sleeping in one room, how to do it

ADL2010

So DD is 6 months old now and we are ready to transition her into room with DS.  So far they are both going to be at the same time together.  Do I put DS to bed first and make sure he is asleep and then bring DD in to the room.  She usually still needs a little bit of help falling asleep.  Sometimes I need to rock her for a minute or pat her back.

Or do I put her to sleep first?  Curious to knwo what has worked for other families.

Thanks

juliane2004

We haven't done this yet but will be doing it in July ish, before baby #3 gets here.

Our plan is to put them in their one room (crib for DS, bed for DD) at the same time as we always do (i.e. they always go to bed at the same time), and let them fall asleep on their own (like we always do). The difference is that they will have each other as distractions to falling asleep but I know that they will need to get used to it.

If you wait till your DS is in bed AND asleep first, what happens if he wakes up in the middle of the night (from a dream, or because of your DD, or just randomly), and sees her or she makes noise? He needs to get used to falling asleep DESPITE having your DD there too.

Personally, I would not try to get one to sleep first, then sneak the other in. Eventually it will backfire.

Keep in mind, we haven't actually put ours together yet, but plan to soon.

ETA: You asked if you should put her to sleep first? My answer is no, but my answer is no for any "put baby to sleep" question. I feel the baby should be able to put them to sleep by themselves (without rocking, patting, etc). So for me, this is not an issue. But I stick by the "don't sneak them in together, since they need to deal with it eventually".

kcisthebombdotcom

My 2 share a room.

My baby always goes to bed first since she gets tired earlier in the evening. I just lay her in the crib and she falls asleep on her own. I bring my DS in about an hour later. He needs me to sit with him for about 5 minutes to go to sleep so it works out well that baby goes down first. She doesnt wake up from the noise of getting my oldest to sleep.

The baby has been sick all week and literally wakes up screaming every few hours. My oldest hasnt woken up once. They will adjust to the noises really quickly.

laura1

Mine used to share a room from when DD was 6 months until my DS turned 3 - so over 1.5yrs.  At first, DD would go to bed first since she was exhausted - at 6:15-6:30.  I would read a story and put her down, then she would go to sleep on her own very quickly.  Then I would get DS ready for bed, and he would be in there by 7.  He takes a LOT longer to fall asleep and would talk, walk around his crib, etc, but never woke DD up.  

When DD was about a year, she could stay up later, so we started putting them down together.  We would read books, then they would each go in their own crib and we leave the room.  They would talk, laugh, etc for a while, then both would fall asleep.

When one woke up overnight, they didn't often wake the other.  And in the morning, it was nice that they had each other to talk to - I didn't have to go in and get them right away! 

delg23

They're technically in separate rooms but they are right next to each other w/ no sound insulation and one doesn't have walls. hard to explain. Anyway, I put DS#2 down after DS#1, but just by a matter of minutes. My husband puts DS#1 down and I feed DS#2 & then put him down. I am not good like PP and put baby down to sleep awake because he slept through the night at 10 weeks so whatever works and DS#1 babbles some before sleep which is distracting for DS#2. If I don't make sure DS#2 is really close to asleep then he makes noise and I get in a crying loop where neither go down so I have to put DS#1 down first. Its things like this that make me so eager to move.

ETA: A sound machine is a must have!