Shared baby room: tips for harmony between siblings

Categories: Baby's Room

When you lack space at home and are preparing to welcome a second child, having your children share the same room seems to be the most adequate solution. However, such cohabitation needs to be prepared to maximize the chances of everything going well. So how do you anticipate sharing the room between a baby and their brother or sister? How do you arrange the room? How do you best anticipate for everything to go smoothly?

Can two children sleep in the same room?

It is entirely possible for two children to share the same room. While as they grow up, each will need their own space, young children sometimes prefer to be in the same room as their brother or sister. Indeed, the night becomes even more reassuring when they know they're not alone in their room. Moreover, sharing a room allows for creating real bonds between siblings and thus strengthening the sibling relationship even more.

However, be aware that this requires specific arrangements, as well as taking into account the needs and age of each child.

How to arrange the room for a baby and their brother or sister?

The layout of the room is of course a key point so that brothers and sisters feel comfortable in this space and can coexist as they should.

Choosing the beds

Since we're dealing with a baby and an older brother or sister, two separate beds will be necessary. So we'll have a classic children's bed on one side and a baby crib on the other. To save money and maintain a nice harmony in your decor, why not opt for a convertible baby bed? The convertible baby bed is a baby crib with bars that later transforms into a child's bed. It's a baby bed that adapts to the child's growth. For example, our ICONE convertible baby bed allows you to go from a pretty crib with a vintage style to a child's bed with the same look.

You can also opt for a Montessori baby bed and thus promote your child's autonomy from a very young age. The combination baby bed is also a very good choice if the room is small and you want to save space in the room.

Each to their own space

If they share the same room, each of your children will have their own toys, clothes, and other belongings. It's therefore important to be able to distinguish between the two to avoid conflicts and ensure that each can have their own space. It's thus important to be able to make a distinction by opting for separate storage furniture, such as a chest of drawers for one and a wardrobe for the other, for example. Toy boxes should also be bought in pairs to minimize disputes as much as possible.

To make this more fun, you can use a color code that will allow each child to better identify their belongings.

At what age can a baby sleep in the same room as their brother or sister?

Age is also of certain importance when it comes to sharing a baby room and child room. Indeed, it's out of the question to leave a newborn alone with their brother or sister, as young babies are far too fragile and need constant attention. The WHO actually recommends that parents share their room with their baby until the age of 6 months. From then on, the baby should be placed in a classic crib or a co-sleeping crib. It's only after the age of 6 months that it's possible to consider placing the baby in their room with their brother or sister.

That being said, it's important to consider the needs of your baby and your older child on a case-by-case basis. If the baby isn't sleeping through the night at all, it might be too early for them to leave the parents' room. Your older child's sleep is also to be taken into account and should not be neglected.

What precautions should be taken to ensure that cohabitation goes well?

It's not always easy for a first child to accept the arrival of a second one, especially when it comes to sharing their room. This change must therefore be prepared as early as possible and according to the child's age.

Communicate

It is imperative to communicate the upcoming changes to your older child. Talk to them about the baby's imminent arrival and the fact that once a bit older, the baby will come to settle in their room. Of course, present the event positively by showing the benefits of sharing a room.

Set up the room early enough

To help your older child prepare for this change, prefer to set up the baby's corner even before their arrival. In reality, you have all the time you need, but the earlier the crib is installed in the room, the more easily your older child will get used to the idea.