Family of five in a two bed

[Newmummy1234]

Is it possible for a family of five to live in a two bedroom house? Have two dcs already and thinking about dc3 but we already spend a fortune in rent (£1300 for two bed) due to where we live.
Can three children share a bedroom?!

We are a family of 5 in a 2 bed. The DS's 4 & 6 share a bedroom and we have 10 month old DD in with us in her cot. We will eventually move but for now it suits us fine!

I struggle to see why anyone would put themselves into a overcrowded situation. If you got pregnant by accident make the best of it but getting pregnant on purpose is madness. If you can't afford 3 bedroom house you can't afford 3 children. You won't get child benefit for third child either.

I know a family in this situation. I wouldn't willingly live like that.

Of course it is doable but is it fair? No

Seriously consider Is that set up best for your children (current and future)?

No. That’s completely selfish.

Absurd - another case of people having more kids than they can afford.

Most well balanced people know 3 children shouldn’t be sharing a room.

When I was a teenager we were 5 in a 2 bed flat. 3 girls, so we shared and then when I was older I often slept on the sofa bed in the living room. Hardest part was storage for all the clothes and crap.

@caringcarer I can confirm this is NOT TRUE regarding child benefit for the third! I missed out on over a year of not claiming for DD only to find out you are entitled to it for #3 its other benefits that are capped at 2

Ideally not long term if mixed sexes but it’s very doable short term, realistically the new baby would be in with you till probably six months at least so you could well move on after that! I don’t think it’s as awful as many seem to think here when the kids are young, but I have a lot of friends that shared rooms as kids (normally same sex though) the set up usually involved bunk beds and a single bed. I as an only child was always jealous of them!

It’s not just the bedroom though.

2 older kids with bikes, baby still in pram, toys belonging to 3 kids, high chair plus 2 child chairs round the table, can your car fit 3 car seats in the back , another mouth to feed and shoes to buy but no child benefit fir the third.

If you are currently tight for money, this isn’t a time I would be risking taking on another child.

@femfemlicious
How offensive that you assumed I live in a council tax and want a bigger house. Not that it is any of your business but I have a degree, a good job and have never claimed a benefit of any kind. Your kind of attitude is what is wrong with people like you. Go and troll another thread.

@Newmummy1234 i too live in a 2 bed flat with 2 kids. I too do not get any benefits or live in a council house. I would not in a million years dream of having another child and stuffing him/her into my girls room under any circumstances.

From what i understand, anyone can get a council house even if you are not on benefits?

It sounds like you cannot afford to get a bigger house so if you do have another baby you will be very likely be on to the council agitating for a bigger house due to 'overcrowding'

Well no I’d just love to a cheaper area rather than claim anything.

• move

We had a second home of 8 in a 3 bed. Granted we stayed there only 4/5 months of the year but it was do able.

We are a family of five in a small three bed and no, I wouldn't do it.

My boys are 5 and 3 and share a room and the baby has a tiny box room to herself. I can't imagine any long term situation that would involve them sharing or one of them in with us. To be honest even though my older two get on really well I wish they had their own rooms and we will definitely move before the eldest is finished at primary school.

@Newmummy1234

Well no I’d just love to a cheaper area rather than claim anything.

So why are you asking if it's practical to have three kids in one room then if you can just move to a cheaper area?

I wouldn't choose to do this, no.

Why would you choose to be overcrowded on purpose?

I think if you have good prospects of moving to a larger property in the next couple of years you should be fine, but if you would be relying on three children sharing a room long term, I don’t think it’s a good idea. They would be very overcrowded and never have their own space, it’s not really an ideal situation for them. And what if they’re different sexes and end up feeling uncomfortable with sharing?

You would have to be absolutely confident that your home prospects would improve before considering this imo.

Prob fine for a year when the baby is in with you, but past that no. I think it’s unfair on your other kids to make them live in an overcrowded house just because you fancy another baby.

I personally don't see the problem. Young children can share a room.

Save up and move when you can.

@titchy it wouldn’t be immediate as we have family reasons to stay here for a while so would have to stick with it for two years or so

I hated sharing with my room. No privacy, arguements over where to put stuff. Our room was so small we had to be in chair beds, OK for occasional use but not for every day.
I really wouldn't do it unless you can guarantee you can afford a five bed property rty by the time they are teens. If you can't do this, you really can't afford an extra child. I know my parents couldn't and we all went without.

We have three girls in a two bed garden flat. Their room is big and it's been ok, but we desperately need to move, we've needed to got a couple of years but things just haven't worked out. They're 12,9 and 7 now.
I adore my youngest, she is a total joy and all three have great relationships, dd3 was an accident, and I do think we should've been more careful.
It's ok but life would be a lot less stressful with just 2.
It was totally fine for the first couple of years, but I'd say just be totally sure you will be able to move after that, we thought we'd be able to but couldn't.