We live in a 2 bedroom home with 5 kids my son refuses to live in the basement he is 12 it is very clean carpe

Question

what should we do cant afford a bigger home....

Answer 1

I understand!  I also live in a 2br house and have 4 children.  My basement is fine for storing junk and maybe a playroom, but not a bed room:(

I would just make do until he is ready to move down there.  My oldest is 11 and there is no way he would sleep in the basement!  Another year or two and he will want his space.  

My kids' room is tiny, but I squeeze them in.   Try bunk beds and- what are the beds called thar roll underneath your twin or bunk beds?  Trundle beds-thats what I was thinking of!   You don't want your son to be scared and alone in the basement.  If the kids are ok being packed in a room like sardines, then it should be ok with you too.  I wanted to have more room for my kids, but at this point they really don't seem to mind so I quit worrying about it.  Someday, when they are all teenagers I'll have to worry;)  

Answer 2

ask all the kids who wants the basement room my oldest did not but his brother..1 yr younger did...basements tend to have lighting problems so address that...also think about redoing the attic for more space

Answer 3

Figure out alternate sleeping arrangements since he refuses to sleep down there.  Maybe he is afraid to be down there when everyone else is upstairs.  

Answer 4

Why don't you move down into the basement and give the kids your room. Or do you already sleep in the living room? There were 4 kids in my family and we lived in a 2 bedroom apartmen. My sister and I shared a room and my brothers shared a room. My mother slept on the couch in the living room. It would help to know what ratio of boys to girls you have and what other amenities, such as a den, basement, whattever you might have. Then I could give you some more and better advice.  

Answer 5

If the house hasn't been modified to accommodate a bedroom according to safety codes it doesn't matter how clean or how carpeted it is...it's still against the law.  If it isn't up to code he can call CPS and turn you in for child endangerment.  

Answer 6

I'm not sure why the first responder got four thumbs-down.  It IS illegal to have anyone sleeping in a basement without the deeply dug windows.  There has to be an external exit for a basement to legally have a bedroom.

I agree with the people who said to give your kids the rooms upstairs and you move to the basement.  If it's as clean as you say it is, you shouldn't have any problem making that switch!

Answer 7

How old are the children?  I am guessing that the 12 year old is the eldest.  How about letting him have one bedroom, the other children share the second bedroom and you and your spouse moving into the basement?

Answer 8

He's only 12, it's probably scary to be in the basement all alone, even if it is clean and carpeted. Try to put yourself in his shoes- when I was 12 I was still afraid of the dark lol. Why don't you and your husband take the basement and have your kids split the 2 bedrooms upstairs. Buy some bunkbeds and get rid of clutter so you have room for all of your kids stuff. Good luck!

Answer 9

Ask one or two of the other kids if they want the basement room. If you have kids who are 8-9-10 they are old enough too. Then it's up to your son if he wants to be in the 2nd bedroom with the little kids. Are they all five in one room right now? Wow.

You really should look into a bigger home. Maybe in a small town near the city you live in now it will be cheaper for a 3-4 bedroom home.

They're called egress windows and personally I think the government should butt out of such decisions. We are putting our sons in the basement (and my husband is digging the egresses but it might be next Spring). We are redoing the room down there so it will be very light and nice. They will be just up a short flight of concrete steps to the front door in case of fire while the rest of us will be behind a super thick wooden sliding door, through the great room and kitchen, and up a full flight of stairs to get to the front door (we do also have a side door) -- so really, who's safer.

The chance of a fire in our front room is so remote it's not even funny.

So...depending on the configuration of your house, I would not worry about the egress, make sure the room is well lit and dry and comfortable, and leave it at that.

Best of luck.

Answer 10

tell your 12 year old son too bad so sad .... it's your house and your rules.  if he is the oldest, he needs to start to act like it.

don't move into the basement and give in.  the parents should be able to be on the main floor if at all possible.  a 12 year old is more than old enough to sleep in a basement that has carpet.  

tell him to get over it.

Answer 11

are there any babys? okay heres a plan

the babies sleep in your room

the oldest (above 3) share the other room

Answer 12

You have to deal with it then.  You made the choice to have 5 children.

Answer 13

why are so worried about having HIM stay down there if you need an extra room you move down there

Answer 14

Well, it's not legal to have anyone sleeping in a basement unless it has deep window wells with a full size window. If there was a fire, anyone sleeping down there would more than likely not survive a fire.

If you're bent on some of your kids sleeping in the basement, why not have a few of them sleep down there and just ask them which ones want to?