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Original poster

If you live in a 3 bedroom property with 2 DC

40 replies

Squashedinabox · 23/02/2014 11:05

What is your total usable floor area (in m^2 if you know)?

Do you have provision for guests? Would you give each DC a room and equip one (the largest) with the possibility to sleep two and put the child in with sibling when you have visitors? Or not bother to cater for visitors on the basis that they are the DC's bedrooms and it's not fair to move one out for other people.

OP posts:
Original poster
Squashedinabox · 24/02/2014 08:54

DH has suggested putting the DC in together and making a spare room. I'm not keen on this as the 2 DC have totally different sleeping patterns. Yes, they would love it, and if they would sleep the same then I would consider it but DC1 is a nightmare to get to sleep, wakes very early, DC2 is a dream - just put in bed and leave - usually sleeps later so I don't think its fair. He also pointed out, that it's fine now they are small, but later it's really not on to expect them to give up their rooms. Actually, I agree with this. And one is a girl, one a boy so long term sharing is not possible.

Is it unreasonable to expect an 80+ year old to sleep on a mattress on the floor?

I'd like to be able to invite over a friend from the UK and it seems very rude not to be able to offer somewhere to sleep! It's interesting reading all the options people use. Bunk beds ruled out in one DC room and the intended parents bedroom though as the ceiling slopes down so one wall is 1m.

OP posts:
Original poster
Squashedinabox · 24/02/2014 08:55

There are no extra rooms, 3 bedrooms and then one open hall/living/dining room area.

OP posts:
RufusTheReindeer · 24/02/2014 08:59

We have a four bed with three children (so same difference)

Couple guests have my room , the boys share and my DH and I have ds1s room

A single guest would have one of the boys rooms and the boys would share

We have guests about once a month so not too often

Nocomet · 24/02/2014 09:16

DD2 has a double bed in the biggest room, she gets thrown out into DD1's smaller room for visitors.

DD1 has a high sleeper and you can giggle a mattress into the floor space.

DD2 does get the hump, but we don't have house guest more than 2-3 times a year and they rarely stay more than 2 nights.

hyperspacebug · 24/02/2014 09:37

Currently 97 sq m - 3 bed house.
Ds (5yo) sleeps in his bunk bed
DS(2.5yo) still sleeps with us, will move to his own bed when ready

Guests - nice sofa bed in the living room (living room is separate from kitchen and dining room, so nothing like some open plans I've seen)

AnnabelleLee · 24/02/2014 09:45

Is it unreasonable to have a 80+ year old to sleep on a mattress on the floor?

Er, yes, obviously. do you really have to ask?

We have a small single room spare for visitors, couples always get our own room. You don't invite guests and then put them on the floor!

Bramshott · 24/02/2014 10:04

DD1's room is large and has a sofa-bed in, on the understanding that she will move out / share if we have guests.

In practise we do a mixture of things - if either DM or DMIL come alone, they will usually share with DD1. If DP or DPIL come together then we manhandle the sofabed (it's a foam one) downstairs into the dining room which is more private and next to the downstairs shower. If a family come then they have to have DD1's room and DD1 sleeps on the floor in DD2's room (this doesn't happen that often).

MrsTaraPlumbing · 24/02/2014 10:13

You have to think about what works for your family and your guests in your home.
If you haven't much space investigate local B&Bs and perhaps you have friends who live near by who might accommodate your guests?

sleepyhead · 24/02/2014 10:25

An 80+ yr old is unlikely to be able to get up from a mattress on the floor unaided.

You would need to give up your own bed for an 80+ year old if you don't think it would be fair for your dcs to do so.

Having said that, sofa beds can be really comfortable. Ours was under 200 from IKEA and my parents really liked it (both late 60s). We deliberately didn't offer them our bed because our mattress is appalling and my mum has a dodgy back.

I don't think it's a problem for guests to sleep in the main living area occasionally although it would be tough if it was for more than a night or so, and it does mean that they have to be the last to bed, first up.

Orlea · 24/02/2014 10:41

What about a fold-up camp bed, either for your DC or for guests? I remember being decanted onto one in my parents' room when I was little to free up my bedroom for guests, and see no problem with kids being moved for short-term visitors. It was always a bit of an adventure for me to sleep somewhere else!

We recently bought a 'double' camp bed when we had more guests coming than we had beds (including air mattresses for the younger ones). Apparently it was really comfortable... bit Hmm but I didn't want to press our polite guests too hard for a different answer! It is more like 1.5 than double width, still big enough for two slim adults for a night or two, but probably not much longer than that. It folds up to less than a foot deep, so whilst it's not the prettiest thing to have standing in the corner of a room, it's not too intrusive, and you can get covers for them.

thenamestheyareachanging · 24/02/2014 10:41

3dc in a 3 bed house here. We have one room obviously, then the other two are children's rooms. we have a bed settee downstairs for visitors, and if it's a really special visitor we vacate our room for them and sleep on the bed settee ourselves.

thenamestheyareachanging · 24/02/2014 10:42

I'd definitely give the 80 year old our room!!

TooMuchRain · 24/02/2014 13:35

Definitely no to 80 year old camping out!!! I would think short term and have the kids share, creating a spare room that could also be playroom for setting out games that take up space when you don't have visitors. You can get some really good sofa beds that have sturdy frames

Twilight23 · 24/02/2014 16:07

We have 2dc in a 3 bed. 3rd bedroom is a small room. Dc2 is a baby and shares with us and will do until we move. Dc1 has the small room and 2nd bedroom is being used by a family member. We have family from overseas staying for 6 months of the year.

We thought of placing dc1 in 2nd bedroom but when family stay most of their things would end up being stored in dc1s space. At least if she stays in small room, this is her space.

We want to move to a 4 bed house with a study, utility room, 2 reception rooms and a drive. Not asking for much am I?

Mandy21 · 24/02/2014 19:50

3dcs in 3 bed house, but its 113sqm so slightly bigger than average.

We have 1 room (quite large), 2 dcs in bunk beds in 1 room, 3rd dc in large single.

Single bed in 3rd dc's room has pop up trundle underneath, so converts to double bed. Visitors usually go in there. 3rd dc then goes on another trundle with the other dcs.

If we have another family to stay, they go in our room - couple in our room, their children on blow up mattresses / readybeds. We have the converted double, 3rd dc goes in with other 2dcs.

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