I have two boys: 23m and 3.5y. My oldest has expressed interest in having his younger brother move into his room and they would share a room. I'm a little nervous about this because currently they both sleep GREAT separately and I don't want them to keep each other up (or to wake each other up early). I'm also nervous because my youngest isn't vocal enough to be able to tell me if he likes the idea of moving into his brother's room or not.
Thoughts?
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
If you have the option of waiting, I'd probably wait a little longer. We have the boys sleep together on vacations and they tend to wake up earlier than if they were alone. Could just be vacation or they could be too excited 
We plan on them sharing eventually too, but I'm waiting until we have a reason to do it!
pomelo / 5298 posts
We've had the same issue here. Though my older is 5. I'm opposed to the idea for now. The room isn't big enough for two beds, unless we did bunks and they both already have nice furniture. Based on a vacation over the summer, currently they can't sleep in the same room. It's a disaster of fun for them (and lack of sleep!). I might entertain the idea when they are older.
Everyone's sleep (mine included!) is too valuable to me.
Also, in my case, I think the younger would love it. She loves to go in her sister's bed and to go into her room to wake her up. She's very interested in being into all her big sister's things.
nectarine / 2784 posts
My sister and I used to love having "sleepovers" in each other rooms, but we didn't share a room permanently.
grapefruit / 4903 posts
Mine are almost the exact ages as yours (turned 2 this week and will be 4 next month), and we're contemplating the same. I think they might manage fine for nights, but I think that would be the end of naps for us, so I'm waiting until the spring to seriously consider it. I'm due with #3 in June, so we'll play it by ear as that gets closer.
pineapple / 12793 posts
My big two are the same ages and they've been happily sharing since the spring. C only recently woke up her big sister last week. It was kind of funny, she was having a night terror around two and could not be consoled by us. She literally push DH or I out the door and closed it. So she sat in L's bed screaming. L woke up and yelled "I've had about enough of your screaming!" And then rolled over and fell asleep.
I've actually found that having them share helped L fall asleep faster. She used to stay up too late but now that C is in there sleeping she's respectful and goes to sleep quickly and soundly.
Last night they slept in the same bed cuddled together. It doesn't always happen but when it does
pomelo / 5791 posts
Our boys are going to start sharing next month! I'll let you know how it goes!
They generally don't have trouble falling asleep, I'm more concerned about them waking up earlier!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@rattles: That's a really good point about naps. Currently they both still have nap time, but half the time, my oldest just plays in his room during that time and doesn't sleep. I'm definitely not ready for my youngest to start missing naps!
@winniebee: @MamaG: @Anya: Okay, you ladies are making me think I should maybe hold off. We definitely don't need to free up a room anything. It was just a thought because Xander expressed interest in it and has told us to move Logan's crib over already!
@oliviaoblivia: OMG, so sweet!! I'm glad room sharing has worked out so well for your girls!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@ValentineMommy: Oh good, be my guinea pig! Tell me how it goes!! 
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
Mine are 5 and just turned 3. They've been sharing for a year now. It works out, for the most part. They have the same bedtime (8 or slightly earlier). I have to get DS1 up for school early, at 6:30, but it's not a big deal for DS2 because he's naturally an earlier riser and he gets to take a nap while DS1 is in school.
The only time it's slightly a bummer is when DS2 wakes up early on weekends when I'd really like DS1 to sleep in a little more, but that's starting to get better, too.
FWIW, they never keep each other up bouncing around or what not. I think they know I won't stand for it, lol. For the most part, it's like the other isn't there.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
@Adira: naps are a good point! Our older son doesn't nap at all anymore but I don't think he'd like having his room *off limits* in the afternoons. Maybe he won't care though
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Mrs. Yoyo: Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm glad it's working out for your boys!
@winniebee: For us, if we did end up having them share, we'd probably move the majority of their toys into the other room and make it a play room. Then if the oldest didn't want to nap, he could hang out in the play room instead and might not mind having access to his room during naptime. Do you guys have a playroom or somewhere else your oldest could play when your younger is napping?
pomelo / 5791 posts
@winniebee: Our boys aren't sharing yet, but we don't even let DS1 upstairs when DS2 is sleeping (he's a lighter sleeper). We let him pull out "special" toys when his little brother is sleeping that are usually more off limits when DS2 is around (small toys like real legos, special puzzles, play doh) to keep him occupied and going upstairs off his mind. It's worked so far!
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
@Adira: Since Ty is only home for nap time on weekends, we usually do something special with him during nap time anyways (in the summer it was swim time, now it's more like movie time or art time). So I'm sure it would be fine in the end!
cantaloupe / 6791 posts
My boys just started sharing a room last month (LO1 turned 3 this week and LO2 is 15 months). Its seems to be working fine. The only issue is that LO1 is going through a weird stage where he wakes up MOTN screaming (night terrors?) and sometimes it wakes up his brother, but they both usually go right back to sleep. LO1 is still napping, but he usually naps in my room and LO2 is in their room.
pear / 1961 posts
@adira: i'm so jealous! assuming things go as planned, we are going to (eventually) have K and E share bunkbeds in K's room. But....we have decided to put-off the transition since a) K has been anxious about sleeping on the top bunk and b) E sleeps like a rockstar in her room/crib. So since the baby will be in our room for a bit anyways, we're putting it off.
E would probably be all about room-sharing (although I'd worry a bit about messing with her sleep), but K seems to waffle. Some days she talks about it happily, but most days she is always hollering about "needing privacy" 
I'm hoping in 3-4m it will be a better/easier transition! If not, we may just bail and put one of the kids in the (now) playroom.
nectarine / 2878 posts
We tried with our boys and failed a few months ago. Haven't tried again since. DS1 (4) keeps coming to our bed in the middle of the night and DS2 (2) doesn't do that yet, so I am scared to open that can of worms. I could see them sharing at some point though, they have gotten really close lately.
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
My older girls started sharing when LO 2 turned 2. There have been no major issues. LO 1 is a great sleeper and LO 2 is pretty good except when she is sick.
pear / 1586 posts
My boys share. They are 2.5 and 11 months. I waited until a couple weeks ago because I was afriad DS2 would bother DS1. It has been great! DS1 isn't bothered if DS2 cries either which enabled me to stop the middle of the night feed DS1 chats to DS2 sometimes and calms him if he is sad which is adorable. Although they do usually now wake at the same time (7) when before DS1 slept until 8ish but that still isn't bad. The other day my older slept two hours later than his brother! It was amazing. I don't nap them in the same room though. DS2 is in my room while DS1 stays in theirs. Not related but my DD (4) told me she wants a sister so she can share 
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