Question About Sharing a Room

Hello K.,
My two daughters share a room and have since the youngest was born. We only have 3 bedrooms so my oldest child- a boy has his own room. My daughter is 4 1/2 and the baby is 21 months old. The beginning was tough because my daughter was only just older than 2 1/2 when the baby came along. She was not real good at sleeping so it was tough at bedtime. We had to do lots of incentives to get the older one to sleep in there, but the baby was not sleeping through the night until about 14- 15 months. ANyway, now that they are a bit older, they love it. The younger one is in a crib and the older one in a twin size bed. Now if the baby is in bed first she is asking for her sister. They talk and sing songs while in their beds. My older daughter feels it is really special to share a room with her sister. I think it's a great idea. The beginning was VERY rough because no one would sleep. I am soooo glad we are over that hump, but now it's wonderful. We are also thinking of bunk beds when the time is right. But we also have small rooms and a ceiling fan that might be int he way... but if not, 2 twin beds will work. Good luck, I think it will bring the girls closer and have a special bond between them,
S.

We sound like we have very similiar situations. I've got almost 5, 2 1/2, and 9 months. Space wise the oldest two had to share a room, in order for the baby to move out of our room. I wouldn't have thought bunks would be safe, except my 4 year old played on her friends when we'd visit. The first week was tough and we kept having to separate them, but we got through it. We did a sleep chart and rewarded them with a visit to "chuck e cheese". It's great now. We do bedtime routine together and they do great (most nights). A couple things you may want to consider... If you get a bed with a straight ladder it is harder for the little one to climb. My four year old can do it great, but the 2 1/2 year old can't. This is perfect, because then I don't have to worry about him getting up there unattended. It also saves on floor space. Playing the same CD each night may also help. It's harder to talk over music. ALso consider having a pack and play or something still set up for your little one. During the transition to the bed from the crib she may be up and down at first. We put my little guy in the pack and play if he won't stay in bed. Lastly you might want to leave off the slots on the bottom bunk. We just have a box spring and matress on the floor instead of using the slats. This has the top of the mattress lower than if we used the slots, but high enough that he can get stuck between the rails and the matress. Hope this all makes sense, feel free to email if you want more info. P.S. We got our bunks from target online, it's my understanding that you can return them at the store if you get them and somethings wrong.
C.

Hi K.,
We have 6 year old girl and 5 year old girl and now a 2 year old boy... When the girls were 3/2 the older one decided she would prefer to sleep in the same room as her sister. At 1st we had a twin, and full size bed in the room (wall to wall!!) Now have bunks and they love it.. the younger is actually on the top. She is more adventurous and the older wanted a full.. So far they love the togetherness, and it makes the closet situation better since they share a lot of clothes as well. We do realize someday they may want to separate. So we got bunks that would accomodate that down the road. Good luck!!

I think it is best for kids to share rooms. It develops their sense of respect for others and their things. It also doesn't set them up with unrealistic expectations that as they grow up they will have everything to themselves. It helps them with space management skills and also gives them a confidant.
I am happy I have 2 girls and they can be there for each other.

I come from a family of 4 children. 3 girls and 1 boy. We didn't have the option not to share a room, and I'm so glad we didn't.

Some of my best memories of my childhood are spending time with my siblings in our room. We had two bunkbeds in one room and even though it was tight, I believe it made us closer, respectful of one another, and forced us to deal with whatever situations arose; good or bad.

I currently have my two oldest (boy and girl) in a bunkbed in one room and the baby in the other. My son and daughter love being in the same room together. They tell stories and talk about what they want to do the next day before they go to sleep. I enjoy eavesdropping too! They both like to fall asleep with soft music or an audio story. They take turns each night who gets to choose what they listen to.

I completely agree with Barb A regarding that it doesn't set them up with unrealistic expectations that as they grow up that they will have everything to themselves.

It has been positive for us!

Been there! Sharing a room is great but the bunkbed part may be the issue. The 2 year old will always want to go up there and you will be a nervous wreck everytime she's in the room by herself. I recommend sharing a room but to hold off on the bunkbed idea for a while. I did finally get them a bunkbed then along came a brother. When he was old enough to climb the ladder, we took the ladder off and my daugher climbed up the side. GOOD LUCK!!!!