thread: Children sharing a room - am I mad?

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    913

    Children sharing a room - am I mad?

    We're considering putting both boys (3 and 1) into the same room and using the other bedroom as a playroom. We're also hoping it might help the 3 year old sleep in his own bed all night, not in ours (or one of us in with him) - that's been happening for the last few months are we're over it!

    DS2 is stil in a cot.

    Would love to hear others' experiences. Are we mad?

  2. #2
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    Apr 2006
    Winter is coming
    5,000

    I moved my girls into a shared room a few months ago. They were 1.5 and 3.5. It has been fine, no issues at all. We usually put DD1 to bed and then I cuddle DD2 to sleep in the lounge later and put her into bed. She wakes up after a few hours but has never woken DD1.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Add No.5 on Facebook

    Jan 2007
    Brisbane
    2,391

    Children sharing a room - am I mad?

    Interested too. Our two are going into the same room in the next few weeks in the hope that DS will actually sleep in his room!

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jul 2007
    melb
    8,498

    DS2 moved himself into DS1 room when he was 26 or 27 months, got into DS1 bed and refused to get out. They shared kind single for 3 months before DS2 started scratching DS1 face and annoying him so eventually convinced them that moving DS2 bed into same room could be done. So we moved his bed.

    They were very good for 9months and easy to put to bed but for last few months bed time is a NIGHTMARE they changed PJ's get toys out, jump on bed annoy each other etc and often ends up with DH having 1 in our room and me sitting with other in there room then transfering to bed!!

    They do love it thought. We have tryed seperating again and it doesn't work unless we stay with each till asleep so i hope this soon will pass!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jun 2005
    Perth
    1,454

    6 months ago we moved 3 into the same room to combat sleep issues! So we currently have a 9 year old, nearly 7 and nearly 4 year old all in the same room - they call it the sleeping room! One other bedroom has been converted to a playroom and the other into a dressing room.

    It works fine most of the time. Only negative is when one child is unwell or has a cough or when one can't sleep initially and subsequently tosses and turns. Other then that they love it, sleep through the night a lot more and tend to also sleep in in the mornings!

  6. #6
    Registered User
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    Mar 2008
    still on the teaching contract roundabout
    1,952

    Children sharing a room - am I mad?

    Older boy was about 3 1/4 yrs when the younger boy (@ about 5-6 mths) started sharing the room next to us. Most of the time it works unless DS2 is sleeping and we want to put DS1 in time out. Currently they're about 3 3/4 yrs & 13mths. DS1 doesn't wake to DS2s night feeds / crying unless he's managed to wet his bed around the same time (joys of night training) thankfully that's only usually around 5am

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Apr 2008
    Melbourne
    6,745

    My girls have been sharing since they were 4 and 1 and they like it. They have bunks now and we use the 3rd bedroom as a playroom/spare room.

  8. #8
    Senior Moderator

    Nov 2004
    Chickens.
    4,989

    Mine shared a bedroom until about two months ago. They are 10 and 7. They'd shared from birth. They still share at their father's home, but not here. My 10yo is starting to need his own privacy, plus with homework etc it's much easier. They didn't wake each other at all.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    Middle Victoria
    8,924

    My 3 year old and 1 year old share a room. 3 year old has a king single and usually sleeps in it all night. 1 year old has a 3/4 short bed (bigger than a toddler bed, but DS can climb on or off without a step). DS usually starts the night in 'kids room' and comes in to us at some point. We have both been sick but as he gets better I am thinking about trying to settle him in his room again.

    DS still feeds to sleep so I haven't had to try to get both kids asleep in their beds. That will be tricky when we get to that point. once they are asleep though, we haven't had issues with them waking each other.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    Melbourne
    3,300

    Re: Children sharing a room - am I mad?

    Mine share ( no other option) it can be a pain because DS can't be left to go to sleep on his own because he climbs up onto her bunk if left to his own devices but once asleep is no issue and he is getting better if we had another room I probably would keep them together and have other room as playroom and visitor / grandparents room .

  11. #11
    Moderator

    Dec 2006
    Smidgen-ville
    3,736

    We tired it because DS2 was always waking, looking for company. It turned out that he just annoyed and pestered Ds 1 for company and this was no good. Then the tables turned and DS1 started to wake early, and woke up his little brother.
    They don't have to share, so they don't anymore. But if they had to, I think they'd get better at it.

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Mar 2008
    North Northcote
    8,065

    for us it worked brilliantly. our DD2 was a pretty tough kid to get a good nights sleep and we found that she slept better with her big sister in the same room. we are about to move DD3 (who is 6 month into the same room as well...so will have a 5.5 year old a 2.5 year old and 6 month old all together ).

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    Middle Victoria
    8,924

    it is pretty cute when you see them snuggled up together in one bed (after going to sleep in separate beds).

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    913

    Thanks everyone! Sounds like I'm not quite so mad after all

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Jun 2007
    Where Chaos is fun and plentiful!!!!
    1,883

    Do it!!! We recently put our almost 5 and almost 3 yo together.. best thing we ever did!! Miss 3 has an awesome routine and goes to sleep with ease where as Mr 5 is terrible and will cry and tantrum if left alone etc and usually ended up with DH in my bed!! Since moving them together things have been great, he isnt alone so he feels secure and he just does what Miss 3 does and and goes to sleep!!!! Now we just have to refine the actual bed TIME (still too late at night) and i will be really happy!!

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Mar 2006
    4,542

    My DD and DS1 (nearly 4) have been sharing a room for over two years and they absolutely love it!! I have been talking about DD moving into her own room so I can put DS2 in with DS1 and she refuses and DS2 is a nightmare to get out of there after books each night so we are going to put all three in the same room and turn the other one into a toy.

    We are hoping that it will help DS2 sleep better - he is a nightmare.


    So if you are mad I must be completely insane, LOL!!!

    Good luck!!