If you had an infant and a toddler, would you prefer to live in a 2 story larger house or a smaller newer 1 floor condo?

We are exploring where we'd like to live for the next step of our lives. Currently we live in a small 2 bedroom apt in Manhattan.

At first, I wanted to move into a large house but now I'm thinking it may be logistically difficult to watch a toddler and an infant in a larger house with lots of stairs. I just picture trying to put an infant to sleep upstairs while not knowing where the second child is. I keep picturing one of my kids and/or me tumbling down the stairs.

Would you rather live in a larger house with lots of stairs or a larger newer condo type place?

If we did move to a condo type place, it would be a lot more spacious than our current apt. I'd only want a place that has fantastic amenities for little ones.

Re: If you had an infant and a toddler, would you prefer to live in a 2 story larger house or a smaller newer 1 floor condo?

I prefer bigger space-my family just needs space. Being on top of each other is no good for my mental health.

We have a 2 story-so far, I'm the only one who has fallen down the stairs. DD is good, I will be nervous when DS is at that age. When he starts climbing, I'll be gating them off for a while.

As for putting one to bed while the other is down stairs, for a while, we all went upstairs together, DD would "read" a book to her brother while I rocked him.

Now, at 3.5, she is the type of kid I can leave downstairs for a few minutes to put DS down.

Re: If you had an infant and a toddler, would you prefer to live in a 2 story larger house or a smaller newer 1 floor condo?

Larger house...Gates Gates Gates!!!!

Re: If you had an infant and a toddler, would you prefer to live in a 2 story larger house or a smaller newer 1 floor condo?

Is this a temporary home or where you plan on staying for good?
I ask b/c you can't think of now. What about the future. If you could afford the bigger home with lots of steps and it's your dream home then get it.
We just moved into a much larger home from our cape style on LI. We moved to NJ and the house is sooo much bigger. We put up lots of gates, but this is our dream home and it's where we plan on staying. Is Mason going to be a toddler forever? No! RIght now he's so used to this house so he actually stays away from the steps. There's a gate there anyway, but he has no desire to hang on it.
I'm also due with #2 this summer so these gates will be up for a while. I also see them being teenagers here and coming to visit when they're on a break from college

Re: If you had an infant and a toddler, would you prefer to live in a 2 story larger house or a smaller newer 1 floor condo?

I wouldn't make the decision to purchase something smaller, if I could afford larger, just b/c of small children since those hurdles are temporary and your house is your long term investment.

Re: If you had an infant and a toddler, would you prefer to live in a 2 story larger house or a smaller newer 1 floor condo?

we moved from a condo to a house- actually - we have a high ranch - so most of the time we are all on the same floor so it works out nice - we gutted our house to make it perfrect for us - we wanted an open house - but i do like having my son just down the hall from the kitchen and family room

but gates and monitors allow you to get things done

Re: If you had an infant and a toddler, would you prefer to live in a 2 story larger house or a smaller newer 1 floor condo?

I like bigger. The kids will grow before you know it, BUT I also personally prefer condos because of all the headaches of a single home, including snow removal!

Re: If you had an infant and a toddler, would you prefer to live in a 2 story larger house or a smaller newer 1 floor condo?

For the long term I would go for a bigger house. DH and I went from a 1 bedroom coop to a 4 bedroom colonial and BOY does it make a difference. I honestly couldn;t imaging where would put all of our things now that we have DD and still be in our apt. For long term I would defintely think BIGGER. We have gates for steps and have a monitor. It;s nice to be able to give her a play area and to have enough room for DD, a guest room, our room, and room for another child.

I'de go bigger.

Re: If you had an infant and a toddler, would you prefer to live in a 2 story larger house or a smaller newer 1 floor condo?

I don’t have an infant, just a toddler but when I was house shopping this question came up.

Two story was more space (technically) but smaller in real ‘moving around’ space.
Stairs
Price and size
Location

I live now in a great neighborhood with fantastic schools (pro)
The house was affordable enough for me to redo all the front area floors to laminate (pro)
The house is affordable enough I do not fear the future so much BIGGIE since I’m a worrywart (pro)
The square footage is less but the space is better used. I have a shared livingroom dining room and it REALLY is awesome. The whole front area is wide and open so its very versatile on how I want to put furniture. It gives me tons of options. (pro)
No walk in closets (con)
2Story had a nook in AJ’s room for a desk (pro)
Stairs and a klutzy toddler (con)
One floor means no hauling laundry up and down (pro)
AJ runs around like a mad woman from her room to the front because its spacey (pro)
2Story bedrooms were smaller (con)
AJ’s room is 15x12 (pro)
At least here, its an easier resell if it’s a 1story vs 2story. (pro)
Altho we are on the same floor, AJ’s room is on the other side of the house so when she grows up, we have space. The 3rd bedroom is over there too (pro)

I’d probably be terrified of the stairs with an infant and an active toddler who loves to be right next to me.
I’d hate thinking of going up and down the stairs in the middle of the night for night feedings and an infant (assuming my room was upstairs)
If my room was downstairs then it’s the whole they are up there and I’m down here.

Re: If you had an infant and a toddler, would you prefer to live in a 2 story larger house or a smaller newer 1 floor condo?

Posted by EricaAlt

Is this a temporary home or where you plan on staying for good?
I ask b/c you can't think of now. What about the future. If you could afford the bigger home with lots of steps and it's your dream home then get it.
We just moved into a much larger home from our cape style on LI. We moved to NJ and the house is sooo much bigger. We put up lots of gates, but this is our dream home and it's where we plan on staying. Is Mason going to be a toddler forever? No! RIght now he's so used to this house so he actually stays away from the steps. There's a gate there anyway, but he has no desire to hang on it.
I'm also due with #2 this summer so these gates will be up for a while. I also see them being teenagers here and coming to visit when they're on a break from college