https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:14:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661648 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 15:30:04 +0000 Mamaof2 2661648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: I think sharing is fine - I have a friend who has 3 kids sharing 1 bedroom (bunk beds and a single bed) - it was rough as infants but now they are older and its super easy for them </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661644 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 15:24:53 +0000 Mama Bird 2661644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: haha, yes, I've told him just that! I think we might reach a compromise after all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661577 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 13:59:38 +0000 PawPrints 2661577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you want to tell DH his idea is totally bonkers, you have my approval to do so. :) I think having kids share a room is totally normal and tons of people do that. Having a kid sleep in the corner of the living room (for years, it sounds like - you said long-term arrangement) is not something I have heard of anyone doing unless a situation of extreme need forced them to do so. </p> <p>DH grew up sharing a room with his younger sister and it worked out fine. He didn't have his own room until he was ten years old. Not a problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661570 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 13:57:01 +0000 Mama Bird 2661570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: @bookwormmama: @catomd00: @kiddosc: maybe sharing is the best we can do now. It's too bad that in the long run this will come up again if we buy a two bedroom. I guess renting is the way to go... at least we'll be able to get out of the apartment instead of doing this ridiculous living room thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661548 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 13:27:34 +0000 kiddosc 2661548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would totally have them share. Your DS is only 4, I would think it would be like 8 years before you'd have to think about separating them. Putting him in the living room makes zero sense to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661509 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 12:29:55 +0000 catomd00 2661509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I'd give the kids the largest room and allow them to share. If you really want separate spaces, put up a removable wall or some other sort of divider.</p> <p>Eta - My sisters and j always had my own rooms growing up and on multiple occasions we wanted to share and moved around. I have two kids and three bedrooms, and I'm considering moving them both to the larger room and having the smaller stay as extra storage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661491 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 12:08:11 +0000 Kimberlybee 2661491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would give the kids the bigger room and divide the space. I have seen a cousin divide the room with those standup closets and it adds extra storage too. You would have to figure a way to secure it so the kids don't move it around though,</p> <p>[attach=394/16/ohq29n.379x600.IMG_0276.PNG] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661485 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 12:04:07 +0000 bookwormmama 2661485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: were you miserable sharing? Or just when you were separated? I understood it as you guys had a hard time separating after sharing a room for so long. If that is your concern, maybe you could wait to split them until they ask? The family I nannied for had two twin beds in the son's room after they moved and the daughter slept in there for a long time even though she had her own room because they liked being together.</p> <p>I think if you feel really strongly about everyone having their own personal space and being used to that you'd need to get a 3 bedroom. Because your son will never have his own space in this situation...he'd be sharing his space with the whole family rather than just his baby sister. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661480 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 12:01:14 +0000 Freckles 2661480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was going to make the same suggestion as @Anagram and have the kids share the bigger room. I think there would be too much resentment by giving the younger kid the room while the older brother sleeps in the living room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661479 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 12:01:11 +0000 Mama Bird 2661479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: we didn't have a rough time sharing rooms, it's the other way around - we got so used to having someone else to talk to that we struggled to adjust to having our own rooms later. I guess that's not everyone's experience though.</p> <p>@Anagram: @Anagram: @Miss Ariel: @Mrs. Pickle: both bedrooms are pretty big - it's taken us over a year to find something with decent sized rooms, so I was so excited until this came up! So room sharing would be easy, but only for a few years. In any case DH is all "this is fine, he gets the biggest room, they don't need to share!" I don't know if he really doesn't get it or he's got some kind of bias he's trying to cover up with "logical" arguments :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661459 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 11:36:12 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2661459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have the kids share. You could get a room divider as they get older. I shared a room with my two younger brothers until I was 14. My mom lived in a two bedroom apartment. We had bunk beds. I slept on the top and my brothers slept on the bottom. I can understand why your DH wants to have a bedroom. I would too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661448 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 11:23:28 +0000 Miss Ariel 2661448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up in a 2 bedroom house, so I shared a room with my younger bedroom till I left for college. I know it sounds crazy to some people, but it's all I ever knew and I was never really that big of a deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661444 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 11:21:03 +0000 Anagram 2661444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Or if the master bedroom is bigger and more easily divided, can you divide that room and give it to the kids, and you two sleep in the smaller room? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661442 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 11:20:23 +0000 Anagram 2661442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: can you get a temporary divider wall? or hang a curtain from the ceiling? Something to divide the room?</p> <p>I dunno, sharing rooms is super common in my area. I don't know anyone who has put a child in the living room. I guess because most kids go to bed so early? We're still eating dinner, cleaning up dinner, packing lunches, watching tv, etc when the kids are in bed. So we like having the living room and kitchen free--same in the morning. We are up before they are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661441 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 11:18:29 +0000 Anagram 2661441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: I would have them share the room. Since I also live in an urban area, I have *lots* of friends with 2 kids in a two bedroom, and all the kids share once the youngest is old enough to move out of Mom and Dad's room. </p> <p>We have a 3.5 year old and a 15 month old in a 2 bedroom condo. Technically, the 2nd bedroom is the girl's room and all of their joint stuff is in there. But about a month ago, we moved the baby's crib back to our room because she was sick and waking frequently and we haven't moved her back yet. But they are sharing there for at least the next 5 years. We are actually deciding now what kind of beds we want to buy. Right now LO1 has a queen size bed and when LO2 is also in there, she's in her crib. We are debating bunk beds, or 2 twin beds, or the Ikea Hemnes (twin that pulls out to King). Because our 2nd bedroom is also the guest room when our parents come. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661428 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 10:59:19 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2661428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: Is there a way to put the kids together and divide the room? </p> <p>It sounds like you and your brother had a really rough time sharing rooms. But thats not always the norm. There could be just as many potential issues with the "stigma" of one child getting a room and the other child getting the shaft of the living room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661427 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 10:56:11 +0000 Mama Bird 2661427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: it might work short term, but in the long run someone's going to end up in the living room anyway. And I'd love DD to have her own place, especially now that DH has finally taught her to sleep in her crib all night (I know, I know... I can't make up my mind if the man is a jerk or a hero). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661422 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 10:47:28 +0000 Truth Bombs 2661422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: What if the 16 month old slept in your room? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661417 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 10:39:38 +0000 Mama Bird 2661417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: @looch: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: @Adira: @T.H.O.U.: @bookwormmama: @threeplusme: @psw27: thanks everyone. We're basically all in the living room now, so we're used to lights out and noise off at the kids' bedtime. This still seems wrong on so many levels. I did suggest us taking the living room but DH won't hear of it. Not sure I want to push for room sharing... it sounds like a good idea, but my brother and I shared a room for many years and we were both so miserable when we got our own rooms. I'd rather have the kids get used to having their own space early.</p> <p>I guess I'll tell DH that the nice apartment we found is off the table. For that matter, I'm not sure I want to look for a place to live together as a family. I'm too disgusted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661407 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 10:17:34 +0000 psw27 2661407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have the kids share a room. I don't think a child should sleep in a living room as a permanent solution - for a variety of reasons. Mostly quality of sleep, lack of ability to use the living room while the child sleeps, and the general unfairness that one child gets a room and the other doesn't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661402 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 10:13:27 +0000 threeplusme 2661402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd have the kids share a room. I shared a room full time with my older brother till I was 4. Every summer I shared a room with both my brothers. I like to think I was a better roommate in college since I knew how to get along sharing a space. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661389 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 09:44:21 +0000 bookwormmama 2661389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely have them share a room over putting one in the living room. What would you guys do after your son goes to bed? I know walking around near my son while falling asleep would keep him awake for a long time. </p> <p>We currently rent a 2 bedroom house and I am pregnant with number two. Our current plan is to have the baby sleep in our room for about 9 months-year and then we will move the kids into our room (because it is the bigger room of the two) and we will move into the smaller room. We don't know the sex of baby #2 yet, but they will have to share no matter what. Kids I nannied ( a boy/girl) shared a room for a long time around that age and they LOVED sharing a room with their sibling. They slept better together than they did apart. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661380 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 09:17:04 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2661380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would totally have the kids share a bedroom. FWIW, I have my 5 yo DD and my 2 yo DS sharing a room right now. They have a large bathroom right next to their room they can use for changing and stuff if needed. At this age its still totally not a big deal for them to share a room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661374 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 09:13:32 +0000 Adira 2661374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same as @avivoca:. Either the kids share a room or they each get a bedroom and the adults sleep in the living room.</p> <p>Besides the unfairness of giving one kid a room and the other one not a room, how would you handle bedtime?? Once you put your LO down for the night in the living room, are you guys banned from that room? Do you have to tip toe around? That just makes zero sense to me, on top of the fact it's incredibly unfair to the LO who doesn't have a room of their own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661372 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 09:12:31 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2661372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would probably have them room share until the oldest one for sure needs privacy as a tween.</p> <p>If you definitely want them in separate spaces I agree with PPs, that you all should take the living room. From a safety standpoint I wouldn't want my kid to be first in sight if an intruder came in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661364 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 09:07:19 +0000 looch 2661364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about giving each one of the kids a bedroom and then doing a murphy bed in the living room for the adults? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661363 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 09:04:39 +0000 avivoca 2661363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have the kids share a room or have my husband and I sleep in the living room. No way would I put one of my kids to sleep in the living room as their room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/two-kids-two-bedrooms#post-2661359 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 09:01:39 +0000 Mama Bird 2661359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you have two bedrooms and two kids of different genders, who gets what room? </p> <p>We're looking at moving into a two bedroom from a studio. For various reasons, a three bedroom is not in the cards whether we rent or buy. DH thinks the kids should have separate rooms right away - I think that's reasonable because they'll have to eventually and might as well get used to it now. The thing is, he thinks we should get a bedroom, DD (16 months) should get a bedroom, but DS (4) should get a corner of the living room. He grew up poor and never had a room of his own, so he thinks it's no big deal. To me that seems very unfair and a good way to set the stage for resentment between the kids. Is this really as awful as I think, or just what people have to do when they're not rich?</p> <p>It's not so much the living room arrangement that bugs me, we're in a worse situation now... it's that one of the kids gets a room and the other one doesn't. And if we buy, this will be a long term arrangement. </p>