AIBU to give DD (7) the downstairs bedroom?

[girlrunningoncheese]

We have DD1 (6), DS (4) & baby DD2 (6mo). For now, the baby sleeps in our room but we’d like to move her into her own room over the next few months. The dilemma is, we have 3 bedrooms upstairs and a 4th (/reception room) downstairs. It’s a weird layout but the rooms/house are big and spacious - this was the compromise to get a house the size we wanted!

my question is, would it be wildly dangerous/mean/isolating to give DD1 the downstairs bedroom? It’s big and light, but I’m worried she’ll feel scared or lonely downstairs on her own. She’s quite sensitive (which is why I haven’t asked her opinion yet) but also sensible and not particularly wild.

I don’t really want me and DH to move downstairs, at least until DD2 is older and doesn’t need us so much at night. And I would rather that the kids don’t share unless there’s no option, mainly because the older ones sleep well and I don’t want them disturbed by a toddler.

YANBU - DD1 will be fine downstairs, you’re overthinking it and loads of kids sleep on different floors to their parents
YABU - it’s not safe to have a 7 yo on her own downstairs (I say 7 as she likely will be by the time we’d move her).

for full disclosure, my parents slept up a different staircase to me when I was a child! (Tiny cottage, not a mansion 🤣) but my sibling was in the room next door to me and it never occurred to us to mind.

True you never know for sure but as far as I can know, I think she would go out the window. But it does depend on the child, she was not one to get scared of things like that but her little brother probably would.

I think you also need to bear in kind that the move is also her being usurped by the baby - she’s giving up her room and either having to share or move to a different floor

i think the kindest thing you can do is let her keep her room and give the baby yours for now. Leave a bed up there so you can sleep up there if the baby has a sleep regression

Thanks for all the extra replies - super interesting to hear different views although some common themes!
A relevant point on the sharing option is that the kids already have a playroom downstairs (not the 4th “bedroom”) so I really don’t see much to “sell” to the older 2 re sharing. There’s not an upside from their perspective - also noted the posters who commented DD1 gives her bedroom
to her baby sister AND ends up sharing!

it’s annoying because our master bedroom is a weird shape and doesn’t lend itself to splitting.

the poster who said we have to make compromises, not the children, nailed it for me. I‘m a creature of habit but I think with time I can get used to the downstairs living concept!

Id make the downstairs room a playroom and have the girls share a room until they are older.

You haven’t read the OP’s latest post then?

I would move downstairs and use a monitor for the baby.

I have an office upstairs, three bedrooms and a family bathroom. All four DC share the family bathroom. Two teenagers have a bedroom each and two youngest DC share - it's a great solution.

We don't even miss our living room. Our kitchen was big enough for a large table so we all eat there together. Dining room is now the new living room. 🙌

We've had these arrangements since mid March 2025 and won't change back as we love it.

The teenagers love having their own personal space.