2 1/2 Year Old Twins Share a Room, Should We Separate Them?

I also haven't any experience with twins (sorry) but I wanted to add that a few times a week my one 2 1/2 year old gets up in the night and plays for an hour or so. I've even found him with his clothes and diaper off! I put a couple not too stimulating toys in his room because otherwise he will just find ways to get into trouble. Yes, I should not encourage him to play but sometimes he is really quiet and I don't always wake up right away so better to take a precaution.

My girls are almost 4 and still share a room. I would not think of seperating them, until they are old enough and possibly request it themselves. They too had this same problem around the same age, just stay consistant. There are times even now when they start talking a lot to eachother before they fall asleep. I don't mind the talking, but if it gets loud and I suspect any playing, then that is when I go in and tuck them in bed and tell them to go to sleep now. Usually the talking lasts about 15-20 minutes and then they are asleep. We just recently moved to a slightly smaller home and we had to put their toys in their closet and one plastic bin. It has not ever been an issue. But we also do not have a lot of toys for our kids. Before we moved we had their toys in the family room, but again we are not into having a lot of toys for our kids. Maybe this would be a good time to do some sorting through and getting rid of some toys. If you keep them together, just stay consistant on what is acceptable behavior when they are supposed to be going to sleep. It will get easier as they get older. Hope this helps.

Hi H.,

I've been there!! My boy/girl twins are almost 5 and still share a room, but it has not always been easy. When they were first born, we lived in a two bedroom house so there really wasn't a choice. It was hard because one started sleeping through the night at 4 months and the other not until he was 2...but that is for another post. When we moved into our current house with 3 bedrooms, I was pregnant again and knew that we needed a baby room, so we kept them together. Plus as you mentioned, they had always been together and I just couldn't separate them.

We had actually always separated our twins for naps even when we were in a two bedroom house. One would sleep in a pack-n-play in our room and the other in his crib. It worked well. We continued that when we moved into a bigger house.

We too started to have similar problems as you when our twins were about 2 1/2. It was very frustrating. I felt like I spent my entire evening trying to get them to sleep. So what we did when it got really bad is we did separate them and then when my son was asleep we would move him back into his room. At the time they did not like to be separated and in a way it was a punishment to separate them. As they got older and continued to nap, it was still hard. Things finally got easier when at 4 1/2 they stopped naps. They go to bed much easier now..they are tired without naps.

One thing we have always done, is after we read books to them, we give them about 15 minutes of read/play time in their rooms before we turn off the light...that has seemed to help and even if they get to bed late, they still need that time to settle in. They are definately creatures of habit.

As far as toys in their bedroom, my kids have mostly books in their room, but they do sneak a couple of toys now and then. We are lucky in that we have a separate family and living room. We turned the living room into a playroom, so all of their toys generally stay in there.

I am looking at sepatating my twins this spring when my youngest daughter is ready to move into a bed...I want my two girls to share a room. I started preparing them for this months ago by just talking to them and they are warming up to the idea, mostly because I've been letting them help me how to decide how to decorate. They are excited about having a boy room and a girl room. Although my daughter has asked me it she can sleep in her brother's room sometimes...of course I say. Your twins are much younger and I think mine are finally at an age where they can understand. Although I think it might be hardest on me when I finally do separate them :))) It is hard to explain, but I'm sure you understand...twins have a special relationship.

So, I don't know if my experience is much help, but I will tell you it does get easier. I feel things are finally starting to get easier with my two. Good Luck!!

J.

I don't have twins so I can't give you any advice on the seperating them issue. The only thing I can say is give it a try if you want, and you can always move them back if it doesn't work out.

I can tell you what worked with my kids at bedtime though. When they were little (before they had to be up at a certain time for school) the rule was they could read or play quietly while laying in their beds. But they had to make me think they were asleep and they HAD to stay in bed. If they got up or were noisey ... that was it ... it was time for sleep NOW. This worked wonders for me. It took away the "battle" over bedtime and gave them a little control over it. And they were usually asleep within 1/2 an hour.

Once they started school and had to be up by a certain time, then things changed. When it was bedtime, it was time for sleep. If they wanted time to read they had to go to bed earlier. And all 3 of my kids are voracious readers ... so we're now having the fight about "put that book away and get to sleep".

I hope this helps some.

Hi H., well I can't speak on if you should seperate your twins, but the toy thing I can tell you my expiernce. My son just turned 3 in nov. A couple months ago I got sick have having his toys all over the livingroom floor and I was the one picking them up every couple hours. I decided to put the toys in his room and the mess can be in there. I found that was a huge mistake. He would be up for hours playing his cars and tracks. His behavior went downhill because he was so tired and grouchy. This is a boy who likes to sleep too. I took the toys out and he got better but then I had the mess again. This time I have the toys in the plastic bins and when it is bed time we put them away in his closet and during the day I open it up again so he can play. He actually cleans up his mess when he is done!
Try the big plastic bins and see if that works out for you, or until they learn to open them. You have the tag team over there..LOL