Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

Moving bedrooms

13 replies

LosingMyMind28 · 26/06/2025 23:34

Hey

We live in a 3 bedroom house. 2 bedrooms on the first floor and the 3rd in the loft conversion. The loft is fully converted, ie carpet, radiator, velux window. Our son is 4.5 years old and currently has his bedroom on the first floor next to ours. His 3 month old brother is in our room.

My idea is to move our eldest into the loft bedroom (currently just used for storage), and then move his brother into the bedroom next to ours. It’s a small room and wouldn’t fit the both of them.

My question is how to make this fun for our eldest? How to sell it so much that he really wants to move up to the loft and doesn’t feel like he’s being forced there? We haven’t broached the subject with him yet.

We’d be looking to do this in around 3 months or so.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
PersephoneParlormaid · 27/06/2025 06:31

I suppose you need to tell him that he’s going up there and ask him how he’d like to decorate it, include him in the process. Then get it cleared out now and use it as a play space, encourage him to spend time up there.

NuffSaidSam · 27/06/2025 07:04

"Hey Tom, when you go into reception in September you're going to be big enough to move into the big boy room! Let' think about what sort of room you'd like (discuss themes)".

Spend the summer decorating/buying accessories in his chosen theme. Let him have 'sleepovers' up there a few days in the holidays to get ready (talk it up as if it's a treat). Transition over at the end of the summer or before if he's taking it well.

Don't move the baby straight away so he doesn't feel like he's been moved to accommodate the baby.

Bitzee · 27/06/2025 07:20

We did the same when DD was 4. I don’t think we made a big deal out of it. Just said we were decorating her new room and let her choose the paint colour and bed covers.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

0-3 months old 3-6 months old 4 year olds Babies & sleep
BendingSpoons · 27/06/2025 07:30

We recently asked our 6yo DS if he wanted to move bedrooms. (He didn't have to move, we had done some renovation and there was now a bigger bedroom available.) He got quite upset and talked about how much he likes his bed, lamp etc. We explained he could take all that with him but he wasn't convinced. We didn't push it, as we didn't need him to move. So I would suggest you sell it like a positive, but reassure that it doesn't all need to change.

The other option is to involve him in family discussions. You and your DP could have conversations with him along the lines of: 'Let's think about who should have this new room. We could give it to the baby, or I suppose DS you might want to move in there. We could probably set the train set up in there. What do you think?' It's a risky strategy though if they don't go along with it!

Barrenfieldoffucks · 27/06/2025 07:37

Is he ok being that far away from you?

Personally I would keep him next to you, and a 3 month old in with me for a fair while longer

ShesTheAlbatross · 27/06/2025 07:44

What does he like?
Space? The room is at the top with a window looking at the sky to see the moon!
Castles? He’ll be king of the castle in the top of his tower!

You get the idea. And decorate accordingly.

StrangerOnline · 27/06/2025 08:16

Excellent post by @NuffSaidSam - that!

Newblackdress · 27/06/2025 08:29

He might love the new room, but let him tell you he’s upset if he needs to. He’s young to be sleeping on a different floor from his parents.

Original poster
LosingMyMind28 · 27/06/2025 13:47

NuffSaidSam · 27/06/2025 07:04

"Hey Tom, when you go into reception in September you're going to be big enough to move into the big boy room! Let' think about what sort of room you'd like (discuss themes)".

Spend the summer decorating/buying accessories in his chosen theme. Let him have 'sleepovers' up there a few days in the holidays to get ready (talk it up as if it's a treat). Transition over at the end of the summer or before if he's taking it well.

Don't move the baby straight away so he doesn't feel like he's been moved to accommodate the baby.

That’s super- thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
LosingMyMind28 · 27/06/2025 13:48

BendingSpoons · 27/06/2025 07:30

We recently asked our 6yo DS if he wanted to move bedrooms. (He didn't have to move, we had done some renovation and there was now a bigger bedroom available.) He got quite upset and talked about how much he likes his bed, lamp etc. We explained he could take all that with him but he wasn't convinced. We didn't push it, as we didn't need him to move. So I would suggest you sell it like a positive, but reassure that it doesn't all need to change.

The other option is to involve him in family discussions. You and your DP could have conversations with him along the lines of: 'Let's think about who should have this new room. We could give it to the baby, or I suppose DS you might want to move in there. We could probably set the train set up in there. What do you think?' It's a risky strategy though if they don't go along with it!

Thanks for this- you are right, risky if he doesn’t go along with it 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
LosingMyMind28 · 27/06/2025 13:49

Barrenfieldoffucks · 27/06/2025 07:37

Is he ok being that far away from you?

Personally I would keep him next to you, and a 3 month old in with me for a fair while longer

He’s really independent love him. He always wants to ‘explore’ in the loft, so the curiosity is promising. Will likely take advice on board and do it slowly from now over the summer, ready for him to start reception.

OP posts:
Original poster
LosingMyMind28 · 27/06/2025 13:51

Newblackdress · 27/06/2025 08:29

He might love the new room, but let him tell you he’s upset if he needs to. He’s young to be sleeping on a different floor from his parents.

Thank you, noted. We’re very open with our feelings and talking about them, but it is worth reminding him that he can tell us how he feels

OP posts:
KhakiSheep · 27/06/2025 13:57

Just to add, we only have one but our 12 month old has been on a different floor to us since about 8 months. I really don't find it a problem with the baby monitor, it only takes me a couple of seconds longer to get to him if your older child doesn't want to move.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page