Toddlers sharing a bedroom when one is an early riser

[ExistentialistCat]

This is really a WWYD post... DDs are 2.5 and 16 months. Younger one is an early riser, older one sleeps beautifully and is dropping her nap, which means that my early mornings are spent trying to keep DD2 quiet so that DD1 and DH can get a decent amount of sleep.

DH is very keen for them to share a room. He thinks this would be good for their general sleeping habits and for their relationship (not that there is anything the matter with their relationship). He doesn't think they'll wake each other with their crying.

The whole idea makes my stomach clench as I envisage having TWO toddlers up at 5 a.m. and dealing with the consequences for the rest of the day. Yet a tiny part of me is ludicrously hopeful that they will magically make each other sleep.

The issue has come to a head since DD1 needs to make the transition from cot to bed and her room isn't very safe for a bed (it has stairs affectionately known as the Stairs of Death that are almost impossible to stairgate). So it would be very convenient indeed if we could just put them into the same room. But we COULD make it work with separate rooms still, it's just a bit more awkward.

So what would/have you done in this situation?

I wouldn't do it. 16 months is too young to know not to wake the other one up. Can they just swap rooms if the other one is safer? I have a 2.5 year old too and a 10 month old and I would really like them to share but the younger one is still up in the night so they can't yet. And we only have 2 bedrooms so the 10mo is in with us...

I'm in exactly the same boat, DS1 sleeps quite late - 8ish, often - whereas if DS2 lasts until 6 we feel we've had a lie in! They're in rooms next door to each other just now (DS2 is only 8 months) and so far DS2 has never woken DS1 (either during the night - and until recently there were no shortage of night wakings - or in the morning). Walls are paper thin. I am starting to think that sharing (which is my ideal) might be a viable option, and maybe DS1 will just sleep through DS2 waking, or turn over and go back to sleep.

Could you try for a week and see? I think that's what I'm going to do. If it doesn't work I'll just separate them again and leave it until they are older.

Thanks for the replies!

I'm in the same position as you, nearlythere - the girls are in rooms that interlock, but somehow even the paper-thin walls make a difference (in my imagination, at least).

After another 4.50am start from DD2 (ouch ouch ouch), managing to keep her quiet and dozing on and off until nearly 7, I'm really not up for the whole house being awake at her chosen waking time.

Even the idea of trying it just for a week fills me with horror! I know that's completely irrational, but I'm a bit of a sleep-obsessive at the moment.