Give the boys a big bedroom or small?

[whoami]

Right now our 3 year old is in the smallest room which is 10x10, and it's worked out fine. However, with a second boy on the way we plan for them to share a room. In his current room he has hardwood floors, a full sized bed, a tall bookcase, a few toys, and a kid sized recliner. It's pretty much used only for sleeping and reading, and he uses the playroom for playing. If I bought a bunk bed down the line I think they could both sleep in there fine.

Our "office" is 15"x14" and it's really just a junk room. We have a desk, and then the rest of the area is staged for things I'm currently trying to sell on craigslist and ebay. It also has a large walk in closet which is cleared out so our son can play inside it. I'm hoping to have all the crap sold by January.

If you were me, do you think you'd keep things the way they are right now? Or move the office to the small room and start the process of creating a new shared bedroom?

I plan on having the baby in our room as long as possible since i'll be breastfeeding. I'm not sure what to do. We also have a playroom.

[Alyantavid]

I'd switch and give them the bigger room. They'll want their own space at some point and a bigger room can do that. Our office now is teeny and it helps us keep it organized and tidy.

[eepster]

I'd definitely leave things as is till the new baby is ready to move into a separate bedroom from you.

As for whether you should eventually swap rooms though...

Though I see the appeal of the larger room for them, size isn't the only factor in choosing a room. Is the other room closer or farther from you bedroom? What about the bathroom? Which room gets more sunlight? If one of the boys fell the window in either room, which one is closer to the ground or a softer landing? I one room facing a noisy street? Does one have better ventilation? What about heating and cooling, does one tend to stay a comfortable temperature than the other? Etc, etc.

[whoami]

Originally Posted by eepster

Though I see the appeal of the larger room for them, size isn't the only factor in choosing a room. Is the other room closer or farther from you bedroom? What about the bathroom? Which room gets more sunlight? If one of the boys fell the window in either room, which one is closer to the ground or a softer landing? I one room facing a noisy street? Does one have better ventilation? What about heating and cooling, does one tend to stay a comfortable temperature than the other? Etc, etc.

Good things I didn't think about... The bigger room is further from our room, but not by much. The bathroom is between the bigger and smaller room so that's no issue. Lighting is same but ventilation is a lot better in the big room, but it will warm if door is closed. If one fell out of the bed it would be a softer landing in the bigger room as it's carpeted and small is wood. Bigger room faces the street, but it's not busy.

[ChristyMarie]

I would switch and give them the bigger room.

[weliveintheforest]

I think I would leave them in the small room

[skybluepink02]

I'd give then the bigger room. We actuallygave our twins the master bedroom. It made more sense since their toys take up more room than ours. It's wonderful because it has room for their train table, kitchen, and room for them to spread out their projects. I can take photos, if there is inerest.

[dawncayden]

Since the office has the play-closet in it...I'd just make it his room. Sounds better to play in, sleep in etc.

[pbjmama]

I like the idea of the smaller room. I've got both my kids in one room and that room is for relaxation and sleeping. They have reading chairs and books in there but I try to keep toys out. If they want to play they can go to the play room, living room, anywhere else really. Bedroom is for sleeping and mellow time.

[zinemama]

We left our kids in the small room (size you describe) and got them a bunkbed. They played downstairs in the playroom anyway, so it didn't make sense to change things. Worked for years.

[Justmee]

I'd also leave them in the small rooom for now.

[nextcommercial]

I'd wait a while to move them. I wouldn't even worry about it until you are ready to move the baby into his own room. By then, the three year old will have some time to get used to the idea of switching rooms.

At three, a room change wouldn't have gone well with my daughter. She was anti-change. LOL.. even when the first grade teacher rearranged the classroom, my daughter had weeks worth of issues and whining. "I have to sit next to Benny.. I wanted to sit next to Amanda!"

[whoami]

I so glad I asked for your opinions! On one hand I see a big room being good as they grow, but I kind of like the fact that the room now is only used for sleeping and reading. The full size bed in there makes the room feel cramped though, so if we keep them in the small room I was thinking of getting the ikea kura since it's not very high, but a bunkbed kind of scares me, and I hear sheet changing is a pain, and then I wonder how it will work for nighttime peeing.

Another reason I had for the move was the crib, but I just found out ours was recalled so now I am wondering whether to even buy a new crib, or do a montessori type bed, or cosleep, which we are pretty much doing since my son wakes up to pee and then comes to our room for the rest of the night.

I'm still not sure what to do. My df doesn't care either way but I hate how underutilized the space is. I'm thinking of homeschooling so maybe I should just keep the big room and have it function more like an activity room / office?

[eepster]

Originally Posted by whoami

ventilation is a lot better in the big room,

This is very important in a bedroom. I might consider this aspect worth moving him now.

[ZinniaGarden]

Personally, I would wait until baby is ready to move out from me and make it a big deal that the boys get the big room. Seems like it would help big brother to not feel he had this great room of his own and now has to share it. Moving to the big boy room means you have to share.