No to both. And I would never sleep on a different floor than DC. Total dealbreaker.

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fine if you have a baby monitor- it takes 10 seconds to run up the stairs. I kept my newbies in our room for about the first 4 or 5 months then moved them to their rooms. I've always had my bedroom on the same floor as the kids, but I don't think it would deter me from a house if the master was on the first floor.

Agree with this. Why is it an issue anymore now that we have the technology of baby monitors?

I think it's fine if you have a baby monitor- it takes 10 seconds to run up the stairs. I kept my newbies in our room for about the first 4 or 5 months then moved them to their rooms. I've always had my bedroom on the same floor as the kids, but I don't think it would deter me from a house if the master was on the first floor.

We bought a house when DC#1 was 2 and I was about to give birth to DC#2. Of course the kids sleep on a different floor wasn't what I wanted, but it has worked out perfectly fine and I'm quite happy with set-up. The only rooms on the second floor are the kids bedrooms and their bathroom. It is their space and it's great. I do remember being annoyed by having to run up the stairs to nurse a waking baby . . . but that was 4 years ago and I'm over it.

It is great now because the kids eat their breakfast and watch TV while we get ready for preschool/work. Our bedroom is on the same floor as the kitchen and family room, so I can keep an eye on them while we get ready. Having their rooms upstairs actually keeps them clean because the kids really go up there to bath and sleep.

We used to have a master on the main. LOVED IT! Unfortunately, we moved.

Our house was set up like this when our kids were babies (we moved a couple of years ago). It actually worked out well. The kids were on the second floor and the master was on the first. My kids both learned to sleep well.

I didn't have a baby monitor (couldn't find one that wouldn't get interference). The kids would cry but often just roll over and fall back asleep before I would make it upstairs. The pediatrician said this actually helps babies sleep since they will often slightly wake in between sleep cycles. I would not be so quick to rule out this set up.

Anonymous wrote:OP here- does anyone have a ranch and really love or not love it?

I haven't read all the responses yet, but we have a ranch, and I LOVE it. It's not large (1500 sq ft), and I suspect that many people here would turn up their noses at it, but one-level living has been fabulous (we do have a basement, and it's usable space, but it's not where anyone hangs out regularly). We have white noise machines in the bedrooms to mask any sounds that might come from the front of the house if we're awake and the kids are asleep, but it hasn't been an issue. Never needed a monitor, because I could hear the kids cry, and now that one has ended up with regular nighttime stomach issues, it's nice to be right there to deal with it.

I've always been a fan of the ranch style in general - you never know when a mobility issue could strike, as it has for me unexpectedly this year. I am thankful every day that I have been able to live as normally as possible because I don't have to navigate stairs regularly.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks all! I decided I really want the secondary bedrooms on the second floor and not right bear the living areas. This will be a long term house for us so I think it's the best decision for the future. If there are issues with the kids sleep or anxiety we'll have an extra bedroom on that level where we can crash if needed.

Agree. Buy for the long term. Kids upstairs and you on the main floor is actually the ideal scenario when they get older!

My husband and I just moved to the first floor, leaving all kids (2 teens and a 2 yo) upstairs. It has been great! We have a ton of privacy and I love being able to wake up early/ go to bed late without worrying about waking kids.

OP here. Thanks all! I decided I really want the secondary bedrooms on the second floor and not right bear the living areas. This will be a long term house for us so I think it's the best decision for the future. If there are issues with the kids sleep or anxiety we'll have an extra bedroom on that level where we can crash if needed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- does anyone have a ranch and really love or not love it?

Just bought our rancher/ rambler in 2012 pre-kids. LOVED IT! Now with a baby who is an EXTREMELY light sleeper its a huge pain! We have to tip toe around and essetially lock ourselves in the bedroom or go downstairs. And cooking dinner is nerve wracking as we pray she does not wake up....kitchen is about 20 feet from her nursery!

We have this problem with our tiny split (two beds up, two down, right next to the foyer which is right next to the kitchen). We bought the kind of white noise sound machine that you find in therapists' waiting rooms. We don't keep it near our toddler's crib out of concern for her hearing, but it blocks most noises out. Doesn't quite work for really loud voices under her window or the door bell.

PP here. We use white noise in her room. And then we turn on the A/C / heat fan when we are in the kitchen which drowns out some noise.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- does anyone have a ranch and really love or not love it?

Just bought our rancher/ rambler in 2012 pre-kids. LOVED IT! Now with a baby who is an EXTREMELY light sleeper its a huge pain! We have to tip toe around and essetially lock ourselves in the bedroom or go downstairs. And cooking dinner is nerve wracking as we pray she does not wake up....kitchen is about 20 feet from her nursery!

We have this problem with our tiny split (two beds up, two down, right next to the foyer which is right next to the kitchen). We bought the kind of white noise sound machine that you find in therapists' waiting rooms. We don't keep it near our toddler's crib out of concern for her hearing, but it blocks most noises out. Doesn't quite work for really loud voices under her window or the door bell.

We built a sweet master suite on the top floor. No regrets. The extra privacy is sexy actually.

Anonymous wrote:OP here- does anyone have a ranch and really love or not love it?

Just bought our rancher/ rambler in 2012 pre-kids. LOVED IT! Now with a baby who is an EXTREMELY light sleeper its a huge pain! We have to tip toe around and essetially lock ourselves in the bedroom or go downstairs. And cooking dinner is nerve wracking as we pray she does not wake up....kitchen is about 20 feet from her nursery!

I have a rambler, a 2 YO, and am pregnant. I wouldn't be comfortable with a Cape Cod until the kids are older, but we like the rambler. The basement is the size of the entire house and includes a finished living space, full bath, and legal bedroom. When guests come, they essentially have a full apt down there on their own, so that's been great. And we can watch TV/whatever down there without waking the kid(s) at night.

If nothing else, it was super convenient while I was recovering from childbirth, as I didn't have to do the stairs until I was back on laundry duty (also in the basement).

It's not my favorite house style, but given our budget, it was either ranch/rambler or Cape Cod in the areas we were looking, and we thought we would prefer ranch. I still think that after living here almost three years.