Do I Separate My 2 Year Old Twins?

Updated on May 10, 2008
A.F. asks from Ogden, UT
4 answers

We are in the process of buying a new house (Yay!), and it will have 4 bedrooms on one floor (master plus 3 kids' rooms). I have two girls (almost 4 and 9 months) who share a room now and do fine. And twin boys (almost 2) who share a room now. My boys do relatively well, but they tend to get into trouble when left in thier rooms together, especially at naptime. They are in twin beds, so they get up and roam around and play for a while before going to sleep. This is fine with us when it's bedtime for the night because they most usually end up in thier beds to sleep for the night. However, when I put them in for a nap mid day, they play or fight and keep each other awake for hours before falling asleep, if they fall asleep at all. Now, I know most of you are going to say that "Maybe they don't need the nap anymore" Not so. On Sundays, church is right during naptime and they usually skip the nap all together on that day. They do not do well at all without the sleep, especially in the late afternoon. They are cranky and whining and pretty much holy terrors until we put them to bed early. They also do not get up any later in the morning no matter how much sleep they've had the night before. They always wake up at the same time. So, my question is this: Should I give them thier own rooms when we move into the new house so they can sleep better? Or will it be worse for thier relationship to split them up? I know that many people will have an opinion on this, and I'd love to hear it all. But I would really appreciate some advice from moms of twins who have had this same issue as well. Thanks!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.Z.

answers from Boise on

Hey A.,

I know that your extremely busy so I will keep this brief. I separated my boys' twins now 17 (Thank God) at about age 3ish. This is wonderful for them. They learn how to be independent & their own individuals selves. I feel that this is very important. They each will have their own personalities & tastes even though they share the special twin to twin bond. One will be dominant the other submissive, the list goes on & on. As with every child you have, no two will be alike.
Hope this helps. Have a great Mother's Day!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.L.

answers from Boise on

I would be loathe to separate twins. They share a special relationship that you will want later in life.
I had a friend whose children shared bedrooms, but naptime didn't work. So she split them up at naptime only. She had one sleep in the laundry room, even! One slept in her bedroom and the other in a playroom. They all got the sleep they needed, and could still share a bedroom the rest of the time.
You could try putting one down for a nap in your bedroom or a guest room or wherever you'll have available.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.T.

answers from Denver on

My sister has twins, and she separated them into their own rooms when they went into "big kid beds." (around 2 years of age) They did great, and they still have their own rooms. I think it's great to give them that opportunity, and since your new house (congrats) will have the space for that, I say GO FOR IT!

Having your own "space" is wonderful - they maybe won't appreciate it when they're so young, but they will as they get older.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.H.

answers from Billings on

I don't know what the rest of the layout of the house is, but if there isn't a basement or other playroom area, I would keep the boys together and use the extra room for a toy room. We have our 3rd bedroom designated for this, and wow, what a difference it makes for cleaning up! Someone already suggested what I would suggest--keep them together, but separate for naps by putting one of them in your room. I don't have twins and don't know much about the dynamics of the relationships they have, but I always hear people talking about the "twin bond", and if that is really as strong as people say, maybe they should be together.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions