Living in a house (vs flat) with small DC

[MovingHome22]

This might sound like an odd question for house dwellers but I've always lived in flats, so...

Am moving to a house with stairs with my toddler (18 months old). Just interested in how people live in their day to day lives in these spaces compared to living in a flat. For example, in our flat my toddler will run about from their room and into the living room freely, and toys / books get moved across both rooms all the time.

I'm imagining in our new house we will have to have a specific place to store toys downstairs in the living area, and a separate stash of toys in DC's bedroom upstairs? I guess DC will mostly play downstairs during the days when not at nursery.

We will have a stairgate but DC is currently a climber. Is there any danger of DC climbing over stairgates? Also, do bannisters on the landing present problems?

In the mornings I'm wondering what our routine will be. At present we are floating between bedroom and kitchen making coffee, getting ready etc. I won't be able to be upstairs whilst DC is downstairs or vice versa so I guess I need to childproof my bedroom so that DC can hang out in there with me while I get ready and then bring them downstairs.

Sorry to sound silly but it is so new living on two floors with an 18 month old!

Has anyone made the move from flat living to house with stairs?

Yes keep him downstairs with you (or in the bedroom with the door closed if you're getting ready) and make sure theres a stairgate, obviously.

Is there any danger of DC climbing over stairgates?
Yep! kids do dangerous things all the time - a parents job is to teach them not to

I’ve always lived in houses, 4 kids never used stair gates personally, no accidents. And yes we keep toys downstairs so we are downstairs all day, your 18m old wouldn’t be upstairs on their own.

I didn't bother with stairgates with DS2 and it has been absolutely fine as he was an early walker and good on his feet from very early.

To be honest, generally I think child proofing is overrated as when kids are that young, you need to be with them anyway. Obviously don't leave open bottles of bleach or loaded weapons but normal houses are fine.

Toys will end up downstairs so I don't get the point of trying to keep them upstairs until the kids are much older.

You'll spend majority of your time downstairs.
My son is 3 and has no toys in his room yet, they are all downstairs.

We did use stair gates and tbh they were a god send for us. He never tried to climb them but know some kids do.
No issues with bannisters for us. He may try poke his leg through but otherwise he's not interested in it.

Child proofing, I was advised not to use the safety plug things. And obviously anything he can hurt himself on keep up high but don't think there's much in a bedroom that needs child proofing.
Straighteners etc obv not left out after being on.

You'll find your new routine and way of living so to speak.

Congrats on new home

You will love it. Going 'up' to bed is great for kids too, to establish good bed time routine.

It's great to have downstairs as living space and upstairs as shower / bath / bed space.

Assume you have a garden of tour own now too? Congratulations ❤️

Thank you! Looking into finding space for toys downstairs. A small garden yes. Very exciting!