Little Roommates

As long as there have been roommates, there have been roommate squabbles. It could be your choice of music or how loud you play it. It might be his unwillingness to pick up those musty socks. Or perhaps she won't get off the telephone with her boyfriend. Usually, when we think of conflicts like these, we think of college students or perhaps teenagers sharing a bedroom. What happens when the roommates in question are not of drinking, voting or even walking age? What happens when you put a pair of toddlers in the same room, or perhaps a toddler and an infant?

Dr. Isabel Blumberg is an OB/GYN living in New York City. The city is famous for its expensive and small living quarters, and the Blumbergs did not have much of a choice when it came to their children sharing rooms. Alec, 3, and Luke, 8 months, have been sharing a room for four months now.

"Overall, while there have been some rough nights, it has gone pretty well," says Dr. Blumberg. "Alec was an amazing sleeper, and while Luke has not proven himself to be the same type of sleeper, the fact that both of them can get through the night still seems like an accomplishment."

Having the boys share a bedroom does mean that the Blumbergs can still enjoy their dining room. At night, however, that same dining room becomes a staging area – the portable playpen is open and ready to go in case of a sleep emergency. "There are still moments like the night when Luke's crying woke Alec up, and he asked us to take Luke to the dining room and put him outside 'where he belongs,'" says Dr. Blumberg.

Despite Alec's good sleeping skills and his ability to get back to sleep if awakened, Dr. Blumberg finds that a noise machine in the bedroom is a most valuable piece of equipment. "My kids are the only children who will think that there is an ocean in Manhattan," she says.

Dr. Blumberg says Alec enjoys having his baby brother in the room with him about 90 percent of the time. The time they spend together has definitely provided some social benefits. "Alec has learned to be considerate of his brother in ways that are far more mature than I would have expected," she says. "For example, we tell stories in the bath before bedtime so that going to bed is very quiet."

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.