Help with Introducing Infant to Shared Room with 2.5 Year Old

I'm in the same boat as you are right now. I've got a 2.5 year old boy and a 6-month old daughter. My little boy climbed into her bassinet endlessly. All I could say is that with CONSTANT reinforcement of giving him time outs when he didn't listen, he now does not climb into her bassinet. I gave him 3 warnings and then a timeout after he continued the behavior. This worked for me. During the night, I would try reinforcing verbally to your toddler and let her know that she should not go into baby's crib. I know that when we continuously drill something into our toddler, he seems to get it. Good luck!

Just echoing the other mamas.... My son slept in a pack-n-play in our room until about 4 months, but he could have slept there much longer. I'd have kept him in it longer except that I was going back to work full time and there was no other kid to have to factor into the equation (yet!) It doesn't take that much space and I just felt like it was better for all of us that my son be closer to me at night with the constant feedings.

I liked what Kelly said that perhaps you could start 'introducing' the infant during the day during naptimes when you could monitor the kids together... and then perhaps have the baby sleep with her old sister full time when she starts sleeping through the night (and when big sis has gotten over the novelty of 'lil sis!)

I agree that having the little one sleep in a pack n play or something similar in your room for now is a good idea, but no one has really mentioned the other component to making the eventual transition. That is the discipline of your older one.
She needs to learn that the crib is off limits. Climbing in/out of a crib is dangerous whether or not there is a baby in it. Many kids are injured each year from climbing on cribs. Also, picking at her sister is not acceptable behavior. There are plenty of ways the older one can help with and interact with her new little sister, but limits must be set for the safety of them both. Once the older one has learned reasonable boundries regarding her sister you will be able to safely have them share a room.

Hello Abby, I have always had our children together. Start with naptime and then make it special at night time with the same pajamas. I hope that you make the transition smoothly. Nana Glenda

Well, it doesn't sound safe at this point.
But, you can get a crib tent so the toddler won't have access to the baby.
I just would not risk a toddler climbing into the crib with a baby that young. It could be deadly.
Crib tents are a bit costly and take some force to put on (and changing sheets is more difficult) but it would be WORTH it in your situation.
Good luck to you. Mine is 4 months and there is no way we could put him with the 2 or 3-year-old. They would all never sleep! He's in a mini co-sleeper in our bedroom, but it looks like it'll fit until 6-9 months, like the package says.
Even if you have to use a pack n go, you can keep the baby in your room for safety unless you have a sturdy crib tent.

Hi Abby,
One thing a friend of mine did is put one of those crib tents on the crib to keep her toddler out of the crib. It's sold to keep pets out of the crib but it sure works for the toddler too! I'm sure it will all work out great for you.

Before you put your infant into the other bedroom, I would deal with the picking issue. Have your older daughter sit and cuddle with you while you feed your baby as much as possible. She herself is still a developing toddler and needs the closeness of touch. Let her, under your very vigilant guidance, gently touch her baby sister and then tell her that the baby will now touch her. Take your baby's hand and replicate the movements of your older daughter. Tell her strictly but gently that these are the ONLY circumstances under which she should touch her sister. Does she want her sister in her room? I'd keep my eyes very open for the next few months. You could also get her a baby doll which she can pick out which will be "her" baby. I have two daughters about the same age as yours, and my older daughter was sorely disappointed when she realized that her new roommate was just going to sleep and wouldn't be able to play with her.

Get a monitor. You will want to check on your infant anyway and will need to go in and feed him/her in the night at only 3 months. This way you can watch and hear both of them.

I agree w/Mommy G....doesn't sounds like the best idea right now. Can you fit a pac-n-go in your room for a few more months? Our younger son slept in his in our room til he was 6 months old & then was too big so we had to move him into the room w/his big brother. But if you say that your older daughter sleeps heavy, do you think she'd be waking up at night to pick at the baby? You might start off w/the baby napping in there while you can be home or monitor the situation, move your way into the baby sleeping there on weekends & then full time. Best of luck!