A toddler and a baby - one room...good idea?

S

ssheng

Registered User
I am expecting my second baby soon, and the age difference between my two girls will be about 15 months. My first daughter is still in a crib and I plan to co-sleep with the second for the first few months.

My question is, after we want to transition our second daughter into another room, do you think it is a good or bad idea to have the two girls share a room? Assuming they both sleep through the night (although I know that can always change), I imagine their schedules might be similar enough this could work. I also wanted to avoid buying another crib, and so I thought we could graduate our first daughter into a toddler bed at the same time we introduced our second to the crib.

This wouldn't normally be an issue but as always with HK, there are major space concerns! :)

Your suggestions would be appreciated! (Please don't tell me to move...we just bought this place. :P)
 
Congratulations!! We have a two bedroom flat too. My two boys are about 20 months apart and have been sharing a room from when No 2 was 5-6 months old and sleeping through. We haven't really had problems with it. We have a travel cot in our room for No 2's naps and for the nights when No 2 has been unsettled and we've had to move him because he would disturb his brother. Thankfully, those nights have only happened when No 2 was ill, and normally they both share a room at nights.

I think sharing a room makes my two closer. In the mornings, we sometimes hear them talking to each other, which is sweet. Either that, or if No 1 is still asleep and No 2 wakes first, we take No 2 out first to let No 1 sleep in.

No 1 is in a toddler bed. He didn't move to a bed exactly at the same time as No 2 moved to a crib, but we were lucky enough to have someone give us a second cot/bed so that worked well.

So it's do-able!
 
I forgot to say we put No 2 to bed earlier. No 1 gets his bath and a story sitting on our bed and then goes to bed. No 2 is an earlier riser than No 1, who typically likes lying in for about 15-20 mins more. Different kids are different and I guess the point I'm trying to make is that kids that age adapt easily to changes to the bedtime routine...so it's all possible!
 
We're in the same boat and plan to have the 2 share a room at around 4-5 months. Most people don't have the luxury to have each child in their own rooms here in HK. Let us know how it goes. My second is due next week and my first just turned 15 months yesterday :)
 
I have two boys 13 months apart (nearly two and nearly one at the moment!) I am holding off putting them together until no.2 has a few more of his teeth. My only other piece of advice is not to rush the older one out of the cot. Personally I would prefer to invest in a cheap IKEA or secondhand cot than have a little one clambering out of bed in the night or early hours of the morning! I don't think it's a milestone which needs to be rushed and there doesn't seem to be any developmental benefit to the child.
 
I have my boys in the same room as well- 18 months apart. And I think we have been able to do so only because both boys are sleep trained. So mostly if one wakes up at night, the other keeps sleeping or if both wake up and cry- it takes upto 10 min of simultaneous or tandem crying and they settle back down. Started around 5-6months too. We also put younger one to bed first.
 
If I had both babies the same sex, I would consider it more. I don't, but more the deciding factor was the sleep issue. I just don't want to risk either of them waking the other up. My sleep is too precious and too little as it is.
 
my daughters are 22mths apart - and did try to have them sleep together in the same room...works for nap time as it is OK if the younger one wakes up the older one...but not fool proof for bed time (though I must say, I stopped tring 4 mths ago when older one was 2.3 yrss and the younger one 5mths) since my younger one used to wake up in the middle of the night crying for no apparent reason for 5mins and then put herself back to sleep - and then the older one would be awake...very much awake and want to play!

having said that I believe if I were to reintroduce it now (2.7yrs and 9mths) it should work as the younger one is completely sleep trained...but haven't really done it yet - perhaps i'm lazy - don't know...just want something fool proof. they LOVE sleeping in the same room and when they wake up from naps (the younger one only cat naps whilst the older one likes long 1 hour naps) the older one is always upset with the younger one for disturbing her sleep - but they laugh it away it is great just watching! just wouldn't want that to happen in the middle of the night....there is a key to making it happen "right" though - #1 has to be asleep first before I take #2 into the room cause #2 is a light sleeper (#1 is a deep sleeper) and would be woken up if #1 decided to throw a fit and not want to sleep....
 
I'm in the same predicament. My first is going to be 24 months when my second is born and they will have to share a room. It's going to be a challenge, and I'd like to see how other moms arrange it. If other moms have any tips/advice on how to make it work please share!
 
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