Sharing a bedroom

[ijustdontknow01]

I have two boys 4 and 2 who each have their own bedroom. When they are a bit older we would like them to share a bedroom and have bed bunks just to try and encourage play and closeness together. Has anyone done this when they didn’t need to and how did/does it work? I worry about lots of fighting

Also to add what ages do you think would be best to do this?

I'd be doing it now, not when they're older. They're not going to want to go from having their own space to not having it so if you're going to do it, do it now!

Friends of ours did this with 3 children. The house had enough rooms for everyone but the children wanted to share. They gave them the master bedroom with a single and bunk beds. The children loved it. I suppose they knew they had a safety net of their own space to revert to.

We had bunks for a while because we had to. It was ok but everyone was relieved when we moved to somewhere bigger.

My DC shared from an early age but we had to split them when our eldest was about 10. They needed their own space from their exuberant sibling.

Don't do this

The will NEVER sleep

I wouldn’t, it’s better for them to have their own space if possible. My DDs have never shared a room and they have always got on well

Mine shared from 2&4 until 5&7. It stopped working as one was boisterous and the other introverted. Their relationship improved when they didn't have to spend as much time together! The bunk beds were still in one bedroom, so they often had "sleepovers" at weekends.

My DDs are teenagers and still share. Our DS shared with them as a preschooler. As small children they loved it, the girls occasionally complain now but don't want to move either (we have a spare room).

Should point out we have a playroom/family room as well as the sitting room so they can hang out there, and I prefer them not entertaining friends in their bedrooms, if they have guests they are in the playroom or sitting room.