Putting Children on a Different Floor than Adults

Congratulations on your new baby!

I think it's good to try to plan things out, but you won't necessarily find the best solution until the new baby is here. I think your two boys are a little young to be so far away. If it needs to happen, I would use the monitor.

How do you feel about your baby sleeping in your room? The baby could sleep in your room-- for me it's easier to do feedings so you don't have to walk as far, for a few months. If you have a good sleeping baby- I would probably put the baby in the basement with a monitor. The baby won't be able to get up and make trouble like your two little boys can!! If you don't have a good sleeping baby, I think you would have to change plans.

Good luck,
J.

I only have one, a 10 month old,but I was thinking a baby monitor in the boy's room could be helpful. Let then know if they need you to just call, you can come to them.

I too have a split level with 3 bedrooms upstairs and two downstairs in an almost finished basement. My kids are teens so my situation is abit different. I would say to hold off putting the boys downstairs as the baby could sleep with you in a crib in your room for a couple of months...then the boys will be at least a year older (between the 9 months for pregnancy and the 3-6 months of baby sleeping in your room) and the use of the baby monitor is a good idea. Most importantly you need to make sure that the downstairs is childproof...as kids do explore and want to discover their world. On a personal note my two oldest love being in the basement as it is so cool in the summertime. My third child can't wait for the oldest to move out as he has dibbs on her room...lololol
good luck

Hi D.!

I have a downstairs Master with three rooms upstairs. We bought this home before my daughter (now almost 2) was born. Until she was 6 weeks she slept in our room and for a couple of weeks after we started puting her in her room, I sleep in the guest room upstairs. We have been truely fortunate to have a good sleeper who stays in her bed. i would consider putting the baby on a different level than you all because they are in a crib. now that my daughter is getting closer to a regular bed, I have horrible visions of her tryig to get to us during the night and falling down the stairs! I am a realtor and didn't think about that before I bought my own home! We atually hope to buy a new home soon and all the bedrooms will be on the same floor - or my husband and I will be sleeping in the guest room soon!

HI, I'm don't have this situation in my home (bedrooms all on same level) but I do recommend that you put the baby on a different floor for now. The boys will be more likely to get into things,climb/fall down stairs...whereas your new baby will be in a crib. If you dont want to climb stairs for midnight feedings then what about a bassinet beside your bed for a couple months? Just my thoughts. Good luck!

I only have 1 child, but live in a 2-story house with a basement. My laundry is in the basement and sometimes my daughter likes to watch TV in her room upstairs while I take care of the clothes. I've found a better alternative to a monitor is the a Uniden cordless phone with expandable handsets. It has a room monitor and intercom and even a 2-way radio function that comes in handy. I can monitor her in whatever room she's in and I can have a phone in every room without having to have a phone jack. And you can use your phone and the monitor feature at the same time (just on different hand sets).