Growing up, my sister and I always shared a room. It was a learning experience, filled with occasional fights, but it brought comfort, especially in our younger years—until the teenage phase, that is…
If you're facing the challenge of having your children share a room and you’re worried about sleep- Here are six practical tips to ensure a peaceful night's sleep for both your kids and the whole family:
1. Ensure you have great sleepers BEFORE you move them in together: Before moving your children into a shared room, ensure that both both/all children can sleep independently and settle themselves at night. If sleep training is needed, it's best to do this before the transition or take a few days apart, implement a sleep plan and then they can go back to sharing a room. We want to temporarily give them their separate sleep space to learn to fall asleep and resettle on their own, a process that can take 3 to 12 days depending on the method you choose.
2. Carve Out Individual Sleep Areas: We all appreciate our personal sleep space, and this is especially true for those who crave privacy, like introverted temperaments. Yes, you can create separate areas for your kids within one room. Use furniture to divide the space, move beds apart, or consider bunk beds (if safe). Allocate special spots for their toys and belongings so they feel ownership over their area, reducing distractions for better sleep.
3. Stagger bedtimes (do bedtime routines separate): you have a toddler and a baby, consider a 30-minute difference in their bedtime. For twins or two babies, a 15-minute gap can work. This staggered bedtime approach allows you to spend quality time with each child and transforms bedtime into a relaxing bonding routine. Start by putting the baby to bed first while the toddler has quiet time.
4. Embrace White Noise: White noise is a great tool to enhance sleep quality and mask ambient noises that could wake your children. Your children will not wake each other up and sleep is easier. You can use two white noise machines close to each sleep space or just ensure that your white noise is on loud enough.
5. Set Clear Sleep Rules for Toddlers: Communicate clear expectations and consistent boundaries to your toddlers regarding sleep. Setting clear limits and being consistent with those boundaries is very important for toddlers. Toddlers can now understand what the expectations are and can comprehend that there are rules and boundaries around sleep. Our job is to communicate AND execute the consecuences effectively. For instance: a consequence can be a silent return back to bed.
6. Be Consistent: When it comes to sleep, it ultimately comes down to consistency. Repetition will communicate expectations. Be as consistent as possible, while also anticipating that there will need to be transition time. Everything new takes time and children will adjust with repetition.
Take it easy on yourself and keep moving forward.
Having a backup plan can be a lifesaver in case things don't go as planned. Anticipate challenges and be prepared to handle them.
In the end, sharing a room with a sibling can be a rewarding experience that builds strong bonds and shapes perspectives. Start on the right foot by ensuring a well-rested baby who can fall asleep independently and having a clear game plan. If you need guidance on getting your baby or toddler ready for any transition, feel free to book a call, and I'll be happy to assess and talk about how to get you a customized plan and provide the support you need.
