Do you think it's safe to sleep downstairs, with kids upstairs?

[Beartime]

We're buying a new house and are thinking about having our bedroom downstairs. I'm just a bit concerned about the children - 2, 3 and 5 yrs. I feel worried not being close to them like what if there was a fire, what if there was a burglar etc. What do you think? Has anyone done it?

We do the opposite, children downstairs (on first floor, not ground floor) and we sleep in loft conversion.

With regard to safety/fires, we have an electrical smoke alarm system with battery back up, and proper fire doors so we have done what we can to minimise risk.

With regard to burglaries we have secure double glazing and new patio/front/back doors. We don't leave windows open at night on first floor or ground floor.

Our main worry is not hearing the children, so we leave their room and our room doors open. Also we have a baby monitor as back up even though they are not babies.

In the scenario you describe, if there was a burglary then the burglars would have to get past you, and imo it is the same or less risk as you sleeping on the first floor with the dcs?

Like onepiece - DH and I sleep in the loft conversion and the children (4 and 6) sleep on the 1st floor. Again, we make sure the smoke alarms are working and ensure that doors and windows are locked. I don't think sleeping on the same floor lessens the risks of fire or burglary ...

We are the other way round - kids in loft conversion , us on first floor.

Smoke detectors on all floors on all floors.

Burglars - dog on ground floor - 'nuff said

Set up has never been an issue and a think with all loft conversions that you see about sleeping on differnt floor to your children may be quite common.

Did exactly that for years. With bedroom doors open and a gate at the top of the stairs it worked fine. As they grew older they closed their own doors and the gate was taken down. I was always awoken by the sound of coughing fits or puking even from that distance. Check your fire alarms.

We sleep in the loft conversion with dd1 (3)on 1st floor. Was initially worried when we moved here, but she comes up on her own happiliy. Too happilly actually, as despite now having 3 bedrooms, us and both dd's invariably all squeeze into our bed most nights!

think it would be alright

Yes I've done it. It was okay but when we moved I insisted we all have bedrooms on the same floor.

You could put a baby monitor in the upstairs hall?

Thank you everyone! I think it is a little further with regard to hearing things, because this downstairs room we would be sleeping in is in the extension of the ground floor. The stairs go down to the living room which is in the front of the house, then there is the kitchen, then the dining room, then the back hallway and bathroom and only THEN where we would be sleeping! But I could see if I left all doors open, and had smoke alarms checked and maybe a monitor in the hallway upstairs it wouldn't be so bad.

Also DH pointed out that even if there was a fire in the kitchen we could go out the backdoor and round the outside to the front since it is a semi-detached, and then up the stairs, which I guess would work - though with all the doors open the fire wouldn't be very contained!

I like the idea of a dog on a ground floor, hmm maybe that would make up for having to clean up another set of poo

I appreciate all the replies, it's made me a feel a bit less worried about it!

could use baby monitor left on landing for a while then I am sure it will get forgotten and everyone will realise its fine, your 2 year old will be perfectly going up and down stairs very soon so maybe temporary stairgate I would only be concerned if you know you have sleepwalkers

most burgulars strike between 2-4pm even if you live in crime central the proverbial middle of night burgulary is very rare

I guess the only burglary we had was on a Sunday morning lol. It seems I am worrying too much!!!

We have this set up - DH and I on ground floor and DCs upstairs. Ours were 1, 3 and 5 when we moved here a year ago. My only issue really was about hearing them, but that has not been a problem - doors open. When my 6 yr old was ill the other day though I did dig out the baby monitor and put it in her room so she could call me easily if she was sick.