Baby moving to a bed?
Alrighty..so we've come to it, our second child will be ready for a bed by this summer, I swear, it feels like I just had her about a month ago, lol. We have a 3 bedroom 2.5 bath house. Its roomy enough for us, but not enough for the accumulation of toys and clothes our two girls have collected. (we have an 8 year old, as well as her soon to be 2 year old sister) we are planning on going through the toys and getting rid of at least half (I think it will end up being more like a fourth? but we're trying to be optimistic here.) anyway..we have two options here. One..keep the 2 year old in her own room, and buy a dora bedroom in a box toddler set. or option b….our 8 year old has a bunkbed..that can come apart and act as two twin size beds..and they are antique..so they are actually as high up off the floor as a toddler bed is..along with rails on the side. so we could possibly take the bunk apart, and place the beds side by side in one room for the girls to share while moving all they're toys into the baby's room and making it into a playroom. Our 8 year old is okay with sharing a room with her sister..because she knows I mostly keep the baby downstairs with me..so in the days when she has a friend over, she knows for the most part the baby won't be up there to interfere..but in all acutality? she doesn't fuss when the baby does interfere or try to include herself in with her sisters playmates….so I'm putting it out there to see what other parents would do…let each child keep they're own room and buy the toddler a toddler set…or let them share a room and make a play room?
wanted to add…the staying awake isn't a problem..both girls could sleep through and earthquake..in fact they have once already..and our toddler as slept through the night since we brought her home. so thats not actually a problem. as for the sleepovers..my 8 year old does not have those..and in the off chance she ever does..we have no problem letting the baby camp out with us for that night. We also have no problem moving them back to they're own rooms in say two years from now when our oldest is getting to her teen ages..if we don't move by then and get a bigger house of course. but I appreciate everyones opinion and love seeing and hearing what other parents in our situation have done. So thanks!
Keep them in different rooms. When she has sleep overs she doesn't want her sister hanging out with them all night, especially if the baby is cranky. Also the 8 year old goes to school and needs to get a proper nights sleep. This can not always happen if the baby doesn't want to go to bed or if she wakes up screaming a few times a week. It will be especially hard on the 8 year old during testing week.
I say let them each have their own room.
I am in a situation where I only have a 2 bedroom and my 3 1/2 year old has to share with my 19 month old.
Too many headaches!
They will appreciate their own space…eventually!
And, they can each play in their own rooms or in each others.
However, I say forgo the toddler set! Sure its cute, but a waste of money! Move her to a twin size bed, purchase the side rails for it.
Best of luck, whatever you decide!
i say let them share a room and make a play room
Make 'em share a room(8 and 2 year old). Its good bonding and teaches them to work together.
let them share a room and have a separate playroom .
My suggestion is to give the 8yo her own room. She is getting to be at an age where she is going to want privacy (if she doesn't already) and is going to need her own space. The younger children should share the room.
i would take apart the bunkbeds and place them in the same room while the other room would be the playroom.
well good luckwith getting rid of all the toys lol
We also have a 3 bedroom house. Our son and daughter (6yrs & 22m) have a bunk bed and share the same room. They love it. We keep their clothes and books in there and use the other spare room as a playroom. They love it.
As for the sleep overs people have mentioned, when our son has one he and his friend sleep in the play room. It's fun for him because he gets to sleep somewhere different and there is a TV in there and they can watch a video before they go to bed.
I say let them share for now. You can always change it back and forth later, but let them learn to get along.
Benefits:
You can have the bedroom be "just for sleeping" and not for toys, playing, etc. This way, your older daughter and her friends can play in the play room without messing up the clothes or beds. And, if you are lucky enough to have your younger daughter sleep in bed during the day, she can do so without her big sister bugging her.
Also, your children will learn to resolve issues, get along, etc. They will have a chance to bond and talk and have some good clean fun.
You will have one less place to store the "stuff" that your daughters have accumulated. When you go through toys, you can tell them there has to be a place to put it, or it is going away to kids who need toys.
Your older daughter can be the example for your younger one of making the bed, picking up clothes, etc.
Good luck! And either way, I think you will be successful with your kids.
Making them share a room will let them develop good interpersonal skills which will help them later in life. I shared a room with my sister until I was about 12 years old, and I can tell you first hand that it gave me great interpersonal skills. Good luck & God bless!
I agree with everything Amber E wrote. Also I think its really calming to have an uncluttered bedroom. And as a parent, I know that the only way to an uncluttered bedroom… is a playroom!
Also, play is a kid's "work". Think of the playroom as an office for your girls. It's easier to shift from playtime to bedtime or mealtime if they can leave their "office" and close the door.
Good luck!