https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 09:07:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2848105 Sat, 29 Sep 2018 15:22:09 +0000 MrsBeluga 2848105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have your exact same setup! </p> <p>Our plan for the short term is to keep the third in our room for at least a year. After that the third will move in with the youngest regardless of gender given similar bed times. Doing this we can keep our guest room intact.</p> <p>In about 4-6 years, when everyone needs/wants their own room, we will then put the two of the same gender in the jack and jill rooms and the other in the room down the hall. We aren’t planning to do a ton or get everything shuffled around since our youngest, 2, still sleeps in our room anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2848049 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 23:42:51 +0000 PinkElephant 2848049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cat620: I have three girls. We moved into our current house, they were 4.5,2.5, and 2 months old. We had the same bedroom/bathroom situation as you, and opted to have the two oldest take the bedrooms that share the jack &amp; Jill bath and put the baby in the big “princess suite” with its own bath.<br /> We did it for a number of reasons, but<br /> One thing I’m surprised no one has mentioned is the issue of access between the two bedrooms. I did not want my middle child to be able to access the new baby’s room through the jack &amp; Jill bathroom at night. I guess we could have flipped the doorknob around so it could be locked, or used a baby gate, but it seemed easier not to deal with that. Also, I felt it was easier to kick the baby out of her room than one of the older girls, so the nursery can double as a guest bedroom with its own bathroom. Also, babies don’t use bathrooms, so it meant only one of those two bathrooms was being dirtied!</p> <p>But, since you’ve already got your boys split...I don’t think boys and girls sharing matters when you’re small - when they’re older you may decide to re-shuffle, and can come up with a variety of reasons to do so! I think we swap to have my oldest in the “princess suite” in a few years, just to be “fair” and say the oldest gets extra privacy, although I think the walk in closets in the jack &amp; Jill bedrooms make them more attractive choices! Some of it may also come down to dynamics between the three of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2848038 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 20:26:28 +0000 cat620 2848038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the responses! I agree that it's not a big deal, but my husband grew up 1 of 3 boys, so I think it's a foreign concept for him. Also, I think since we are in the situation where we have two bathrooms for our kids, it is worth thinking about if it makes sense for a daughter to have her own or have to share with her brother. This is all hypothetical though, and we could end up with another boy, so this wouldn't matter then </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2848023 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 18:20:43 +0000 Silva 2848023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah.... I don’t understand why this would be an issue. My whole family shared a bathroom until I was 15 and we built and addition. Then my brother and I continued sharing until we left for college.<br /> We just closed the door.<br /> But also- he’s my brother. If I was in a rush and needed something while he was in the shower I could holler in and let him know I was coming in to grab it.<br /> Kids will figure out their own privacy needs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2848015 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 16:56:32 +0000 Foodnerd81 2848015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: our upstairs bathroom (so the girls share it but guests use it too) has two sinks and I love that. They can easily brush teeth or wash hands at the same time. It’s way more convenient than I ever expected and they don’t even comb their own hair yet. Meanwhile our master bathroom only has one sink. Seems a little unfair that I have to share and my kids get their own. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2848006 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 16:04:28 +0000 codeitall 2848006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had 6 kids sharing one bathroom growing up. I was the only girl. When we remodeled we made the sinks separate so everyone (well, really me, the only girl) could get ready at the same time as others.</p> <p>I'll also put out there that whatever you decide now can be changed later. We did a lot of room switching as we grew older and wanted different things. One room had bookcases, another room to practice a musical instrument and another that was lego heaven. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2848004 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 15:40:02 +0000 JJ2626 2848004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’ll be lucky if we have two bathrooms total when we buy an apt in our city so this question is funny to me! I don’t know why it would matter though-the kids will close the door when showering/using the toilet! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2848000 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 15:23:11 +0000 misolee 2848000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have the same setup and girl, boy, girl. Well currently the baby is in our room but she’ll eventually move into jack and Jill when she’s older or when we feel motivated to move things around :silly: my husband said the same thing about the girls sharing the jack n Jill but I don’t think it matters and I think it makes more sense for the oldest to have the bigger bedroom and more privacy. Oldest privilege. </p> <p>Also there’s a closer age diff between younger two so I’m sure they might be closer in life stages than with the older one. I figured if the sharing sibling hits puberty and need their own space the oldest would have moved out for college by then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847983 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 14:40:30 +0000 MrsSCB 2847983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This would never even occur to me. Plenty of families only have one bathroom total, so I don't really think it's an issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847968 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 13:58:14 +0000 Foodnerd81 2847968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree that it doesn’t matter if a boy and girl are sharing a bathroom. BUT I could also see wanting to give the girl the private bathroom when they are older, since girls often take longer in the shower and getting ready and that just seems a little easier. Plus dumb things like boys peeing in the seat and leaving the toilet seat up and stuff. Obviously not huge deals or deal breakers, but as a girl I know I would have rather not shared a bathroom with my gross brother if it was an option. And then when she gets her period and stuff... since you have the extra bathroom and someone gets there own, I would let the opposite sex child have it.<br /> Not sure what I would do though in terms of moving your oldest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847957 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 13:43:57 +0000 psw27 2847957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My brother and I shared a bathroom until he went to college. It was never an issue. I certainly didn't' want to walk in on him and he certainly didn't want to walk in on me. We both would have died of embarrassment and disgust. We are moving into a house next year that will have the same layout and we plan to have our 2 boys share a room and then we will have a third and he/she will be in the other room that shares the jack and jill. Our other bedroom will be strictly a guest room or playroom until they get older and all want their own spaces. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847953 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 13:34:21 +0000 Becky 2847953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most people I know have one bathroom for all the kids, and plenty share a bathroom with the whole family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847949 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 13:19:59 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2847949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, but fwiw, if you feel like moving your oldest, as long as you don't also redo all this room decor and whatever at the same time.. I honestly doubt it'll be a big deal to him. You could just say it's so he big kids share a bathroom or some other reason. This is just not something I think will be traumatic for him in any way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847947 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 13:17:53 +0000 Alba4 2847947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t think it matters at all. My bro and I are under 3 years apart. We always shared a bath. You knock before entering or lock the door. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847944 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 13:13:46 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2847944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cat620: I can see it being more convenient in a way for the boys to share if the third is a girl but all three of mine are sharing and we have two girls and a boy (no jack and jill though).. I think this is a very first world problem. 😂 but I totally get it, we moved our son to his own room instead of having the baby in her own room because we figured we'd separate him from the girls eventually. All this to say I don't think it really matters if they share! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847937 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:56:09 +0000 Miss Sarah 2847937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@merriment: Same! Our whole family shares the same bathroom (one on the level with our bedrooms), so I do not think it is a big deal at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847931 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:49:14 +0000 Mrsbells 2847931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cat620: My kids share a bathroom and we have a girl and boy with another boy on the way. I grew up sharing a bathroom with my siblings of different genders. I don't see why its an issue especially as kids.. Once they become teens its still not an issue since they will take turns to use the bathroom and the door locks for privacy </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847930 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:47:07 +0000 Ajsmommy 2847930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My brother and I shared our whole lives until I left for college... no big deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847928 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:46:16 +0000 BadgerMom 2847928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really don't think the gender matters when bathroom sharing as long as everyone is aware of proper boundaries. I especially wouldn't switch in your case as your oldest chose the room with the private bath. I think making him move after he chose that room would be kinda WTF?! (for lack of a better term lol) to him. And I think having the oldest in the biggest room with the private bath makes some "sense" in the long run, so that when tensions do run high down the road you can say, "so and so has that room/bathroom because he is the oldest." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847927 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:45:54 +0000 Mama Bird 2847927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They don't have to be in there at the same time! So I don't think it's a problem.</p> <p>My boy and girl share, and I'm starting to ask them to close the door and not pile in all at once - but for now, it's more because they wind each other up and goof around, than for privacy reasons. The goofing around is so bad though. Sometimes I've had to march one of them off to another bathroom just to make sure they brush their teeth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847912 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:25:31 +0000 Aria 2847912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always shared a bathroom with my brother and it was never an issue. If we wanted privacy we closed the door. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847911 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:25:11 +0000 merriment 2847911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry, this is really an odd question. Don't people just close the door when they want privacy in the bathroom?<br /> Why does gender factor into it? We're not rich enough to have a "master suite" or anything, and my whole family (husband, boy and girl) will be sharing one bathroom. I can't fathom the idea that this could be problematic. Most of my friends live in NYC where normal apartments have one bathroom and (gasp!) children of opposite genders share bedrooms! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847909 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:22:44 +0000 erinbaderin 2847909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t understand why this is an issue. If people want privacy in the station they close/lock the door. My family grew up with one bathroom which my parents, my younger brother, and I all shared. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847907 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:22:02 +0000 gotkimchi 2847907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@annem1990: my sister and I literally didn’t get close until we stopped sharing a bathroom. It was a trying time :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847905 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:15:16 +0000 catgirl 2847905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really don't think it matters. Many people only have one full bath in their house and they make it work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847902 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:12:36 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2847902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Opposite genders can certainly share the same bathroom. By the time they each want their own privacy they will have worked out a system where no one is waking in on each other. Besides Jack &amp; Jill bathrooms are called such for a reason. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847901 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:10:04 +0000 Anagram 2847901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cat620: its going to be several years before this is an issue, so I would let it be for now. I'm one of 6 kids, and my parents are kind of old fashioned, and designated a "girls" bathroom and a "boys" bathroom, but that didn't stop my brothers from streaking through the living room with no clothes, or from prancing around the house in their tighty-whities occasionally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847900 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:09:00 +0000 annem1990 2847900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My brother, sister and I all shared 1 bathroom growing up. We were all only a year apart. It was never an issue with my brother. Boys spend such little time in the bathroom anyways. Two teenage girls on the other hand...that's where the problems were :silly: . How we made it through that time and are still close today, I'll never know! :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847899 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:02:52 +0000 Corduroy 2847899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cat620: I don’t see how it matters. That’s what doors are for. I shared a bathroom with my brother growing up. Most houses in our area only have one bathroom anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/siblings-of-different-genders-sharing-bathroom#post-2847897 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:01:01 +0000 LBee 2847897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My opposite sex kids share. We encourage proper bathroom boundaries with our kids regardless of sex. If you are thinking it might be an issue in teen years there are far easier solutions (i.e. buying a vanity for doing make-up, etc). I think you are sending a weird message making your son give-up his room for your daughter [in this hypothetical scenario], especially since you previously gave him a choice. </p>