Moving baby in with older sibling?

[vvviola]

DD2 is 7 months. She's waking every 2 hours at the moment for no real reason that we can figure out. DH is beginning to wonder if we're disturbing her (neither of us would be the quietest of sleepers) and we're thinking about moving her out of our room.

But - this means moving her in with DD1 (almost 5).

I'm just not sure of the logistics of it - when to move her & how to organise bedtime

• at the moment DD1 goes to bed about 6:45, asleep by 7. DD2 goes to bed at 7, has a story & then plays quietly in bed until lights out at 7:30
• obviously this won't work if they are sharing as DD2 won't go asleep if DD1 is playing/chatting/anywhere in view

And, if we're wrong about us disturbing DD2 at night, is it unfair to DD1 to have her night disturbed every couple of hours.

We'll have to move her eventually I suppose, but maybe we should wait and hope we manage to sort out the sleep first?

Does anyone have any ideas, suggestions or experiences?

No advice, sorry, but watching with interest. Linking to move DS (16m) in with DD (4) but can't see how they wouldn't distract / disturb each other.

It's tricky isn't it? I'm happy enough to keep DD where she is for a little while longer, but it would be nice to be able to read in bed in the evening again

And, if it turns out that we are disturbing her at night then it makes sense to have her in with a quieter sleeper

I put DD2 in with DD1 when they were 9mo and 2.8yo. DD2 was waking early. Since doing that I haven't heard a peep from either of them till morning- I think children sleep through other children's noises a lot easier than adults do! DD2 once cried herself to sleep for a good 1/2hr and DD1 didn't even stir. I'd definitely give it a go.

You may well be disturbing her, we moved our DD at 4 months because of this. Her waking could be a habit in which case it might continue when she's moved - what does she do when she wakes every 2 hours? Does she self-settle or are you feeding her?

As above poster said, children are pretty resilient, esp that sort of age and will prob sleep through most noise!

We moved our DD2 (7 months at the time) in with DD1 (almost 5 years old and a very light sleeper with a tendency to wake early).
I was at breaking point with the 2 hour wakings for a quick suckle before resettling, so we braced ourselves for the worst thinking that DD2 would wake DD1. Actually, when DD2 woke, DD1 slept through it and DD2 resettled after less than 5 minutes of moaning.
And as of the day before yesterday, DD2 has decided to sleep through the night! Fingers crossed this will last.

As for bedtime routine, I settle DD2 to sleep first whilst DD1 listens to story CD, watches a DVD or plays in my room. DD2 never takes more than 20 minutes to settle, and goes down at 6.30. That gives me 30 minutes to read DD1 a story in my bedroom, teeth and chat before bed at 7.