A little scared about moving boys into the same room

FeistyFille

I need advice or tips please.  We're going to try moving Joseph into the nursery with Luke this weekend.  We've tried on two occasions before where we had Joseph in a pack n' play.  First night went beautifully.  Second night, 2 a.m. screamfest and we gave up.  I'm guessing that they woke each other up, thinking ohmygod something's in the room!!!  This time we're committed.  DH is dismantling Joseph's crib and rebuilding it in Luke's room so there's no turning back.  I'm scared. 

Any ideas on how to best do this?  Should I put a night light in there, even though neither has ever used a night light?  Am I crazy for even trying?

 

Nessia

I have no experience but maybe let them hang out in their cribs before it's time for bed so that they can see that they're both in the same room. Just an idea.

ndluvsrk

I agree with pp.

Also, how about giving Joseph lots of play time in Luke's room this week and doing bedtime rituals in that room as well?

As for the night light, see how it goes the first night without and then if they freak each other out, then put one in to see if that helps.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for a smooth transition.

Kim777

I would imagine that you will just have a couple of nights of sleep interruptions, crying, etc. and then they will get used to it. M&W have always been in the same room, but we just moved them into toddler beds last week. It was one night with a bunch of screaming and crying and two absolutely horrible nap times where I had to be mean mommy and talk really sternly to them, putting them back into bed over and over for 45 minutes, only to have them sleep for about 45 minutes to an hour and wake up to start the monkey business all over again. The second night no screaming, but Mason woke up early and came into our room and when I put him back to bed he screamed and woke everyone up but they all went back to bed. Then the third night we had no issues at all and yesterday Monte was here for nap and said they laid down and went right to sleep. I think any transition like that is hard for a few days but hopefully they will adjust pretty quickly!

As far as a night light, you could always try it if you think it would help them to realize who is in the room at night if they wake up and hear each other. If it doesn't work then you can always just go back to not using it.

fjaril

just wanted to wish you lots of luck!

FeistyFille

Nessia:

I have no experience but maybe let them hang out in their cribs before it's time for bed so that they can see that they're both in the same room. Just an idea.

We'll definitely do that.  Our usual bedtime routine is each of us takes a boy into his respective room for reading books before bedtime.  That won't change so they'll both be hanging out together, which will be new (and probably create all kinds of excitement), and then we'll put them down.  I guess I'm most worried about how it's going to go down in the middle of the night and for wake up since Joseph just requires much less sleep than Luke.

Xtina712

No advice but good luck!

FeistyFille

Kim777:

I would imagine that you will just have a couple of nights of sleep interruptions, crying, etc. and then they will get used to it. M&W have always been in the same room, but we just moved them into toddler beds last week. It was one night with a bunch of screaming and crying and two absolutely horrible nap times where I had to be mean mommy and talk really sternly to them, putting them back into bed over and over for 45 minutes, only to have them sleep for about 45 minutes to an hour and wake up to start the monkey business all over again. The second night no screaming, but Mason woke up early and came into our room and when I put him back to bed he screamed and woke everyone up but they all went back to bed. Then the third night we had no issues at all and yesterday Monte was here for nap and said they laid down and went right to sleep. I think any transition like that is hard for a few days but hopefully they will adjust pretty quickly!

As far as a night light, you could always try it if you think it would help them to realize who is in the room at night if they wake up and hear each other. If it doesn't work then you can always just go back to not using it.

I'm sure you're right.  It's just going to be rough for a few days.  *sigh*

Does one boy wake up much earlier than the other?  Can you get one out of the room without disturbing the other?

FeistyFille

ndluvsrk:

I agree with pp.

Also, how about giving Joseph lots of play time in Luke's room this week and doing bedtime rituals in that room as well?

As for the night light, see how it goes the first night without and then if they freak each other out, then put one in to see if that helps.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for a smooth transition.

Ha!  I've tried.  It's so ingrained in Joseph's head that that's Luke's room that all he wants to do is shut the door.  My boys are such creatures of habit.

Kim777

Wyatt has always been an earlier waker. He is also prone to the occasional party in his crib around 5 am. Mason has gotten used to it and does not wake up. I am sure that it will take time too and you will have some days early on where they wake each other but hopefully he will get used to it and sleep through it. There are lots of days where I go in to grab Wy when I hear him on the monitor and Mason is still sleeping soundly. Good luck! I hope it goes smoothly. I was so dreading the toddler bed transition for the same reason. I hate not getting enough sleep and I am really grouchy when I am tired!

MrsMillerTime

Keep them up for 5 days straight before letting them share rooms.  They'll be too tired to care if they're sharing anymore.

Good luck!!!

jakbtx

this probably goes against your plan, but when we moved #2 in with #1 (#2 was 15 mos in a crib and #1 was newly 3), we had just changed the room in that #1 was going into a big bed...so the whole room changed and the feeling wasn't that it was just #1s room, it was his new bed plus his brother in the room   maybe there is something new that can change up/add something for a more unified feel?  my #1 had become a deep sleeper by then and #2 was still night waking and waking up super early for the day and it did not wake my #1 up.

 now...we have all sorts of craziness. we have all 3 in one room (small, 2BR we live in). my #3 has been in with his big bros since he was 6 mos old (now we have a bunk bed + crib). and my #3 still wakes up a lot. he pretty much doesn't wake anyone up. on occasion my #2 might wake up but he goes back to sleep easily. my #2 is still the early riser and he might occasionally wake #3 up, but I can get him back to sleep, usually. sometimes they both are up for the day. but luckily that is rare. we probably have too much sleep chaos going on to give any sleep advice...but i send you the best of luck and hope it's an easy breezy transition...it will work!!!!  

joyco

It still boggles my mind that your boys don't share a room. 

I'd just throw them in the room, slam the door behind you and walk away.  They'll get used to it.

joyco

FeistyFille:

I'm sure you're right.  It's just going to be rough for a few days.  *sigh*

Does one boy wake up much earlier than the other?  Can you get one out of the room without disturbing the other?

 

Spence always wakes up around 7:30, while Coop could sleep til 8-8:30a.  I just leave Spence in his crib until I get both of them when Coop wakes up.  He's got a few things in his crib to occupy him.  Sometimes, once in a blue moon, I'll get the early waker from naps and the other one will stay asleep.  And strangely, no matter who is screaming, the other one very rarely will wake up and scream too.  It's like they have each other tuned out. 

 

Good luck!

FeistyFille

joyco:

It still boggles my mind that your boys don't share a room. 

It is actually a huge PITA that they don't and part of the reason why we're trying to fix that.

joyco:

I'd just throw them in the room, slam the door behind you and walk away.  They'll get used to it.

Awesome.  Will you field the home visit when my neighbors call CPS?

FeistyFille

MrsMillerTime:

Keep them up for 5 days straight before letting them share rooms.  They'll be too tired to care if they're sharing anymore.

This is likely to be the case once they do start sharing.  Yikes.

MrsRosie:

What about some kind of crib soother or Mobi nightlight that they could turn on themselves if they wake up? 

Thanks!  I'll look into the Mobi nightlight if it looks like they'll need it.  Hadn't seen those.

molliedb

my two older girls share now and it went better than i expected.  we tried a few times and gave up and then decided like you to just go 100% and not go back on it and things were good!

lily requires much less sleep b.c she is older so i do get her out sometimes during naps earlier than eve.  i think it has honestly been sooo good for them.  eve is just now calling it eve's room but things like moving her pictures and her clothes, etc into the room helped.

hang in there- good luck!!