It's important to know there are laws in place to help make sure everyone's home is safe and comfortable. Legislation states that children of the opposite sex over the age of 10 should not share rooms - and that this can be considered overcrowding.
There are no 'siblings sharing a room law' Australia enforces, so your perspective of the sibling dynamic is what matters most.
No Rules Against Bedroom Sharing
This rule is the same regardless of the children's ages and whether the children are the same or opposite gender. It's perfectly possible for a 5-year-old female to share a room with a 12-year-old male, for example, if the parents think this is appropriate.
Room-sharing basics
Ideally, children who share a room should be as close in age as possible. A 3-year-old and a 6-year-old are more likely to have compatible schedules than a teenager and a baby. (Gender is a factor for many families, although this is not related to sleep.)
After six months, there's no problem with your baby and your toddler sharing a room, provided that they both sleep well. In fact, being together at night-time may enhance your children's relationship and even increase their sense of comfort and security while they're both young.
Age. In theory, siblings of any age could share a room, but a good time to make the move is when the younger kid is sleeping through the night, so as not to disturb the other child, says Edwards, who runs Wee Bee Dreaming Pediatric Sleep Consulting in Kamloops, BC.
The simple answer: any age, but I recommend waiting until the youngest is at LEAST 2.5 years old (sleep regressions before then happen almost every 6 months, yikes!). If you decide to move your children into the same room, read the below and follow the steps, and manage your own expectations.
Q: What does the AAP say about sibling room sharing? A: The AAP recommends that infants should room share with their parents but on a separate sleep surface ideally for at least the first 6 months of life. We recommend holding off on room sharing until your younger child is at least 1 year of age.
70.4% of U.S. households with two or more children have kids sharing bedrooms. 72.2% of parents, guardians, and caregivers whose children share rooms say they'd give kids their own rooms if they could. 77.8% of shared bedrooms are composed of two children.
Elizabeth Pantley, author of No-Cry Sleep Solution, noted on her website that when it comes to sharing a bed with their siblings, it's safest to wait until children are over 18 months old. Along with the age factor, the decision on when to start should also be based on the kid's size comparisons and sleep history.
In California, there are no hard-and-fast rules about kids' bedrooms. In fact, across the United States, no federal or state laws dictate how many children can share a room or whether children of opposite sexes can share a room.
First, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies room-share (never bed-share) with their parents for the first six months, and possibly the first year, to help prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
parents should have a separate bedroom, they aren't required to share a bedroom with a child. couples may share a bedroom. children aged 4 and under of any gender may share a bedroom. children aged 17 and under of the same gender may share a bedroom.
In Australia, there is no minimum age which a child can legally refuse to see a parent following divorce or separation. Of course, once children of divorce reach the age of 18 years they can make their own decisions about where they live or which parent they want to spend time with.
There is no set time for a father to be absent to lose his rights in Australia. The only way for a father to lose their parental rights is through a court order made through the Family Court. Sole parental responsibility is when one parent is responsible for the major long-term decisions of the child.
It is important to let them have this space once they grow older and reaches various developmental milestones, mentally and physically. It will soon become the space where they sleep, play, study and dream. So it is advisable to ease them into their own spaces once they start becoming independent.
Generally, a bedroom should not have more than two children in it. Two people per bedroom is generally considered an occupancy limit for rental purposes. In many cases, there is a “2+1” occupancy limit that states you can have two people per bedroom, plus one person in a living space.
Siblings who share a room will inevitably spend more time together, which means more opportunity to develop a closer and stronger bond. “Siblings may seek comfort and security from each other when they feel upset or when they are trying to fall asleep, which can allow for a deep connection and friendship.
Focus on safe sleep
Six months to a year, to be exact. Yep! According to the AAP, sharing a room with parents for at least the first six months of life, and optimally, the first year, decreases a baby's chance of SIDS by up to 50%. (To be clear, the guidelines specify sharing a room, not a sleeping surface.)
Room sharing kids under 2 years old is possible!
With a little forethought and preparation, you can be successful in having your kids share a sleeping space together! If you'd like more tips on setting up the perfect bedroom environment or getting your baby to sleep, sign up for my newsletter!
Toddlers (2-3 years of age)
Household members under 18 years of age of the same sex may share a bedroom, except lone parents and those living as part of a married or common-law couple. Household members under 5 years of age of the opposite sex may share a bedroom if doing so would reduce the number of required bedrooms.
I recommend doing it around 6-7 months. After that, infants become much more tuned in to the particulars of their surroundings and may have trouble with the change. Also, by 8 months, many babies suddenly notice—and really care—if there's no one nearby.