Girl Siblings Sharing a Twin Bed....

Updated on May 04, 2011
J.G. asks from Bridgewater, NJ
30 answers

I have 2 daughters, one is almost 3 and the other one is almost 2. They share a room. Right now the older one is in a toddler bed and the other one is still in a crib. She has started climbing out of it. I really don't want to buy another toddler bed. There room is soooo small. We were thinking of putting them in a twin bed, each sleeping at opposite ends. It would make the room a bit larger for them to play.

Any thoughts on this? Has anyone ever done this?

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So What Happened?

First of all, this was the first time I have ever posted anything on a website like this. Thank you all so much for your feedback! We are going to measure and see if a trundle twin will fit. I love that idea!! If not, we'll stick with the toddler beds for a few more years.

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A.G.

answers from Boston on

I would just get rid of the crib and put the crib mattress on the floor. I know my boys would have never been able to share a twin bed

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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

It could work fine. I would watch how active they are when they sleep, if they roll around a lot, they might wake each other up, but maybe not.

2 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

There's no problem in terms of it being appropriate. It may not be practical if they are active sleepers and someone is always kicking the other or stealing the covers. But you can give it a try. Separating them when they get to big to share the space might be an issue if they become attached to each other. Otherwise, go with the trundle idea, as long as one won't step on the other!

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L.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

How about bunk beds, or a trundle bed, where you pull it out at night, but then push it back under during the day, which would still allow the same amount of play space...

Ok, just realized how impractical bunk beds would be for kids of these ages, but a trundle bed would still work great, as one is nearly on the floor!

5 moms found this helpful
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R..

answers from Chattanooga on

My parents tried getting me and my sister in the same bed, sleeping opposite ends, and it just didn't work. We would roll around and kick each other when we were trying to sleep... if one of us wanted to play and the other wanted to sleep it didn't work... If one of us was just being grouchy we would pick on the other... If one was sick it just sucked to have to share the bed... blanket fights... etc. etc. etc. The absolute WORST part was when I was potty trained, and she wasn't... I would get to wake up in HER puddle... eew. Eventually, I got desperate and started sleeping on the floor.

BTW... We had 6 kids in a 3 bedroom trailer... VERY cramped. In our room we had a bunk bed, with my older step sister on the top bunk and my sister and I sharing the bottom. My dad finally got my sister her own toddler bed, and with the furniture in there, we only had a 2 square foot area in our room of free space, and to get into the closet we had to stand on the dresser... But that was preferable to sharing the bed.

I would do the 2 toddler beds until you feel that the older girl is able to handle a bunk bed, then go that route.

~The trundle bed is a great idea!!!

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K.H.

answers from Boston on

When my kids starting climbing out of their cribs, we put their crib mattress on the floor until they were ready for bigger beds. You could always give this a try. You can push the mattress against a wall and put a toddler bed railing on it if they child moves a lot. You could definitely try putting them in the same bed. It might work and might not. Depends on how much they move around and how much they'll keep each other up! You could also look into a day bed with a trundle bed under it (roll it out in the evening). That would give each daughter her own space but not take up the whole room. Good luck with whatever you decide.

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K.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

Maybe look into a trundle bed, that seems to be the best solution for a small space if you do not want to do 2 seperate beds or bunk beds. If they are no moving sleepers it could work, if they move a lot they may keep each other up bumping into each other.

You can always try it, see if it works for your girls but be ready to get another bed if it is not working out so well.

My daughter moves around a lot when sleeping so her sharing a bed, even a queen bed with mommy at a hotel, is impossible. Many times I would end up sleeping on the floor because she would freak out when she bumped into me, like a screaming fit and panic. So hoping she out grows it.

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C.J.

answers from Boca Raton on

My two boys ages 5 and 3 share one twin bed. But they do that by their choice. They each have their own twin bed in the room but they prefer to sleep together in one bed. It's never bothered me, or proved to be a problem in any way so we let them do what makes them happy!

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K.L.

answers from Cleveland on

I wouldn't see any problem with that. It will work for a while!

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E.M.

answers from Honolulu on

I had a girlfriend that grew up with the 4 girls sleeping in a queen. She and her sisters are all REALLY close and loved it. She wants to so the same for her kids because she thinks the sleeping in the same bed is what made them so close.

My 3 year old son still climbs into my daughters toddler bed ever so often... they love snuggling with each other.

N.G.

answers from Dallas on

It's totally up to you, nothing wrong with doing that really. I am more of the belief that my kids need their space from each other. I have two girls, three years apart, and I do not encourage them sleeping together because I want them to cultivate independence from each other from a young age. Occasionally, they will ask if they can sleep together (my 7 year old has a full size bed) and I don't see a problem with it, but they don't do it very often. They fight enough during the day!!

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J.C.

answers from New York on

Lots of kids do this on their own until the older one kicks the little one out. Just ask periodically if they want separate beds.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

A toddler bed is for toddlers, usually by the age of 2 a child is really outgrowing them. I agree with the idea of a trundle bed. Good idea.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

You could try it. But if the room is really too small for more than one twin, how about a trundle bed? The bed can be slid under the other until night time. There are also different kinds of trundles. We have one that is really just a platform with wheels and my daughter would pull it out at night. And of course there are those that are drawers that you put a mattress in. The upside for those is that when you do have the room for another bed, the drawer can be use to store blankets or toys.

A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I think it would be fine - back in the day kids would share beds all the time. Families would have a bed for mom and dad and then one bed for the kids! If you are getting rid of the crib and the toddler bed, would it be possible to go with a full size? Not much bigger, but might allow them a little bit more space and they could both stay in it longer (and still have room for stuffed animals!

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H.B.

answers from Chicago on

My two boys shared a twin bed. They were 5 and 2 at the time and kept to their sides of the bed. I say try it out.

A.F.

answers from Chicago on

My brother and sister in law did this with 2 boys -- they worked out fine that way until they were 4 and 6, then they switched to bunk beds.

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S.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

it might get cramped in a couple of years and you will have to buy another bed (another twin or one full to share) why not buy a full now and have them share that. this is what my mom did for my sister and i.

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G.T.

answers from Rochester on

My twins each had a single bed but every morning I always found them in the same bed. They had no problem sleeping together, in fact, they preferred it.

J.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

My sister and I had to share a bed when we were little, but my sister hated it! I think because I was such a wiggle wart. But we survived.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

I wouldn't put siblings in the same tiny bed. I'd think about buying a trundle bed so they will have their space during the day and their own beds at night.

M.H.

answers from New York on

I would get a daybed with a trundle. this way they have room to play during the day. and at night you can pull out the trundle. it pulls up it a twin as well. :)

J.G.

answers from St. Louis on

My grandma had four sisters, they all slept in the same twin bed. On the same end mind you, I wouldn't want to smell someone's smelly feet. :(

Have you considered lofts. They look like a bunk bed without the bottom bunk. That way they still have the floor space underneath to play plus when they are older and don't play on the floor you can put desks under them for studying.

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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

That would be a tight fit and only a temporary solution.

Why not just get another very inexpensive toddler bed? I got a super cute on for my daughter for about $50 on-line thru wal-mart and shipping was only .99! My son is 6 and average height and he could sleep in her bed if he wanted to so you'll get lots of mileage out of that $50.

E.B.

answers from Seattle on

My boys have shared a bed since they were moved outta my bed. We have bunk beds and they still prefer to have each other close. I had opinions from family members that it was not appropriated. that they should have their own spaces to sleep. they do they choose not too. Whether they start the night on their own beds nine times outta ten I will have a big brother on lil brothers bed in the morning. Even when they had their own rooms my middle guy choose to sleep on the floor in big brothers room. they just have gotten so used to having each other at night that they sleep better this way.

K.L.

answers from Redding on

Try the twin bed and see. My neighbor has a 4 yr old and 2 yr old sharing a twin right now, side by side, they are fine. But if you find they dont do well, you might stand the crib mattress up in the corner or under the twin bed during the day and pull it out at night and let the little one use it. That way it doesnt take up all the space but they will have their own beds at night. I shared a twin bottom bunk with my younger brother for 3 years. It works.

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N.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

We have the same issue as you. The kids room is about the size of a large closet. great for a toddler bed and crib, but too small for anything else. We have decided that when our toddler is ready for an adult bed we will be getting one of those twin beds with a slideout second bed (trundle bed). Bunkbeds are too big for their room so this is really the only solution. Our 3 year old is an active sleeper so I think she will constantly be kicking the other out of bed if they share. Best of luck!!!

C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

I think they would end up crowding each other. We have a small bedroom with two kids in it too. Since she's crawling out of her bed, what about just putting the mattress onto the floor for awhile?

Updated

I think they would end up crowding each other. We have a small bedroom with two kids in it too. Since she's crawling out of her bed, what about just putting the mattress onto the floor for awhile?

E.D.

answers from Seattle on

Sometimes, my girls share a bed. They often prefer to.

It doesn't work to put mine head to toe, because they wake each other up by kicking in their sleep. If they are side by side, they are able to cuddle. When they shift, they remain asleep.

Also, I wanted to suggest a futon couch or, as Lee suggested, a trundle bed. Even if they end up sharing, they would have more room.

H.G.

answers from Dallas on

My twin sister and I shared a trundle bed forever!

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