Toddlers sharing room - is it a mistake?

[bloss]

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No advice bloss but I confess to a giggle at the image of them in the cot!

Hmm, not sure if i can say that it will definatly settle down. My DD's aged 6 and 4 have shared a room since they were 3 and 1. For us there is no choice as we only have 2 bedrooms but if I could seperate them I think I would. DD1 is always o.k at bed time but dd2 is not. She keeps chatting to dd1 and shouts at her if she falls asleep. Then she is uually tired in the morning and refuses to get up.

Bloss - mine have shared a room since ds2 was 6 weeks old. We have the space to have a room each, but I prefer them to be in the small room (with no toys - well just a few cuddlies), then have the other big room as a playroom with a spare double bed for guests.

Anyway, they always go to sleep quickly, and we've almost always put one down first, then the other 30 mins later.

If they haven't been used to sharing, then I'm not surprised they are partying ... hope it settles down soon for you.

Our two (3y, 1y) have been in the same room for about 2m. It was ds's room, and dd moved in at about 11m. He had been quite happy to stay in his cot, wasn't especially interested in a 'big bed', and we encouraged that, because I thought it would be easier to have them both in cots once they were both in the same room. I think you've proved me right! Ds was a bit jealous at first, but he seems to have accepted it now. So far it's gone well, and when I hear them talking I simply pop my head in and say 'Quiet now, no talking, time to go to sleep. Good night' and it works. I don't know what I did to deserve them! I don't know how you can prevent the partying, but perhaps you need to police them a bit more, and stop the fun and games earlier. It's easy for me, because their room is opposite the kitchen, so I can hear them (if they talk) while I'm clearing up from supper.

We did this about a year ago and sometimes really regret it!! The partying did settle down after about 2 weeks, but we still have problems witht htem not going to sleep. they would probably be solved by separting them, However they really seem to like being together so we leave it. Now our elder dd has started school she is more tired and I do try to make sure the other one is too. Otherwise it can be an hour of threats!! Good luck

It's unfortunate about the lost sleeep, but tell me, do you get woken less throughout the night?
I'm tearing my hair out with my 20 month old at the moment, who still wakes many times. I thought I'd put him in with the 4yr old when the night waking settled down a bit, but after your post Bloss, I don't know. I don't want the 4yr old to lose sleep on school nights.

Bloss, that is such a lovely image both having a party as a good pair of friends... it really makes me wish for a baby brother/sister for DS. I have so many good memories about sharing a bedroom with my 2 sisters (singing at night or scratching each other back, that I just wish we could have another baby so DS can enjoy that as well.

As for the partying.... I don't remember if it ever settled in our case but every time my sisters and I end up visiting our home at the same time the story seems to repeat and I so much enjoy it: clossing the vents of the airconditioner so parents can't hear us through them, and putting a pillow to cover the vents at the door, and when finally at 3 am my father ask us to be quiet shouting from his bedroom, oh god it felts so much like home!!! I just love it

Our 3 kids (5yr, 4yr & 2yr) share a bedroom (no choice, 2 bedroom flat ) and what we have to do is put DD in our bed until they all go to sleep. Then when it comes to older 2's night loo run, we put DD back in her own bed when she's been for a wee. We did let them all just have a bit of a riot for a bit then settle themselves down, but this always resulted in DD ending up in tears (she is a bit "sensitive" and will cry at the littlest thing) but we decided so that they could all get a decent nights sleep it was better to take her out. Our 2 DS's do have a bit of a screaming contest, but after 5-10 mins they usually settle down so everyone is happy. I just hope we get a bigger place soon so that DD can actually go to sleep in her own bed and I don't need to worry about turning our bedroom light on and waking her up!

Sorry not much help for your situation Bloss, but within a couple of weeks I'd say they will calm down a lot. After the "novelty" wears off so to speak

DD2 moved in with dd1 when she was about six weeks old. Dd1 does tend to like a bit of a party but it's not too bad ('yes, baby's woken up, I said "wakey wakey baby" and she did'. I can't face moving out of my office to give one of them a room of her own.

My two boys started sharing a small bedroom last year when they were three and one. At first they did chatter to each other but after a while the older one started laying down the law and telling the younger one to be quiet. Now they do sleep well. If the little one wakes up during the night and is upset we generally let the older one come into bed with us until he's settled down again. All in all, it's been a very good move, they definitely sleep better together than they did apart.

I also echo dinosaur - mine sleep better together than apart - I think they like the idea of not being alone. I also think it helps encourage them to sleep more deeply; they are rarely disturbed by anything at night now.

We are quite strict about bedtimes.

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What a brilliant idea Bloss, starting earlier?
Sounds like it's going to work really well.

Rogue question mark there - ignore it.

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What a positive post Bloss. Hope it continues to go well for you all.