To share a bedroom or not?

Just wondering about people's experiences in the area of bedroom sharing? We are expecting our second son in October and although we have a 4 bedroom house and the boys dont need to share a bedroom i was wondering whether it would be beneficial for them to share a room? I guess its quite an individual thing for every child but i guess when i was growing up i always wanted a sister so i could share a bedroom with her so i was wondering what people's experiences are with their two children sharing a room. Also what age did you start your two little ones sharing a bedroom and was this too late or too early in your opinion?

Oh we have been discussing this lately, we were thinking once DS2 sleeps thru night as DS1 is a light sleeper.

I'm sure it is different for all families but I grew up sharing a room with my younger brother and pretty much hated it most of the time! I wanted me own space to play in and he was a bed wetter for quite a long time and he would always have to be taken to the toilet during the night which disturbed my sleep. I also have two older brothers that always shared a room and even though they always grew up very close, they used to argue a fair bit too and I used to hear them doing things to annoy each other or keep each other awake at night LOL
Like I said, it could be totally different to yours but I guess you have to think of the long term, as they it might be cute and nice when they are younger (although might be hard too when baby is waking during the night!!!) but it may get harder as they get older cuz as you get older and more independent, it is nicer to have your own space.
Me and my brothers are all very close now but it would've been awesome to have my own room when I was growing up! I was 14 when I finally got my own room but that also meant all THREE brothers then had to share. I was told I was getting my own room as 'girls need privacy as they get older' LOL
When I finally got my room at 14 it was like HEAVEN!!! I walked in to my room everyday for about 2 years thinking 'I can't believe I finally have my own room' HAHA
In your case though, you could start them off together and if it doesn't work, at least you have the extra rooms to change your mind!

Our boys shared a room from the time Ollie was 1 year old (before that he was in our room), so Flynn would have been 2 and a half. They have adjusted really well and now fret if the other isn't there. Rarely do they wake each other - even with throwing up sessions, screams, nightmares and midnight trips to the loo. We have room to move them to their own rooms later if they need it, but for now it's fine (they are only 18 months apart so don't really have a personal space issue at the moment).

Roryrory i was thinking of starting around the same age you did, there will be 21 months between my two so i was hoping that they would enjoy the experience like your two have. I would love my boys to have that kind of close relationship.

We have plenty of room for them to have their own rooms if necessary and i agree that as they grow older they need that personal space so i dont see this as a long term thing, i was just thinking that while they are young they may enjoy the experience for sharing a room. I guess it will just depend on how DS2 ends up being in terms of sleep. If he is a shocker i dont think i will risk having DS1 up all night!

Our two boys are 3yrs apart. They have shared a bedroom for 18mths and they love it. The only thing we had to change was put them to bed at separate times as inititally we put them to bed at the same time and they thought it was party time not sleep time.
Now DS1 is old enough to understand we have explained that he shouldn't wake DS2 in the morning and let him sleep. If they wake up at the same time they play together in their bedroom. I think putting them in the same room has helped them both sleep better. They are great mates and quite often play together in their room during the day with their 'babies' and imagninations.
I also find that once they are alseep they don't wake each other up with their noises..they are both heavy sleepers.

My girls are 3 years apart and have shared a room since DD2 moved in there at about 10m. DD1 sleeps like a log and can literally sleep through a middle of the night scream-fest from DD2 so that wasn't an issue at all. They love sharing a room and it's really cute to see. I also found that DD2 needs to go to sleep first and then DD1 will go in quietly otherwise they do keep each other awake.

I have my 2dds sharing. DD2 moved into the room when she was too big for the bassinett...around 4 months. That gave me enough time to ease dd1 into a big bed. DD2 did not sleep through the night regularly until after 1 year old. Initially dd1 would sometimes wake up when dd2 would wake up. Very rarely now they wake each other up.

I am due to have #3 in mid October. This baby will be in the cradle for as long as it takes until dd2 goes into a big bed. I will have to purchase some low bunks to fit everyone in though! Then I will have 3 in the one room.

The girls seem to like it. They wake up most mornings and have chats...its really cute. I dont find it tricky when dd2 is having day naps as dd1 stays out with me in the lounge. We will eventually (when funds permit) be adding on to our house, however I am happy for them to share for another 3-5 years.

I also shared when i was a kid....2 sets of bunks in one room!

Good Luck!

I've recently put DD2 (2yrs old) in the same room as DD1 (almost 4). I was really worried how they'd go as DD1 is a really heavy sleeper and likes to sleep with the light on and the door open. DD2 is a light sleeper, who needs to sleep in the dark with the door closed! We have a 4brm house, but we wanted to keep the 4th brm as a spare room for the computer, guests etc. And the move has gone surprisingly well. We've compromised with DD1, and she's allowed the door open a tad, but no light. Both girls are still sleeping all night as usual as well (phew!).

When I was growing up, I shared a room with my little brother as my older sister was 4 years older than me, and mum thought it would be best that she had independence. It never bothered me sharing a room with my brother. It's all I knew.

We did the same a few months ago. DS#1 liked a night light on at night and DS#2 has never had one. I explained to DS#1 his brother cannot sleep with a light on and he was fine with it....although it makes it tricky going in to one of them at night in the dark! They have adjusted really well and we recently bought them little signs to put on their bedroom door saying Noah's Room & Bailey's Room.

Generally during the night if one wakes up the other stays asleep...thank goodness! However.........DS#1 is an early riser (6am) and DS#2 used to sleep in until 8am but is now up at the same time. He does however go back down around 9am for an hour rather than a morning sleep at 11am!

I never shared a room as I was a decade older than the next sibling.......I did feel guilty for putting them in the same room intially but with a baby due later this year in a 3 bedroom house we kind of don't have a choice at the moment. :doh: I remember my brothers fighting over who owned the mess or who's side of the room blah blah blah but my boys have done so well!

xxxx

My eldest 2 boys are 16 months apart. They have been sharing a room since DS 2 was 12 months old. My eldest son kept getting out of his bed and climbing into the cot to be with his brother, so I figured it was easier for them to just share. They have now been sharing for a couple of years, they don't wake each other up during the night and seem to enjoy it. We also have a 4 bedroom house so the sharing isn't out of necessity. I'm now wondering about putting my 3rd son in with him so that he won't feel left out as he gets older. I guess I'm happy to know that if my eldest comes to me in a few years and says he wants his own room then I can put him in one of the other bedrooms.