Seeking Advice on Childrens Beds & Siblings Sharing Room

I think it'd be great to make the smaller room a 'Sleeping Room' and the larger room a 'Play Room'. While they are young I would put a two cribs - and then later a crib and a toddler bed (same mattress as a crib) in the small room. Once the girls are older then do bunk beds, or a bed with a trundle. Since the girls may not always nap at the same time, I think it's great to have one space for sleeping and one space for play. Also, the sleeping room will be a quiet environment without distraction where they know it's time to sleep. You could put a hide-a-bed couch in the play room for when you have guests, and do a built in wall with a desk and shelves for toy and book storage and to create an office space. Have fun!

Hey T......congratulations on the new baby girl.....I would use the big room for the two girls to share, it makes things alot easier all around and gives them a sense of security when they are that little to have one another in the room. I do not recommend bunk beds for girls, they are a little different and because I am a girl, I think its suffice to say that although we tend to be more generous more sharing even at young ages, we do need our own little space to call our own, it gives us a sense of individuality. It'll also gives your 15 month old a chance to partake in the arrival of your new baby. All new babies require alot more attention, having the girls together will make it a little easier to meet both their needs without the other feeling left out.....HOPE THIS HELPS AND MAY GOD BLESS YOUR LITTLE ANGLES & THEIR PARENTS TOO!

I have 2 sons, 20 months apart. When my youngest was 13 months, he would cry/scream when we would put him to bed in his crib. He would point to his brother's room. So we put him in his brother's room to see what would happen. His brother had a full size bed which was not on the bed frame (for safety reasons). They slept through the night! About the same week the Wall Street Journal had an article about sibblings sharing a bed and room (same sex). Which was a possitive thing because they found it to boost their self confidence, brings them closer, etc. Surprisingly we find that to be very true. They are inseparable. Not sure how long they will sleep in the same bed but we are going on 2yrs. We ended up buying the king size bed. Try it for a month and see what happens. Good luck.

As I understand it your daughters are young. I would suggest each in separate rooms for now. At the moment you can just use a toddler bed for the 19 month old in the bigger room. Then put the newborn in the crib in the small room -- when she wakes up in the night for changing and feeding you don't want to wake your toddler. Also in case there is any jealosy issues -- it happens -- mine was severe to the point I had to lock my daughters (3yrs 2days apart) in their own rooms for the safety of the baby.

Once the girls are both 4-6, then spend the money on a quality bunkbed --- if you are comfortable -- bunkbends are not recommended for children under 6 for safety. My daughter is now 6 and we're shopping for bunkbeds or loft -- w/ desk/drawers underneath -- but some beds she thinks are too high up -- so wait until your girls are older and have them shop with you.
My oldest has a "captain's " style bed --- higher than regular twin w/ drawers & a cubbie underneath, but not so high it needs a ladder.

Good luck w/ the birth of your second.
C.

I believe the kiddies should share. I have a trundle in my girls room (5 & 7 mo) with a crib in the room. I will get the baby her own non trundle bed when she is 2 or 3 - I think that a trundle for your long term real bed is not great for the child emotionally ( me and my sister had a trundle growing up and it just seemed very unfair that I got the "real"bed and she had the other -so I say leave that for the guests) I also have a pack n play in my room for the baby for naps when my other big kids want to play in the girls room. I have a boys room (7 1/2 and 2 1/2) with twin beds -one on each side of the room ( it can be a bunk bed too but I think it is not safe with little ones under 4 around) good luck!

I would make one a room to sleep in (bedroom) and one a room to play in (playroom). You may want to go with the smaller room for sleeping, if there is enough room for two beds. I think sharing a room sets the stage for life, eventually they'll need to learn to share space at school, sleepovers, camp, dorm rooms and eventually with a spouse. Most of my friends with girls as close in age as yours say they have a hard time separting their children and often find them snuggled up together in the morning (even if they have seperate rooms). I have a boy and a girl so they each have their own rooms, but I can't keep them out of each others rooms during playtime, as for sleeping, they still want to cuddle up with us in the "Family bed."

Hi ,
I am currently in a similar situation. I have a 2 1/2 yr old and a 5 month old, both girls. They share a room now, but only because they have too. I think it is great for girls to share a room when they are a bit older. I think it is ideal to share a bedroom and then have a playroom they can play in together. Keep in mind that playing "together" does not happen for a while. Some of the problems we are facing now are: 1. The baby wakes up her sister when she cries. 2. My two yr old yells, "Mommy!" or "I have to go potty!!" and wakes up the baby. 3. We often need access to clothes/shoes and such in the bedroom, but we run the risk of waking baby. Basically if one is up the other is too, and this is often a disaster! Again, sharing is great but I would suggest waiting until the baby gets a bit older and sleep patterns are established first. Hope I could help. Blessings to you and your little girls.

Hi! T.,

We have 4 children, the oldest two at 20 1/2 months apart. Have you thought about making one room for sleeping (for both girls) and the other a toy room. That way the mess is only in one room and older one is not put out of her room while the baby is sleeping.

Please remember that even though they are very close in age, they are miles apart in developement. When our 2nd daughter was about 3 she was just one size smaller than her sister and people often asked if they were twins. We forgot for awhile that Timarie was almost 2 years younger and we were expecting her to act as her sister. Then one day when S. was in first grade and Timarie still in pre-school, it dawned on me that there was a really big differnece in their abilities.

Also, remember that which bedroom is whose is not a big deal. What is going to work out best for you as their mother. What will make your life work the best. It will make you a better mother because your life will be better. I also believe that it will be important to allow the older daughter to do things first and the younger to wait her turn. You might want to write at what age the oldest was allowed to do things or also required to do things (i.e.,take dishes to the sink, etc). I know that you think that you will remember, and I did for years, however the time will come when you don't. Even if all you do is write it on a calendar.

Now I am way off subject. Good luck and be happy. It is good for them to see a happy Mom.

When we were growing up my parents had the same dilemma with my sister and I. We ended up sharing a room. My parents bought us bunk beds which we eventually took down and just used as twin beds (they could be used either way). And converted the other room into a little office/playroom. We did our homework at our little desks and played in that room and had our bedroom just to relax and sleep. It worked out really well and eventually when I was 16 and my sis 13, we decided to break up into our own rooms. Since the beds could be split up my parents didn't have the extra cost of buying another bed. It was really fun for us to have that bonding experience of sharing a room and it was nice to know that if we really wanted to , we could have our own space too.