4 People and a 2 Bedroom House,help!

my 5 year old daughter and 3 year old son share a room. When they get older that will change, but it works for now. They love sharing a room and they both sleep better.

Why not give your son some curtains around his bed to offer him the feeling of privacy?

Have you asked your son if he'd be willing to share his room? My preschooler keeps asking me when his little sibling can share his room! lol! (My older daughters did the same thing. They couldn't wait to share.)

I'm not sure how your house is configured, but could you convert your garage into a master bedroom? We converted ours into a playroom for our kids and then built a shed in the back yard to keep all of the garage "stuff" in. To convert the garage only cost us around $2000.
Hope this helps. I'd be glad to elaborate further if you think this may work for you.
R.
Mom to 3

You have several options. First though, let me tell you that people in NYC have raised generations of children in 2 bedrooms and smaller. It is called sharing. It makes the family close, and causes tolerance.
Is it possible to add a bedroom? Is it possible to buy up and rent your place?
Last, and this is what many in NY do. The parents sleep in the living room or dining area. In the daytime you don't even know it because, they use beds that are turned into couches, thus at night, they sleep well, on a real bed, and in the daytime they are made up like a sofa. Remember that the most important thing is that you love each other, and you have a little cash to do chik fil a or something extra.

My husband and I were renting a 3 bedroom house with my 10 yr old daughter and our 1 yr old son and 2 yr old daughter. It was kinda cramped but we were done having kids and since he is in the military we thought it would be short lived. 4 months after we moved in his daughter came to live with us. I had to take the 2 little ones out of their room and give it to his daughter that was also 10. That meant they were in our room. At first I thought it would not be bad but it is hard to get romantic when you have kids in the room with you. One in a toddler bed and one in a baby bed. We were sneaking in the middle of the day and everything else. Not that it didnt add excitment but it was getting kinda ridiculous. Finally I decided to put them in the living room. Even though it was kinda cramped we did it and it actually worked well. Again we lived in a small house so they were still close. Everyone in our house goes to bed early because me and the little ones get up with dad while he is getting ready for PT and work. We have since then moved and the kids are now two 14 yr old girls one 4 yr old boy and one 5 yr old girl. I dont know if you have room to put your daughter in the hall or living room. It may sound mean but parents need their time and she is telling you she needs her time because she is waking up when you enter the room. Just a thought.

If your daughter is sleeping through the night? If she is then I would just tell you son that in a set amount of time (you decide-2 weeks, a month, whatever works for your family) that she will begin sharing his room. I understand that you don't want him to feel like you are taking away his room, but you are all a family and families make sacrifices together. If you do not give him an option, but rather just tell him what you are doing that should go better as well. You could involve him in picking out the spot for his sisters bed and toys to go, Then he will feel like he has some choice as to how things will be. I would recommend giving him choice A, B, or C. that way he decision is already pre-approved by you, but he gets to have some control. Best of luck!

my son has 5 kids in a 2 bdrm home, we had 3 in a 2 bedrm, then moved to a 4 bdrm, where we had 3 more kids. Right before we moved, my oldest (boy) was 8, sleeping in the top bunk, the 4 yr old (girl) slept in the bottom bunk, the 2yo (girl) slept in a crib, next to the bunk, and the baby slept in our bed with us. When we moved, the 4 girls had the big bedroom, and the 3 boys had the small bedroom.
My son, still has his baby in their bed, the 3 other girls share the double sized bottom bunk and their brother gets the single width top bunk get a bunkbed.
You could put your older child in top bunk and younger one on bottom. if desired for privacy tuck a sheet under mattress of top bunk that hangs down to below the bottom mattress to make a private space. Or separate two halves of the room by dressers and shelves, giving them each a semi-private space.

After reading some of the other responses, I like the idea of the sleeper sofa in the living room for you and your husband or converting a den or another room to a bedroom idea too. If she stays in the master bedroom and there is a bath attached, you may need to make adjustments in terms of safety latches or door knob cover to prevent the little one from running the bath or getting into other things when you aren't around. She's probably still not climbing out of her crib yet, but mine starting escaping around 19 or 20 months (but both of mine are climbers!). Good luck :)

Could you possible divide your sons room into 2 parts? If that is not an option do you have another room in the house that you could make into a bedroom. We converted our dining room. It was square in shape and between the living room and kitchen. We added a wall to allow access between the kitchen and living room, making a hallway. It was cramped but gave us a bedroom when we needed it. Make a template actual size of furniture and make sure that it will fit in the space you choose.

J., First remember to do what is best for you and your family.

Ok, now that I have said that as I am a firm believer in that statement... let me add that YOU are NOT taking away your older child's room. Now that little sister is older it is time that she too share her room with him... don't forget what it was like about 30-50 years ago... everyone shared a room.

Now, you cold make her side a bit more girly and his side more boyiss. Maybe it is time to redo the room as it is much cheaper to do that than move.
Maybe some new window treatments of some sort, maybe a new big boy comforter for him. Maybe some wall clings that express each child.

It is NOT necessary for EACH child to have his or her own room at this young age. SOON though you will need to do so but you have at least a year or 2.

Don't give him the option, it is a matter of fact. Tell him that you and daddy share a room and that he and little sister will now share a room as she is a big girl now.

You may have to consider switching rooms if you need to so that the kids may have more space IF THAT IS NEEDED. (not wanted)

Kids adapt to things far more easily than we give them credit.
He may pout but so what, he will be just fine. Honestly.

I hope you will consider this, keep in mind he is only five years old.... maybe when he is OLDER he can have his own room. Up until now, he HAS had his own room as baby sister still needed to be with you... now she is a big girl.

Just do it!
You have nothing to lose AND your DH will be thrilled to have some time alone with you. ;)

Go back and read my FIRST statement. :)

I know how you feel a little bit. My sister moved in with us last year and stayed for 11 mos. We have a small 2 bedroom apartment and boy was it rough! Anyways to answer your request, I would look in to a screen or divider to put up so that your daughter couldn't see you when you come in to the room. Even if you have to hang a curtain or sheet to block her view. She may hear you but at least she wouldn't see you, which seems to be the issue. Another thing you could do (and this isn't the greatest advice) would be to get a sleeper sofa and sleep in the living room. You could eventually talk with your son about room sharing (kids are much more resilient than we give them credit for)and see what he thinks. Explain that he can be a big helper and a great big brother by letting his sister share his room. You could even have him clear some space, so that he has a "say" in the transition. These aren't perfect solutions, but I understand that you don't want to move or add on. I hope this helps a little bit and wish you all the best! Take care.

When there's a will... It may seem really crowded to you right now, but to the kids it probably doesn't at all. Your son might learn a valuable lesson about sharing if he is asked to split his room with his little sister. You could present it as a fun project. If the room is big enough, buy a decorative divider wall. Then paint/decorate his side of the room how he wants it (Spiderman or Cars) and her side of the room with a girlie motif. That would be a fun way to share. Also, you could explain to him that he might enjoy having her in there so he wouldn't have to sleep alone in his room...or that she needs him there so she won't be scared at night. It's all in how you sell it to him. My grandmother had 13 children and a 2 bedroom house, so it's definitely possible. Have fun!

When I was a child I shared a room with my sisters. Both of my parents talk about sharing rooms with their brothers and sisters. (My mom has one brother & my dad has 9 sisters and 6 brothers) If I remember correctly most of my cousins also shared a bedroom. Years ago people all lived in small houses and children slept in the same room. My grandmother had an aunt and uncle that raised 12 children in a 3 room house - literally 3 rooms not 3 bedrooms. There is nothing wrong with sharing a room when children are little, but when your son is about 10 is when I would really try and find another solution.

It isn't your son's room; it is your family's room, and you all must do what is good for your family. So divide that room in half, or make the dining room hers, or something that gets her out of your and your husband's room. You two must guard your marriage, and have your private space. I am 4 years older than my younger brother, and we used to share a room. We became very close whispering into the night, and still are. Think of all the positives!

hi, Maybe try using a cute curtain to divide your room from your daughters bed to where she cant see you when entering the room.Good luck!

I would start by putting them together for naps. Tell him its his job to be the big brother and she needs him. You need him to help you by watching after her at night. Make him feel like the big brother. After a few days of naps together in the same room try her in there at night. Unless you have had problems with the whole 'baby jealousy' thing you should not have too many problems. I would say add a little at a time. And just keep reassuring them both. Tell her she is getting to be big like her brother. Thats what I would do anyway.

S.

I see your point, but under the circumstances you have to do something. I grew up in a household where I shared a room with my younger sibling until I moved out at 19. It wouldn't be so bad to have your children share a room until something better comes along. I have a 13 month old and couldn't imagine having her in the room with me every night, what happens to the intimacy between you and your husband. This could be an opportunity for the children to get a greater bond together. Or... if possible make a pubic room into a sleeping room for the baby. You just have to figure out what you want to sacrifice. Believe me with a little psychology your son will get over it, families did it all the time in the past, unless you were rich you had no other choice but to share room. The night you move her out of your room; light some candles and play some soft music and see where things end up for you and your hubby ;).

My brother and I had to share a bedroom until I was 7-8yrs old (he was younger). My parents couldn't afford it to do anything about it. We both turned out fine! It never effected us negatively. So don't feel bad that you don't have the money.

Your son is young he would probably like having some one share his room. you dont want your daughter to stay in your room. TRUST ME our 5 year old slept in our room when she was little and now we cant get her out! move that crib in his room!

after our house fire we rented a two bedroom house becouse we had no choice we have 3 children two girls and a boy so we had a set of bunk beds and a twin all in one room,it was tight but it seamed to make us closer.but most of the time our son slept in the living room on the couch.it worked for us.maybe you could put a play pen in the living room as a temperary fix until you can add on or sell and purchase a larger house.or make your bedroom hers and get a hideabed for you and your husband to sleep on in the living room so you will have some privacy.good luck in what ever you do.

The only thing I have seen others do is if you have a large closet you can turn into your daughter's room. If your laundry room is large, you can turn that into her room and put the washer/dryer hookups in the garage. If you have a dining room, you can add french doors to make it a room. I have two friends that turned their dining room into the kid's play/toy room. If you have a large living room, you can just add 2 walls and a door. A friend had a large living room and talked about adding a wall about 7 ft out from the current wall and adding a door to make it a small room. The drywall would not be as expensive as adding another room. You could have the kids share a room but make each side very personal. Paint one side blue and the other side pink. You could separate the sides by a huge shelf that you can see through, or you can put a curtain on each side of the room and tie back each side just to give it a "look" of separation. Google it on the decorating networks for pics...DIY.com, etc

Putting up a divider in the middle of the room can help.. By any chance do you have any extra rooms that can be turned into an extra bedroom.. For instance a Den? I have 3 girls and 1 boy in a 3 bedroom house and we are letting son sleep in the livinfg room till we can get the stuff to split the 1 bedroom in half.. It gives them half as much space but its cheaper than adding on a bedroom. good luck

J., right now there isn't a big problem. Your daughter is still a baby and your son is only five. They should be able to share a room with no problem at this point. Obviously, as your son grows older, he will be wanting his own space; your daughter will also eventually need her own space as well as she gets older. So now is the time to start focusing on whether this house will be able to accomodate a three bedroom family.
Does your home have a basement or attic? With a little imagination and a lot of sweat and elbow grease, you can convert one of these (or both) into bedroom/living space. Make sure, though, the basement is waterproofed and be aware the attic will need a window air conditioner if the whole house AC system is not vented well to that area. Since you've got a little time, these are projects you and your husband (and maybe a few of your hubby's Sunday NFL buddies or whatever) can work on over a longer period of time, investing in materials as you can afford it. Basements tend to be easier to work with as you already have walls to work with and electrical wiring is already in place. In the attic space, you need someone who can wire it for outlets and overheads and connect them to the fuse box or breaker box.
*For this part you can do the wiring yourselves but you want a licensed electrician to inspect the job and connect it to the box for you.*
You will also need someone who can frame walls for it (that's actually an easy job, just buy your husband a DIY book on home repairs and remodeling for guidelines if he needs it) - and, depending on how much floor space vs. head space you want, your framed walls may be anywhere from five and a half feet tall down to three and a half or four feet high.

My parents bought a cute, little, two-bedroom, one bath Cape Cod house (the operative word here being LITTLE) then proceeded to have seven kids and raise them in it! My mother still lives there. My older brother and sister and I shared a bedroom for several years until my older siblings grew too old to share a room. Of course my older sister and I had to share that room for several years more until the next kid (a boy) came along. The family wound up moving down to the basement for kitchen space and fully one-fourth of the basement area was converted into a huge eat-in kitchen. Dad also made a big, round table with a built-in lazy susan to put serving dishes on so everybody could access them. Another part of the basement became a bedroom and the attic was converted into two bedrooms. And yet we still had only one bathroom!

So, as long as you got the floor space and a little imagination, willingness, and elbow grease, it can be done. And you just KNOW your son is going to want to help.
Good luck.

YOu are eventually going to have to sell your house, I would say in the next year. Girls and Boys will not want to share a room together. Thier interests are so different. I would start looking now. The economy is down and you can probably get a good deal on a 3 bedroom. Good Luck!

I understand that you do not want to sell your house but have you considered renting it out and then renting a bigger place? I am not sure of the laws where you live but in the state I am originally from you can not have children of the oppposite sex in the same bedroom. Also in my home state children can not share a bedroom with parents after a certain age. I hate to say this but I feel like your statement about not wanting to sell you house is selfish considering you now have more children than you have room for. I think it is important for every one to have their own space. If renting is not a possiblility I would seriously consider one of the other suggestions about your bedroom being the living room and your room going to one of the children. Then if you and your spouse were up later or wanted alone time the children would all have bedrooms to be in. Good Luck!