should i separate dses?

[booyhoo]

ds1(5) and ds2(14mo) share a room. they have done since ds2 was 7 months old. i have a small box room that is our play room. it is great because it means ds1 can play upstairs and we only have to keep a few toys downstairs for ds2. BUT everynight it is taking up to 3 hours to get them to sleep. ds1 likes to read and chatter to himself and ds2 joins in for a while but usually ends up crying so i have to take him downstairs, feed him and put him back up several times before it all goes quiet. I think i know the answer to this already but i don't want ds1 to think he has lost his playroom for ds2 to have it. what would you do?

bump

Do they go to bed at the same time? If ds1 takes 3 hours to get to sleep, it sounds like he is not really ready to sleep. Could he go later, after ds2 has settled?

If they do have to go at the same time, I think at 5 you could tell your ds1 that he needs to be quiet in bed so his little brother can get to sleep.

If all else fails, I'd separate them. My 2 (aged 4.5 and 2.5) sing or chatter for a bit, but all quiet after 15 min max.

i try to keep at least half an hour between thier bedtimes althoug it rarely works unless they are both exhausted. ds2 goes between 7 and half 7 and ds1 usuall about 8 or half 8. every night as we are doing teeth i tell him that it is time to settle down and go to sleep now but he is just a chatterbox. i think I will have to separate them. i just don''t want ds1 to think he is losing his playroom so his brother can have it.