How to have siblings share a room
Recently over on instagram, we got a question from a mom wondering how to transition her two young kids into the same bedroom. I was actually really excited to answer this question because, not to brag, but I feel extra qualified when it comes to kids and room sharing, because of our unique living situation the last few years.
Today on the podcast we are going to talk all about how to have your children transition into sharing a room and I’ve got 8 tips for you to make it happen.
My (Jessie’s) kids have been sharing a bedroom since my second was just a few weeks old. Our family lives in a one bedroom house (my husband and I sleep in a loft and our three kids - 4 years, 3 years, and 1 year old) share the only true bedroom we have. It hasn’t been perfect, but it has been 1000% better than I ever expected.
Stacey and I laugh because we think God has given me some unique situations with my kids’ sleep so I can be a little more understanding and equipped to help the parents we work with at the Goodnight house.
I’m hoping today’s episode will give other parents hope who either live in small homes or for whatever reason need their kids to share a room.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
Tips for having your children share a room
Tips for room sharing during nap time
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
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8 TIPS FOR HAVING SIBLINGS SHARE A ROOM
1. Don’t overthink it
Honestly, my tips are not that earth shattering ;) I think the biggest tip I have is to do it early on and don’t overthink it. You just have to do it. My guess is that it will go much better than you think and the worst part will be your anxiety about the process leading up to it! I know I was so anxious, and I know from working with so many other parents since then that you are probably really nervous too, but you just need to do it to see that your kids will adapt and do just fine.
2. Establish good sleep habits with each sibling before having them share a room.
I have one caveat for this, if you are transitioning a really young baby in with an older sibling - they don’t necessarily need to be sleeping through the night, but they should have some kind of sleep foundation being laid. Our newborn sleep class is a great resource for this!
In general though, it’s going to be much easier if both children have solid sleep habits and are able to fall asleep and transition through sleep cycles independently.
It is incredible how toddlers can literally sleep through ANYTHING. I didn’t believe people when they told me Locke would be able to sleep through a screaming newborn, but he did. All three of my kids can sleep through the other two waking up. This is true of most kids and I think you’ll be surprised when you try it.
If your child struggles with sleep and you’d like help getting things figured out, we offer 1:1 personalized sleep plans where we can come alongside you to create a step by step plan to get your child 4 months to preschool age sleeping 11-12 hours at night.
3. Pick a time you can lose sleep
If your children have a solid sleep foundation, your transition will probably go pretty smoothly, but it’s probably better to make the transition over a weekend or time where you and your spouse are okay with losing some sleep.
Every child is different and you might have a few long nights. It’s better to stick it out for a week and get your child used to their new sleeping arrangement than to start and stop because you can’t afford to lose the sleep. Maybe pick a weekend or even consider taking a day or two off of work if you’re really worried it’s going to be a tough transition.
4. Sound Machines
You can’t have too many sound machines. We recommend setting one up by each child’s crib or bed / or on both sides of the room. Their room will probably sound like a wind tunnel, but it helps so much! You can check the show notes for links to our favorite sound machines.
5. Put cribs or beds as far apart as possible
We recommend putting your children’s cribs or beds as far apart as the space will allow to give what separation you can. We have three kids sharing a room, so we have a child on each wall, but you could also have their beds on opposite walls.
6. Prepare your oldest
If your oldest is able to understand, sit down with them and explain what’s going to happen. You may want to start prepping them a few days before you make the move, and remind them a few times the day of.
7. Have a consistent bedtime routine
The steps in a bedtime routine will cue your child’s brain into the fact that it’s time for sleep. It’s really important to still do a consistent routine with your children, even if they’re sharing a room. You can do their routine together, or separately. I’ve done different things in different seasons, but I always think it’s special to spend individual time with each child before bed, even if it’s only for a few minutes or to read one short book.
If you want to do your children’s routines separately, have them take turns looking at books in their bed or crib while you are with one child and then have them switch. It might take some practice, but they’ll get the hang of it within a few nights.
8. What about nap time?
Children sleep much lighter during the day, so we always recommend tackling nighttime sleep first when transitioning into the same bedroom. With three kids who all have different nap lengths and sleep needs, and since we only have one bedroom, I’ve had to get really creative with naps. It has looked different at different times, but right now my 5 and 3 year old nap upstairs in my room. I use our slumberpod over a floor mattress and my 5 year old does a rest time in a little toy / play tent that I got on Amazon. I’ll link our blog post all about rest time and what to do when your child is ready to transition out of naps.
Depending on your situation, nap time is going to look different for every family and every home, but don’t be afraid to get creative! Children are really resilient and they can adapt to a lot of different sleep environments when you keep the basics of a sleep routine, a dark room, and a sound machine.
I hope this helps give you some ideas and encourage you that no matter what your situation, your kids CAN share a room and the transition is not as hard as it probably seems. My kids love sharing a room and being with each other at night, and for many families, it’s their only option!