I live in a tiny New York apartment with my husband and our baby. Until we became parents, we never felt the need for a dishwasher. But now, with all the bottles that need cleaning, I feel like a slave to my sink. We've been talking about getting a dishwasher lately, but our kitchen is just too small for most conventional models. Can you recommend a dishwasher that will fit in our tiny space?

Thanks,
Wendy

Dear Wendy,

We hear you. No one really likes the dirty task, but once you've become a parent, it seems criminal to waste time scrubbing dishes when you could be spending time with your kid instead. Like you said, baby bottles are just one of the many hurdles - a newborn baby can go through 8 bottles a day! Dishwashers can be of enormous help, because in addition to cutting down on the amount of time you spend at the sink, the hot water sterilizes the bottles, so you don't have to go through the trouble of boiling them. We did some research, and here are 3 suitable options for apartment dwellers:

Stainless Steel 18 in. Built-In Dishwasher, $549.99, GE Appliances, sears.com.

A narrower version of your standard dishwasher, this GE model is an ENERGY STAR qualified appliance (which means you're saving both energy and money). It's roomy enough to wash a family-sized load, but takes up a little less space in the kitchen. Perks: it has reduced noise with a Quiet 1800 sound insulation, and has a China/Crystal cycle for delicate items.

Stainless Steel Elite 24 in. Single Drawer Dishwasher, $899.99, Kenmore, sears.com.

This is a rare design for dishwashers - its lower, wider build (it's the same width as a standard model, only much more squat) makes it a great solution if you have width to spare in the kitchen, but not height. It could fit nicely under a sink, for example. This appliance is also ENERGY STAR qualified, and offers a great deal of versatility. Perks: the Smart Sense cycle adjusts washing time and temperature to the amount of food stuck to the dishes, and has sliding racks that accommodate a range of dish sizes.

Countertop Dishwasher, $179.99, Danby, target.com.

This ultra-compact version is a good compromise for when you really have no room to spare. At about the size of a microwave, it can easily fit on a countertop, and surprisingly, it can hold about 4 place settings (although we suspect it might be less than that). And, hey, if you need to run it twice to get all the dishes clean, it's better than standing in front of the sink all night. Perk: if you don't even have counter space to spare, you can store it while it's not in use, since it hooks up directly to the kitchen faucet.

E-mail your home-design questions and photos here.