Sisters...share A Room or Not?

Why don't you have them share a room and see how things go before you go nuts with putting stuff in the extra room. Seems like once you commit to the other room being other space you are more likely to ignore that things aren't going well.

I don't see any reason why things wouldn't go well mind you.

My older son has three girls, and they all have had separate bedrooms. Recently the younger two opted to share a bedroom and use the other for playing. They love it that way.

When my children were growing up, the two boys shared a room and the two girls shared a room. They groused a little bit ("Her toys are spilling into my space!" and all that), but they liked it most of the time - and when they went to college they had the advantage over some of their friends in that they already knew how to share space.

I would have them share a room that way they have more room to play making the other one a play room!!! That's what I would do if we had an extra room!

Well C. I do think your idea has much merit. The only concern I have about kids at this age is toys. The toys of a 3 year old are vastly different than the items that are safe for an infant or toddler. If a toy can fit through a paper roll from a roll of toilet paper it is too small to be within reach of a child under 3 or a 3 year old that is still putting stuff in their mouth.

That is the only reason I would put the kids in separate rooms, I would keep their play area's totally different spaces. They would not play together when small toys were in play. It won't be long until your girl notices Barbies that have shoes and accessories that might taste yummy. Or Squinkies, lego's, or about 90% of the toys a child can buy at Walmart.

It would just be too worrisome for me to have to be constantly vigilant and I would not be able to do any crafts or relax at all due to watching each and every movement of that baby to make sure they did not have a toy in their mouth.

I had the kids do their own rooms and I made a corner of the living room into a craft area. If my granddaughter had small toys out she had to have her room door closed and the little guy was playing with his stuff and running around playing.

My girls wanted to share a room, they prefer to sleep together. (My oldest is a scaredy cat) They've been sharing for the most part since my youngest was a little over 1. (I say most part because my oldest would still sneak into our room at night it wasn't until my youngest was about 2 1/2 that we moved them to a full size bed together and enforced no creeping into our room)

Not sure it made them closer but they enjoy it and never fight about sleeping together nor sharing a room. We shall see how long this lasts.

my sister and I are 7 years apart. We did share a room until I was 5 - then she we got our own rooms.

Your daughters are NOT you and your sister. You may want them to be best buds - but know it may not turn out the way you want.

if you have a room for each of them - give them their own space. I would. My boys were "roomies" until my oldest was 5 then they we gave them separate rooms. the SPACE and privacy has been WONDERFUL for them and their relationship - they have their OWN stuff and it's not mixed on the floor or in drawers...

when they have friends over? they can go to their OWN room and not have to say "hey Patty - stay out - okay? Jill and I want some alone time"

So bottom line? I disagree. I think they need their space and their own rooms.

I shared a room growing up, as did my kids, until we converted the garage into two bedrooms...... The two oldest were 9 and 7 when we did the conversion. At that time, I think my 5 yr old girl was also sharing with her 1 yr old brother.....

I see nothing wrong with siblings sharing rooms!

My bestfriend in high school shared a room with her sister who was three years older. They were bestfriend. When I was 16 my parents decided to go to Europe and visit as many places as they could in two months so for two months I stayed with them and it was truely like three best friends. It was great for them because as kids they had eachother to play with so when they got older they could really bond. They were the closest pair of siblings and had 9 other siblings. It's probably good if they share a room.

I would not, have them share a room.

The eldest, is in no way old enough to supervise her baby sibling or to be "responsible" for her baby sibling.
And the baby... is young and will wake and cry at all hours and go through all those baby phases and need, you.
And it will interrupt the elder sibling's sleep, to say the least.

Sharing a room will not guarantee that they are close "buddies."

I shared a room with my sibling... and I HATED it.
It was the most terrible thing, and I still remember it as an adult.
Sharing a room with my sibling, was just awful.

I would let each child have their own room.
They are 3 years apart.
And the eldest... will need her own privacy and her own things and her own friends.
Of which, it will not be suitable or "safe" for a baby.

The baby should be in your room.
Or in her own room.
And the eldest should be in her own, room.

When it works, it works great.
When it doesn't work, separate them.
My sister and I shared a room till I could not take one more night with her and I took my sleeping bag and slept in the dining room for 2 weeks until our mother believed I was never sharing a room with her again.
I was in the 5th grade at the time, my sister is 22 months younger.
Some siblings are compatible and some are not.
You just never know what you are going to get.

My girls shared a room until they moved out to get married.

My sons all shared rooms too.

I think you have a better chance of having them be good friends if you don't compare one to the other, "Why can't you do as well as your sister?" And you find things to praise them for.

Good luck to you and yours.

My sister and I are 4 years apart. We shared a room until she moved out at 18. I'm older than her and we are not close but it had nothing to do with sharing a room or not sharing a room. We are very different and have different interests and philosophies of life and living.

I say let them share a room because this may be good practice for college and living with a roommate or even a husband.

I know they are young but they won't be young forever.

Have then share a room! They'll learn to share and negotiate.They will be closer, and it's much less lonely/isolating. They'll let you know when they want separate rooms.

I am a big fan of children sharing rooms. If i had 2 girls instead of 1 of each, my kids would share a room despite how large the house was. My kids have always complained of 'feeling' alone at night, shut up in their rooms in the dark. One night, after sending my daughter back to her bed once again, she pointed out to me that it's not fair that she has to sleep alone because mom & dad don't. We are social creatures, and turning off the light does not change that.

put them in a room together and leave them that way for as long as you can. then when they start complaining about it the one who complains the most is the one who has to move to the other room. thats how our mom did it

I would highly recommend that they share a room. My three girls do, and they love it. My three boys have also, and they love it, too. (Two aren't here most of the time anymore as they are young adults.) I think it bonds them together so closely, and their relationship is so precious. They take care of each other. I think giving them separate rooms only encourages selfishness. I can't imagine any good thing coming from it.

If your little one sleeps through the night i think its a great idea! i also shared a room with a sister and loved it. Mine are 4 and almost 3 but its a girl and boy, so i decided they would need their own rooms due to being a girl and boy, so when we have another one i want the two boys/girls to share a room. after all they pretty much just sleep there lol

Yes yes yes! Sharing a room is so good for kids, they learn so much, sharing, taking turns, working together, it's such a great bonding experience. Besides, most kids don't really start wanting a room of their own until they hit the teen years, and even then, some still don't. The good thing is you have the extra room if you need it, and in the meantime, the bedroom stays fairly neat and the mess stays in the playroom :)

I'm all for sharing. My boys share a room, share their toys and share their clothes. I think they have bonded better because of it. We only use our bedrooms for sleeping, not for hanging out or entertaining guests. You will still have the extra room in case they stop getting along.

My daughters are now 12 and 10, and the 12 year old begged to get out of sharing a room. She is becoming a women and the 10 year old doesn't give any privacy, and is having a hard time realizing that just because you have a sister doesn't mean she needs to be your playmate whenever you she wants it. Unfortunately we weren't able to add a room till now but we have been aware of her feelings now for a few years. As I child I shared a room till I was in high school with one of my 6 sisters. You are lucky you bonded well with your sibling, out of 6 sisters I couldn't find a room mate that I was compatable with. Give the youngest a chance to grow and at age 3 then ask the two girls what they would like to do.

My daughters are a year apart - birthdays November 30th and November 24th. They are currently 19 months and 7 months. They have shared a room for a few months now. I want them to be close. I would have them share no matter what size house we had. Unless they express the need to be separated, I wouldn't just impose it on them. I was always lonely as as kid because I didn't have a sister. But my brothers always shared a room until they became teenagers.

All my kids have shared rooms and so far it has lasted till about 11 -12 years of age. Then they seem to be happier with their own space. I agree with your reasons for wanting them to share and my kids did like the years they shared.
Have fun. I just finished painting my 2 little girls room a lovely shade of pink.

Hi there, I see you have lots of responses and I didn't read them, but i couldn't resist replying. I have 2 girls, believe it or not, also 3 yrs apart and 3.5 and 7 mths old. We have already decided to let them share a room and make the other the play room, but we only plan to let them sleep together, probably when the younger one turn 1 year old, since she's in the crib in our room right now. Hope it works out for you!

Our kids all shared rooms and it worked out fine. The only thing I'd say here though is that if you do have the two rooms, it might be good to be separate until the baby is just a little older and I say this only due to toys being more infant appropriate and then the baby can play in her room and not risk getting older less baby proofed toys. I used to put our babies on the floor in their room with the baby gate up and they were 'safe'. Other wise I think sharing a room is the best way to go and teaches getting along, becoming close to sisters, or brothers, and gives you that free play room or later a guest room.

My sister and I shared a room, our 2 other sisters had the room next to ours. Some of my best memories are of the 4 of us talking together late at night from our beds.

My 2 girls couldn't wait to have their own rooms when we moved to a bigger house. But my boys are now teens and still share a bedroom by choice. Have your girls share a room and see how it goes. You can always rearrange when/if they get to an age where they need some time and space of their own.