My daughters have shared a room for about 5 months, now (they are 3 1/2 and almost 1). My issue is that everytime the older one leaves the room (in the morning, after nap) the younger one starts crying. The baby needs to be sleeping longer than the older one, but she's not because she wakes up whenever her older sister leaves the bedroom. She is still not sleeping through the night consistently (she was until she was 4 months, then stopped) and her nap lengths are unpredictable (this only started when they started sharing a room). Is there a way to have them share a room and the baby get the sleep she needs or am I doomed to have a tired baby for the next year or so?
**edited - my 3 1/2 year old doesn't nap in the mornings...it should have said that the baby cries in the morning AND at nap time (they take afternoon nap at same time). Separate rooms all the time is not an option b/c their older brother occupies the other bedroom. I also can't play music when the girls are sleeping at same time b/c 3 1/2 year old is highly sensitive to the feelings music creates (ie, lullabies cause her to cry a lot!).
White noise really helps drown out sounds. Try a fan or some soft consistent music. Otherwise I agree with the other posters, separate nap times or nap places.
nap them in seperate rooms
My boys are older. They shared a room at first because they were scared to be alone. Then they wanted their own rooms. I discovered that they had better sleep with separate rooms.
Good luck,
: ) MD
My 2 stopped napping around 3 1/2 and 4 or so. Not saying to stop the older ones nap, but maybe she can take a nap in your room or another area to allow younger sis to nap better.
Good luck.
Is there a way to set up a divider of some sort to give the baby more quiet time? Could the older one nap in a different part. We used to have a little child size couch that would fold out to a bed of sorts. We would let the boys take turns taking a nap on that in the living room. (They were 2 and 6)
The younger one was not a good nap taker that was usually the only way I could get him to nap. We just turned off the TV. I would use the time to read or clean up in the kitchen. We usually had something running like the dishwasher, washer or dryer.
You might try a noise machine of sorts. I know my daughter is sensitive to little noises and I found a cheap and noisy air purifier. It may not clean the air great, but the constant "whoosh" sound blocks out a TON of background noise and I think she sleeps better with it. I always run it when she is sleeping. This may mask some of the noise your old one makes when she gets up and wanders through the room.
PS- It's great for adults, too!!
Good luck!
yes, I agree about having them nap in separate rooms. Perhaps if you have a pack n play or something you can set it up in your room for the littlest one's naps?
I agree with 1 of the other posters, have your oldest sleep in your room for nap time. My boys didn't take naps at that age, but they where in bed by 7:00pm every night. Good Luck
Try playing soothing music in the room while they nap and sleep........that way maybe the baby won't won't wake up............
You could have them nap in different places, maybe one in their room and the other in another room......that might help......
I would think after 5 months she would be used to it, but it might take a bit longer......are you sure the older one isn't waking the baby up?
Hang in there and take care.
it is very rare for a 3 1/2 y.o. to take a morning nap. Usually children drop down to just an afternoon nap by 18-24 months!
Time for your baby to learn to sleep on her own. Fav blankie, low/no lights, & soft music. It'll be hard for a while, but this is a life skill she needs to learn.
& it gives you the perfect opportunity to have "special time" with your oldest! With my daycare, morning naptime is when I do learning activities with the older group. I love this schedule! Good luck.
My kids also share a room. I always had my older one sleep in my room.
maybe you could play some quiet music or white noise in their room so that the brushing of feet wouldn't be so suttle. good luck and there is the outside chance she just doesn't need the extra sleep. if she is cranky then i guess she does. blessings mom of 7 R.
