Room arrangements - 3 under 4yo

christina06

So here's the dilema. I'll have three under four in about a month.

4 year old daughter and 2 year old son both have separate rooms with their own convertible crib, matching dresser, hutch and nightstand.  Their beds convert to full size beds.

The bedrooms are only like 14x12 so not huge.  DS still wakes occassionally at night due to stomach problems.  Plus, his room is beige with airplanes so thinking it'd be easier to put the two girls together.

Likely going to get a portacrib to keep baby in our room for the first few months or borrow a friend's co-sleeper if she's done with it in time. My mom will be watching both younger kids during the day at our house so I would like to keep them in separate rooms for ease of naps and such.  Most likely use dresser/hutch for baby and repurpose dresser for DD#1

Options:

#1 Convert current crib to full size, use mini/porta crib for baby girl. Requries purchase full size mattress.

#2 Convert toddler bed back to crib for baby, purchase a twin size bed and mattress for dd#1.

Which would you do?

Any other suggestions?

 

 

 

celiabwatson

You know your children best but if I have to guess about their personalities I'd guess that your 4 year old isn't going to be super thrilled about sharing, but maybe if she gets a new big girl bed out of the deal she'll be more ok about it. So I'd get her a new bed (let her pick it out) and give her old crib to the baby. I'd also probably let her help figure out the new room arrangement and some decorating. 

Also, is the older one at home during nap time? If she is you might want to consider leaving the baby in your room for napping for a while so your older daughter still has access to her room during that time. My two share a room at night but the baby naps separately so my boy can still play in there.

MammaBear81

Since your DD's will probably be sharing in the long term I would take DD's crib and give it to the new baby (she won't be in it right away, but eventually she's gotta sleep somewhere other than your room).  Get a Twin for your DD, awesome new "big girl bed" for her, and two twins, or bunk beds will be better when they are older.  I can't imagine two full side beds in that size room.  Leave DS where he is with his crib.

I agree with having the baby in your room for a bit, we did it with ours and it worked well, we didn't have to worry about who is sleeping when, and for how long.  By the time you move the baby into DD's room your older DD probably won't be napping anymore.  GL

laura1

We are opting for option #2.  When we moved DS out of the crib, we put him right in the twin.  We actually just bought the mattress with a stand, and eventually we can get a nice bed (headboard/foot board).  Right now he is perfectly happy without it, and his convertible crib is ready and waiting for baby #3.  

In my opinion, that was the cheapest option - a twin mattress is less $ than a full, and you wouldn't then have to buy a portacrib.  

Good luck!