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Larger families

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Original poster

Should we turn the playroom into an extra bedroom?

119 replies

BirthdayKake · 01/05/2020 08:02

Help!

Ok so at the minute we have 5 children and are wanting to have one more in a couple of years.

We have four bedrooms - one huge one with an en suite for three girls, one box room for the eldest, only boy, a small double for DH and me and a nursery for the baby (girl).

We have a playroom downstairs that would definitely fit a bed, wardrobe, desk, drawers etc to make it into a bedroom. I'm wondering whether to put my eldest girl (9 years old) in there.

What would everyone else do??

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

sleepingpup · 01/05/2020 08:37

For the 3 sharing how do they have their own space and privacy?

So what happens when the other girls get to the point when they would benefit from more space and be creative and want friends round?

@ineedaholidaynow what are you getting at here? I shared my bedroom for my whole childhood. Many people do.

ineedaholidaynow · 01/05/2020 08:40

@sleepingpup OP has said the oldest girl will benefit from having her own room so she can have more space and she likes having friends round. I was just asking what happens when her siblings get to the same stage.

sleepingpup · 01/05/2020 09:01

well as you know how many rooms and children there are you already know they won't have their own rooms don't you. You're just pointing out problems.

You don't think OP has already worked that one out?

sleepingpup · 01/05/2020 09:01

@ineedaholidaynow

leolion81 · 01/05/2020 09:04

I can't believe some of the responses on here. Op didn't ask whether having another child was a good idea she was simply looking for ideas on where they would all sleep. If she has a 4 bed then that's plenty for 6 children if she so wishes. It might not be everyone's choice to have that many children but it's really harsh to judge op for doing so. A lot of kids have to share rooms in smaller families/ homes. What they lack in space they will make up for with sibling relationships.

sleepingpup · 01/05/2020 09:12

Do some posters lurk around the larger families threads just to be able to tell others off ?

True keyboard warriors.

ineedaholidaynow · 01/05/2020 09:12

If the OP was so sure of what to do why is she posting a question on here?

sleepingpup · 01/05/2020 09:18

Don't think she that sure. @ineedaholidaynow

but you're here to point out all the problems.

orangeblosssom · 01/05/2020 09:21

Leolion: In the 21st century, it is irresponsible to have 6 children. Planet Earth can not cope with the extra environmental burden.

sleepingpup · 01/05/2020 09:24

i thought you wanted OP just buy a bigger house @orangeblosssom ?

ineedaholidaynow · 01/05/2020 09:24

If someone is asking a question isn’t that the point to highlight some of the issues?

Namesgonenow · 01/05/2020 09:25

Wind up

sleepingpup · 01/05/2020 09:28

@ineedaholidaynow like "do the children have enough playthings" What are you getting at? Just highlighting what they don't have?

Having a bored day and circling?

ineedaholidaynow · 01/05/2020 09:33

The OP said she was minimalist. When you have 5 children, the oldest girl being 9, I can’t see how you can be a minimalist! I was imagining a playroom full of toys, as that is what a playroom for young children would be.

Qgardens · 01/05/2020 09:37

If the current baby moves into the big room, then what will be the age difference between her and the oldest of the remaining two girls?

You'll have accommodated the eldest girls needs for space and friends by giving her the downstairs room, but it won't be long before the next girl needs the same, as pp have mentioned.

Stop procreating. now, and then they'll all have space. There will only be two sharing a room and it will be easy to sub divide the big room into two smaller areas. Everyone gets their personal space.

If you do plan on having another baby, keep the playroom and keep the bed areas just for sleeping in, or you might need to change it into a study/chill space for the older kids to get peace from the younger ones.

SleepingStandingUp · 01/05/2020 09:53

I wouldn't want a9 yo downstairs alone, and def bnot a 13/14 yo.

Save the toy room and use as a study room as kids age up.
Agree with pp, you need to think about if there's space for them at say 22 downwards. Suddenly the 22 yo has her own room downstairs, your boy in his own room, but you've got say a 20, 18 and 17 yo sharing one room and then your youngest lad in the "nursery". Will you allow the 22 yo with her own room to have a bf over? How does that work for the 20 yo? Do you have enough communal space for 8 adults plus boyfriends and girlfriends, mates etc?

Original poster

BirthdayKake · 01/05/2020 10:16

This is insane! I'm not a troll 🤔 but whatever. Thank you @sleepingpup.

I think some of you are imagining we live in a teeny house. We don't, don't worry.

I've already thought of all the things mentioned, so maybe I didn't need to ask. I'll put the idea forward to the children and see what opinions they have.

There are some bitter people on here today.

OP posts:

ScarfLadysBag · 01/05/2020 10:28

Well your house can't be that big with those room sizes. Four beds, one is a small double and one is a box room. And I'm assuming the nursery isn't massive or one of the existing occupants would be in it. So you don't have a massive house in terms of bedroom space 🤷‍♀️

ScarfLadysBag · 01/05/2020 10:30

But I don't think a downstairs bedroom is that terrible. I think I'd rather do that than cram them all in together.

Original poster

BirthdayKake · 01/05/2020 10:33

Scarf, you have no idea of the dimensions of our rooms so that is a really odd post?! And I called it a 'nursery' before people jumped on about one small baby in a big bedroom. But yes, it's a double room.

OP posts:

supercee · 01/05/2020 10:38

You can disagree with someone's life choices and plans without being bitter.

Original poster

BirthdayKake · 01/05/2020 10:39

No there's definitely bitterness.

OP posts:

twinkleprincess · 01/05/2020 10:40

@BirthdayKake how do you propose a 16 year old studies for GCSEs whilst sharing a room with 6/7 year old?

This is a very important question. I shared a room when I was younger with two other siblings. When it became that we had more active school study my parents realised that they had made a mistake. We ended up moving out of the area to get a bigger house with an appropriate amount of rooms.

It's not just studying. If you had an exam the next morning and your 6 year old sister was up during the night because she couldn't sleep, wasn't well, had a bad dream etc can you imagine how rubbish that would be not being able to get a good nights sleep.

Original poster

BirthdayKake · 01/05/2020 10:42

They will be able to study in peace, don't worry.

OP posts:

twinkleprincess · 01/05/2020 10:44

@BirthdayKake but as I said it's not just studying. Would you be willing to impact their future because they couldn't get a decent nights sleep before a exam?

We see so many students that say that they haven't been able to sleep because they share rooms and their results, unfortunately, tend to reflect that.

It's great that you have a large family and the memories will be lovely but you must be practical and fair to your children.

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