Week 23 questions

Question:

We co-sleep with our 2-year-old son, and we like it. But his little sister will arrive soon, and I'm wondering if we should move my son to his own room so his sleep isn't disturbed?

Answer:

We had the same concern when our second child was born, and so big brother actually moved into his own room. However, it didn't last long, because it felt completely wrong to me that he should lie in there all alone when the rest of us were together. So we brought him back into the family bed, and he still sleeps there 7 years later.
There was a very short adjustment period where he woke up to little brother's crying, but fortunately, dad was right next to him, ready to help him back to sleep with a little reassuring whisper that "mom is taking care of little brother."
As soon as he learned that little brother was being taken care of, he didn't even register the sounds anymore.
My advice would therefore be that if you enjoy and wish to co-sleep all four of you, go for it! But also talk beforehand about what the solution should be if it doesn't work out. Should big brother move into his own room? Or should you split up, so dad sleeps with big brother and mom with little brother? A plan B and shared expectations can bring peace to all parties.

Sara, walking sleep encyclopedia and co-founder of LALATOTO.