. Put the household size in the contract. Keep a Chinese speaker at the signing. If the employer holds the lease, HR must be in that conversation.