[sak9645]

I adopted from China, not Russia. My daughter was 18.5 months old when she was placed into my arms.

My daughter LOVED cribs. While we were in her city, the hotel supplied a brand new porta-crib, which was next to my bed. She slept like a log -- 10 hours a night, plus a two hour afternoon nap.

In Guangzhou, where we went to the U.S. Consulate, the hotel supplied a rickety old crib on wheels, which sat at the foot of my bed. She slept fine there.

And when we arrived home, utterly exhausted and jet lagged, she eagerly went to her pretty new crib with a fancy comforter and sheet. No problems whatsoever, except waking up at 5 a.m. and finding it hard to fall asleep much before 11 or 12 at night, before we got rid of jet lag.

Becca would probably have stayed in a crib until kindergarten, if I hadn't moved her to a toddler bed when she was over 3. She was petite and fit nicely into the crib. She also seemed to find it very secure and comfortable.

We were in a small condo when Becca first came home. Her bed was in an alcove that was very close to my room, and she found that arrangement perfectly acceptable.

When we moved to our house, she was five. She didn't mind having her own room -- since that meant getting a twin bed and a dresser with a MIRROR.

While I am not at all opposed to co-sleeping, it's not for everyone. I am a very light sleeper, and my daughter is an extremely "active" sleeper, who moves around all over the bed at night. Co-sleeping wouldn't have worked for us at all, although I wouldn't have minded putting a porta-crib next to my bed, if my daughter had found sleeping alone scary.

I would suggest that you set up your children's rooms, but that you also prepare in case your children want to co-sleep. Rather than having to move two cribs into your room, you might want to consider buying a couple of porta-cribs and putting them near your bed, in case co-sleeping becomes necessary.

Another option for the two-year old is a mattress on the floor of your room, for nights when she isn't comfortable sleeping alone. Of course, you'll have to shut your room door, so your child doesn't wander.

Sharon