What to do about sleeping (newborn waking up toddler)

peapine

Just need some advice from ladies who have been there. We are lucky enough to have seperate bedrooms for our children. When baby #2 arrives, she/he will placed in their own room at night like we did with DD. The bedrooms are right next to each other. DD is a pretty heavy sleeper at night, although she really hasnt been exposed to a baby crying. I am mostly worried about the early morning hours. She usually wakes at 7am, but around that time is when she sleeps the lightest and is easily awakened. It would be tough having to deal with her waking early and taking care of a newborn. Any suggestions? I am not a big fan of the baby crack machine, but might have to entertain it I guess.

LDQAM516

We dont have any problems...our newest addition has a humidifier in her room which helps drown out the noises my son makes...naps are not a problem either...yet atleast...they nap at different times so it is working out.

emas

Ours share a room, and it hasn't been a problem at all.  Our daughter is able to COMPLETELY tune out the baby's crying, whether she is awake or not!  (Example: the other day he was screaming his head off, and she came over and asked if I could read to her.  I said "not right now" and she asked why.)

Mama Jan

We have a small house - DS2 is either in our room just a few feet away from DS1's room or in their shared room - we don't have a problem with DS1 waking.  He was always a pretty light sleeper but he adjusted so quickly.  I think you will be surprised.

Mr.&MrsS

We use the baby crack machine in both of the boys rooms and you cannot hear anything from the other room when they are on. I know you said you dont like them, but it certainly helps drown out any noise. We havent had any issues with them waking each other.

Nelliep32507

I have a light sleeper for #1.  We just recently put #2 in the room with her. She sleeps through him crying most of the time. I was really surprised.  We only have a 2 bedroom apt right now so they have to share. I wanted #2 in his own bed, not a plypen, in a separate room from me and dh.  I was super nervouse about it. But I would notice in the car if #1 fell asleep and #2 started crying- she'd sleep through it. so we got her a big girl bed and gave #2 the crib. They've been sharing for almost 4 weeks and #1 only woke up 2-3 times because of crying.

peapine

wow! super encouraging. thanks!

MrsPreK

I anti-baby crack machine as well and we've never had a need for it.

DD slept in the bassinet in the downstairs living room for the first few weeks (when DH and I slept in shifts). All of our BR's are upstairs including the MB.

Both LO's have their own rooms directly across the hall from one another and DD (luckily) can sleep through anything. DS is a crappy sleeper - didn't start STTN until 11 months but he's been pretty good about the whole thing. DD started STTN @ 6 weeks so things have been good for us sleeping wise!!

jlw2505

I would first try and see what happens, give it a week or two and know you might be up with both kids but if your older child doesn't adjust to the baby crying and go back to sleep, I would do a sound machine.  I ended up using one since my older DD is such a light sleeper and it really helped a ton.  We stopped using it when my LO started STTN and it wasn't a nightly issue.  Now if my LO wakes up at night which is not often, my older DD sometimes sleeps through it but if she wakes up, she goes right back to sleep once we go in and tell her everything is fine.