Kids bedrooms on different floors

[neverwakeasleepingbaby]

Interested to hear other people's opinions on the following "problem".
We live in a townhouse. It tall and thin, with two bedrooms on the top floor and two (identical) bedrooms on the middle floor. All good sizes but the front bedrooms are bigger. We have a DS, and a baby on the way (if all works out).
Currently, we're all on the top floor. DS in smaller room and us in the larger bedroom. The "middle" floor bedrooms are a guest room and office at the moment.
Long term I don't think there's a problem. However, short term, how should we configure the bedrooms? I don't want to be on a different floor to the kids when they're young.
My current plan is to put them both in one room (we could potentially swap so the kids could have the larger bedroom and we could have the smaller one).
Or we could move to the middle floor and the kids could have the whole top floor.
What does everyone think to those plans?
Thanks in advance!

[McOrange]

We have a similar set up and our kids are on a different floor. I understand some people say they wouldn’t be comfortable with doing it but we are.

we sleep with our bedroom door open, have a monitor for the baby. The toddler has a creaky door so we hear if she’s coming out and she knows to come up the stairs. We make sure our burglar alarm and fire / smoke alarms are working etc etc.

it works well for us

[NuffSaidSam]

If the kids sleep well in the same room then have them in together, if they don't (which is a real possibility) then have the kids on the middle floor and you keep the top floor. This is safer because it means if they need you in the night they're coming upstairs, not trying to go downstairs half asleep/in the dark.

[user1484167681]

We couldn’t be on the same floor as our children in our last flat as it was a duplex set up and the master was on a sort of “middle” floor. I’d move your office up to be next to your child’s room, and have your bedroom and the baby’s room on the middle floor. Least chance of disturbing your eldest, that way.

[Tallulasdancingshoes]

How old will your ds be when the baby needs to move into their own room? Dd was only about 18 months when we moved her to a different floor from us and it’s been absolutely fine. I’d move your ds to a different floor, you stay put and move the baby into ds room once the time comes.

[neverwakeasleepingbaby]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Seems like there's no right answer and lots of things to consider! Especially regarding them going upstairs rather than coming down and that being safer. I find it comforting that other people have faced this situation and it's all been fine either way.

DS will be 2 years 5 months when baby is born (I'm only 7 weeks along and have a history of miscarriage so keeping my fingers crossed!).

I think if baby is a boy then I might just decide that they can share long term and we can all be on the same floor.

[Orangebadger]

Assuming baby will be in the same room as you for the first 6 months. Then also assuming baby is a good sleeper you could move them in together, your eldest would be 3.5/4. Then you could all stay on the same floor at least for a few years. Maybe when your eldest is older you'll be comfortable with your children been on a different floor. Our 10 and 5 yr old are on a different floor and have been since 5 and then the youngest was 3. Our door is open and they know they can come up.

[Orangebadger]

Sorry misread the ages, I thought your DS was 2.5 now.

[PuttingDownRoots]

Mine shared until 5&7 despite having spare rooms. One of the spare rooms was their playroom.

[MoserRothOrangeandAlmond]

We are in a townhouse and have 2 bedrooms on the middle floor and the master on the top floor.
Our daughter is on the middle floor, we keep our door open and a sensitive baby monitor (there's quite a few families have these houses on the estate so have the same set up)
Our daughter like to wait in her room for us to go get her. I wouldn't like her to be above and having to come downstairs when she's half asleep (if she did decide to come out of her room).

The way I think of it.... when the children are in bed do you go downstairs in the living room and kitchen? Or do you stay on the same floor.

If the children get on well sharing a room then do that and have another room as a spare/play room.

[Lindtnotlint]

not sure this is as big a deal as you think it is. Our kids have always been on a different floor. We have baby monitors, and they call us if they need us in the night and we go to them. Now they are older they come down the stairs but they are completely safe. We also leave the landing light on.

it’s also quite good for encouraging them to actually sleep!