Bedroom Talk

Should I move my 5 year olds bed into my bedroom?

I'm a Mum of 2.9 kids. An almost 5-year-old who has just started school, an almost 2-year old, and a baby due soon. I have a small house with only two bedrooms. I co-sleep with my 2 year old currently in the same bed (and very happily may I add) and will also be bringing the baby into my bed. My children have never used cots, and the 5 year old stopped co-sleeping and went into his own bed when he was about 3. Got all that? Good :) Now, my house is so small that my kids don't really have anywhere to play... except for the 5 year olds bedroom. So I am considering putting his bed in my bedroom and setting his old room up as a playroom. So we would all be sleeping in the one bedroom, and the kids could have their own space to play and do their own thing in that room. It would also deal with the fact that the 5 year old is going to be a bit miffed at being the only child not allowed to sleep in mummys bed. I'd like to hear from other parents who have young kids sharing their bedroom (if not their bed) about their experience, and the pros and cons of it?

Public Comments

1. I understand your concern for play space, but feel that kids don't need to stay in mommy's bed. They need to learn independence and you and your husband need your privacy.
2. I would say NO because do you want them to become so used to sleeping with you, that at age 10 they still want to sleep in your bed? If this was me, I would move the 2 year old into the 5 year old's bedroom since you will be having a newborn in the house. The 5 year old and the 2 year old could share a room and when the baby comes along, the 5 year old won't feel "left out" and the 2 year old can still have someone to sleep with, even if they're not sleeping "with" them. My mom and dad did this to me and my sister when I was probably 3 or 4 and my sister was 6 or 7 and my mom was expecting my brother and to be honest, I didn't even notice that I wasn't sleeping with my parents anymore- I was more excited to share a room with my older sister. Children don't really notice "space", whether they have a big room, small room, etc, they notice that they have their "own space" - if that makes sense. My daughter is currently 6 months old and she sleeps in her crib in my room with me and her dad, but once she is 1, we are moving her into the spare room with her own stuff so she becomes an independent sleeper. The pro of my daughter sharing my bedroom is that she is only 6 months old and it's easier to get up and check on her, or give her a bottle when she wakes up at 5 a.m. but the con of it is that me and my daughter's father have no personal space of our own. My daughters stuff is in with ours (although the sides are separated and she has her own dressers), I am already feeling that she needs her own room, with her toy boxes, swings, etc. It just sets them up for later in life when they need their own space.
3. First off, you need to find a home large enough for your family. I gather from your terminology that you live outside of the U.S., I am only familiar with laws in the states. In the U.S. the fact that you do not have enough room for your children may even cause you legal problems. My solution would be to buy an inexpensive bunk bed for the 2 and 5 year olds. I would also encourage the children to play outside. If there was not space outside I would accompany them to a park frequently (which is what I did when I lived in the city).
4. NOOOOOOOOOOOO! but sounds like you already have your mind made up - so why you asking us?
5. How can you have 2.9 kids?
6. I can relate to your situation. I have a toddler (22 month old) and due any day now with my second. Right now our son has been coming in to sleep with us in the middle of the night (he was sleeping with us all night for a couple months after he got sick and that was the only way we could get him to sleep good is with us). My husband and I began to like the co-sleeping idea and didn't mind it at all. However we will be having the baby in our room for at least three months of his/her life and so if we want to really try hard to get our son to sleep in his own bed, then what happens when the baby comes? He's gonna feel left out and still want to come in with us. We too have a small house with only two bedrooms and not a lot of play area outside the rooms or in the rooms for that matter. But I would have to say we have to consider what you are considering. When all said and done I think in your situation that would be a great idea, especially if you plan on co-sleeping with the younger two. But I would present the idea to your 5-year old first of what he thought of sleeping in his own room like a "big boy" or something to that effect and just see what he says. Eventually he'll need his own room so I would leave it up to him and share both the pros and cons with him/her.
7. I'm a co sleeper myself so don't think I am bashing co sleeping. However, safe co sleeping is important. I don't think it would be necessarily the best thing to have a tiny baby in bed with a big flopping 2 year old. Not until the littlest one is at least old enough to roll over in bed. I would move the 2 year old into the room with the 5 year old and have the baby in bed with you. If you feel you need the 2 year old to stay, I wouldn't disrupt a perfectly fine sleeping 5 year old. Of course you have to decide what works best for you and your family.
8. No way should you all share a bedroom! Move the 2 year old in with your 5 year old if you want to co-sleep with your new baby. It is incredibly dangerous and irresponsible to put a 2 year old in the same bed with a newborn.
9. I say....the 5 year old is sleeping in his own room for 2 years so he should stay in his room. He has adjusted and if he sleeps well there then he "is the big boy and has his own room" so leave him there to sleep. The new baby will wake to feed for a few months and wake both kids which isn't fair...imo. Kids need sleep and you need them to sleep to have good days. Overtired children are no fun at all! So...since you are planning on co-sleeping with two or three of your children the whole family will not get to get to sleep through the night once the baby arrives...not judging!!!!!! just the facts. I NEVER planned on co-sleeping, I have 2 children. My first was a dream, slept throught the night from 7 weeks old and was due to my being neurotic slept in his bassanet untill 5 months old then went to his own room and transitioned fine. My 2nd is now 4 and has just started sleeping in her own room. We co-slept for 3.5 years. I put her in her bed when she was alseep but she always came to my room in the night so..part time CS. She NEVER slept in her crib more than 2 hours..tried everyting but nothingn worked so we co-slept....me and her on the couch for a year then moved into my bed with hubby. He works early and long days so he needed to sleep. Honestly, I don't think co-sleeping will work untill the baby sleeps through the night. The baby will wake up you, daddy and the kids if you are all in the same room. If I were in your situation I would. Leave the 5 year old in his bedroom....daddy and the 2 year old can sleep in your rooom, You and baby sleep on the couch untill baby sleeps through the night. Then evaluate...can the 2year old and 5 year old share the room...bunk beds????? with the option of the 2 year old comming to you in the night if needed. I have a 4 adn 6 year old...my house is small but a 3 bedroom. Most of their toys were in the living and dining rooom(easy access, we spend most of the day in the living room) untill my youngest was 3.5. Now they will play in their own rooms but usually drag the toys downstairs. P.S although I never wanted a co-sleeping situation...IT is the BEST! Snuggling my daughter all night long melts my heart. She now wakes very early..like 4 or 5 am, comes to my room to snuggle. She has been sleeping later lately and I miss our snuggle time. Having her next to me is sooooooo needed now. I do get it!
10. Are you a single mother?? Just wondering, becuase if a guy is in the bed, you'll likely be having sex, and it is NOT good for a 5 year old to witness that. if your a single mom and don twant a guy any time soon i don tsee any problems, except that your 5 year old might be hurt about losing his room. i think you should talk to HIM about it and see what he wants to do. give him the choice.