[FourAndDone]

Ha - got your attention didn't I? I don't post much, but have run into an issue and I need some opinions from other parents. I am a single mom to 3 adopted sons. My two oldest, 6 years old and 3 months apart, have always slept in the same room in bunk beds. My youngest, 4 years old, was always my best sleeper, but he has gotten to the point in the last 3 months where he doesn't want to sleep in his room. So, he sleeps on the floor with the other boys, then moves to the floor in my room during the early morning hours.

None of this bothers me at all as I know it is just a stage, but I am wondering if I should just go ahead and move his bed into the other room and just let all 3 be in the same room. We have 3 bedrooms upstairs, the other one is their toy room and the guest room. So, I would have to move the chest of drawers in his room and that would become just another spare room, used as storage for their clothes.

I know at some point someone is going to want their own room and perhaps all 3 will, so it is temporary either way.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Diane - single mom to 3 little boys.

[mommytoEli]

my 6 and 3 year old share a room and LOVE it. last night they were being kind of naughty and we asked if they wanted their own rooms and they said NO! lol. (which was also good bc there isn't one for them at this time. ) our plan in about 6 months is to put our 2 year old son in with them for a few years until our teens go off to college and open up some more space. we will also have 3 beds in a rather small room, but they have a large playroom to accomodate their play adventures. i'm looking forward to it. i know it will be harder for them to get to sleep....but i also look forward to hearing all the night time giggling up there that lets me know they are really enjoying the time they can "camp out" together. if i were you, i'd do it. because if it doesn't work out, you can just move them around again, right?

[SKL]

If he doesn't want to sleep alone, putting him in with the other boys sounds like a great idea. But if he just wants to wander away from his bed at night, that might not solve the problem. Maybe test it out by putting a crib mattress or sleeping bag on the floor in the "boys' room" and see if he stays put. My kid brother wouldn't stay in his own bed no matter where it was.

[becky]

Let him sleep with his brothers. I am sure it's no fun being in a room alone

[momraine]

My older boys are now 14 and 16 and still share a room even though they don't need to. My younger son is nine and has issues so he doesn't share a room with them, but would love to.

[DeeVee]

We only have thee bedrooms in our house and five kids. So the three girls are in one room, and the two boys in the other. I can't imagine having a house so large that they would all have their own rooms -- and I don't think they would want their own rooms; they have too much fun being together. That doesn't mean they never fight, but I'm sure none of them would like sleeping by themsleves.

Even so, there are some mornings when I wake up and discover one or two kiddos in our bed; they do wander into our room on occassion anyway.

I say try it with the three of them in one room.

[annaguat]

Talk to the boys and if it is ok with them all move the 4 yr old in with his brothers. I have kids all over the place. One even sleeps outside on the porch, adult age son, when he feels like it and another on the couch yet another on the ground or cosleeping. what ever gets everyone their rest. Anna

[RuthC]

A topic with perfect timing for our house. I have 5 girls. My oldest two are 22 and 21 and the 21 year old lives in her own apartment for college. The 22 year old just finished college and is back home. I have three younger girls who all came home at age 3 years and are now 9 and 6 (twins). When the twins came home, my 9 year old was 6. While I had an available bedroom for them, she insisted they all sleep in the same room. (She said she remembered when she came home and how scared she was at night...how do you argue with that!!). They have all done well in the same room, though some bedtimes are more a gigglepalooza than quiet time. When we moved to CT this past year, my 9 year old decided she wanted her own room and the new house accomodated this. In the final hours, she wanted to be in the same room so they've all been in the same room. Recently, she wanted to move to her own room and after a weekend of moving furniture, the task was done. However, she doesn't like sleeping alone and most morning, I find at least one if not both of her sisters in her bed.

I've given up and they'll separate when they need more room or get a bit older.

I do remember reading something a while back that attributed the lack of sibling closeness as adults to the lack of shared bedrooms so I've decided this is a fight I won't worry too much about.

[guatamama2]

I think #3 (sorry I don't know his name) would LOVE to be with his big brothers My two boys (ages 7 and 4) have bunk beds - double bottom and single on top. Guess where they sleep? TOGETHER in the bottom bunk!! Their 2 year old sister will insist on sleeping in their room if it rains.

I have to admit it is absolutely adorable to see the 3 of them together. My 4 year old calls his sister "My Guy"??!!

I think it is kind of odd to have alot of kids and they all have their own rooms - I often see these huge houses with tons of bedrooms and worry that no one knows where everyone is ! I also think it teaches them to share and builds character .

Totally agree with previous poster that you should try mattress or sleeping bag first before you move everything - Good Luck!!!

[FourAndDone]

I spoke with the two older boys and they were estatic to have him join them. I got a used dresser and chest of drawers this weekend, so will move all of those in his old room and move his bed into their room. Probably won't make it on the spread of House Beautiful, but it works for us.

Thanks for all your opinions.

Diane - single mom to 3 little boys

[JustBarbara]

Just reading this - so glad the boys are all in one room. I shared a room with my sister and my two younger sisters also shared a room. Now your little one won't 'miss' out on any shenanigans and camaraderie.