Sibling Issues........

[CheekyGirl]

I'm a bit of a lurker here, and don't usually post so - hello everyone! I have a dd age 3 and a ds due Christmas.

We live in a 2bed house and alas moving is not an option. I am rather nervous about dd and ds sharing a room. I would really like to hear from mners who have had siblings share a room, particularly opposite sex siblings. For eg:

When do you put them in together?

Who do you put to bed first?

What do you do if one wakes at the crack of dawn, and the other would sleep on if undisturbed?

Any ideas on storage solutions for small spaces?

Thanks!!

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Thanks!

Actually, I bought bunk beds for dd's first bed and just use one at the mo. Can get them fixed together when needed. When can they go onto top bunk? Is it age 6?

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We had 4 in a small 3 bedroomed house. The eldest two used to share (DD & DS1), & then she had her own room & the 3 boys shared (& that was not good!)

Each new baby stayed with us for about 6 months before moving in with siblings. I think we used to put the toddler to bed first & take the baby up when we went up, but then again as mine are now 12- 18 it's a long time ago!!

As for storage, we had the lower cabin beds with drawers & cupboards built in. Top bunks are only for 6 & over!

My ds went into a top bunk when he was just 5 but he's always been a very good sleeper - not sure I would have been so happy if he'd been restless.

Ds1 has been in a top bunk since he was under 4 - he's never given us any cause to worry. He and ds2 have shared since ds2 was about four or five months old. They love it.

My dd will be around 5 or so by the time ds will need to be in a bed, by which time hopefully she'll be able to go in the top bunk. Tbh, the space situation will be better once they're in bunks. Trying to cram the cot in will be the problem, that and trying to find enough storage for both lots of clothes!

We have a 2 bed house as well. DD is in with me for a while as she is BFing but she will go in with DS eventually. I have bought these 'drawers' from Ikea with wheels (2 fit under a cot, 3 under a single bed) and I have used them to store their bedding and things like armbands and such like but you could use them for your kids clothes.

We have a ds 3y (nearly 4) and a dd 20m. They have been sharing a room since dd turned 1y. We generally put them to bed at the same time, similarly with naps. If one needs to go to bed earlier or get up from a nap earlier then I just go into the room, scoop up the child and go out again. The other child is rarely disturbed.

We wanted to move dd in with ds much earlier, but ds was a very good sleeper, whereas dd wasn't, and we didn't want to jeopardise ds's sleep. Ds would quite happily remain in bed if he woke early, either falling asleep again or chatting to himself and his bears. Once dd was reliably sleeping until 6am we moved her. Dh was then gettng up at 6.20 to go to work, so a 6am waking wasn't too unbearable. We made it a policy never to go in to them before 6am, and gradually moved that time forwards. Eight months on, and over this Bank Holiday weekend we have had 'lie-ins' until 7.30am every morning!

We did have a little difficulty with dd's daytime naps, and I had to do a lot of soothing, but ds would always fall asleep before dd and was virtually never wakened by her cries.

As for storage, at first they were both in cots and there was plenty of storage space underneath (because we have Brio Bedside Cots, which are very high - very useful and easier on your back). Now ds is in a mid-sleeper, partly because of the massive storage space.

Westcountrylass - please tell me more about the IKEa drawers as I can't find them in the catalogue!!! They sound fab!!