Our Girls' Shared Bedroom Reveal! (And What I've Learned Rooming a Toddler and Infant Together)
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Or should I say Preschooler and Toddler? Because that’s how long it’s been since I first drafted this post. Parents of a not-yet two year old, at the time we purchased our bungalow we had no idea Xanthe was on her way. Rooming the two together, basically from the start, was our only option.
Can it be done?
I was slightly daunted by the idea, but also reassured by stories both in real life and potentially overly-glamorized on the internet. And while it hasn’t been without its challenges, it’s true, it can be done. All four of our home’s residents have received sufficient sleep to keep us going the past two years.
The Before
This was Beatrix’s room shortly after we first moved in. All the mainstays from her previous nursery were simply dropped into their new surroundings with no additional decorating to speak of. The walls retained their mustard/ochre cast. The comfortable but not-so-cute glider and ottoman gobbled up a ton of floor space. And I only had two curtain panels to work with, so blackout lining on cheap tension rods covered the other window.
We did get lucky with the existing ceiling fan. It’s not something I would have been inclined to pick out myself, but judged against the other fans throughout the house, with its scalloped globe and pastel petals, I’m happy to keep it in the girls’ room. I did some sleuthing and believe It’s the Annalise by Harbor Breeze… Unfortunately I can’t provide a link to it because it’s no longer being sold.
The Transformation
Naturally, the first step in the room’s transformation was paint. I fully anticipated this room being an explosion of color and pattern and knew white walls would be a good base. This is Pure White by Sherwin Williams, chosen for its slightly warmer tone.
Beatrix’s former nursery only had one narrow window, where the flamboyant rose-printed panels hung. I still loved those curtains, but the fabric I used to make them was no longer available in the quantities needed, thus, the idea to make new panels in a bunch of wildly different prints was born. It was risky, but I’m ecstatic with how it turned out! The over-the-top whimsical mix feels so perfect for a shared girls’ room without being too on-the-nose.
All of the floral fabrics were sourced via fabric.com. The yellow gingham, aqua, and pale pink were from Joann Fabrics.
The next update came with the addition of Beatrix’s big girl bed. Ironically, chosen for it’s small scale, (this is a modest-sized room intended to house two separate sleeping zones after all) we chose the Jenny Lind Toddler Bed. The delicate spindles lend a classic sweetness to the room. Plus, this way I could keep using our existing crib sheets on both her bed and Xanthe’s crib!
Her quilt was a special gift handmade by one of my sisters, and the crocheted color-blocked blanket handmade by the other. I love that she’s surrounded by these thoughtful touches from women I love dearly, who love her dearly in turn.
There’s only one wall long enough and without a window which meant Xanthe’s crib stayed put. But really I just love the look of the two sweet little beds flanking that peachy pink dresser (a project you can read more about here).
In true second child form, Xanthe inherited Beatrix’s old crib. It doesn’t appear to be available anymore, but here’s one that’s similar. Her crib sheet is from Crate and Kids and is so far the only new sheet we’ve added to the mix. Somehow the others we’ve been using for over four years are still going strong! To top it off I hung one of my all time favorite vintage art finds above her crib. It works perfectly in the spot because it’s simply fabric wrapped around a lightweight frame. No fear of breaking any babies. It’s mostly remained unscathed despite two sweetly curious hands semi-regularly batting at it.
As the girls grow, this vintage bookcase (found and painted in Valspar’s Woodlawn Charm nearly 12 years ago!), has seen quite the rotation of goodies. Originally full to the brim with board books, it now houses a small collection of Xanthe-centric goods on the lower levels and Bea’s NO BABIES ALLOWED! treasures up top.
Guitar, Bookcase (Similar), Beatles Poster, Pink Fiberglass Lampshade (Similar)
Above, I added a raw plywood shelf for all of my treasures – basically all the cute thrifted decor I want to regularly admire without the real and constant risk of being ripped, torn, smashed, or chewed.
I thrifted the vintage Nurse The Baby print long before ever even having any children simply because I knew I’d want it if I did. But now, instead of hiding behind a bulky glider, it sits perched just beyond a prim Toile Louis XV-style chair. The visual upgrade alone is enough for me, luckily, the chair is also surprisingly very comfortable.
What I’ve learned
A few things. Mostly, I had to shift my expectations regarding the Almighty Baby Sleep Schedule. I wouldn’t say I’m hyper schedule-oriented by nature, but with Bea I read a few of the sleep training books and we were able to get her on a pretty consistent schedule early on. And I agree it’s amazing if you can make that happen. It didn’t happen with Xanthe. I’m not sure how much of that can be attributed to room sharing or me being overwhelmed with having double the kids or perhaps that, fundamentally, she’s her own person and different from her sister. So, if you are in the same boat, my first piece of advice is to go easy on yourself.
Things that helped us
Nap time was a struggle. Beatrix was already at the point where she sometimes did/sometimes didn’t fall asleep. I wasn’t ready to give up on mandating at least some quiet time, but with a new audience member in her room she found it impossible to settle down. In turn, this meant poor baby Xan wasn’t able to settle down for her nap either. We ended up putting Xanthe in the Pack ‘n’ Play in our (also tiny) room for naps and it helped! And we’re still doing it. It may not be the most luxurious bunk and I despise wrestling with that thing, but everyone getting their necessary downtime during the day is worth it.
Bedtime was equally difficult at the beginning. We were trying to put the kids down at different times based on their ages and whatever current round of the eat, play, sleep rotation we were on at the moment. This meant Xanthe would be asleep for about 30-45 minutes just as Bea was “quietly” coming in to the room to go to her bed. Inevitably this resulted in waking Xanthe and unleashing an unbearably lengthy cry-fest from both girls – Xanthe from having just been jolted out of a sound sleep, and Bea because “Why won’t she staaaahhhp crying?!”
Eventually we switched to one bedtime for both of them and installed a smart bulb in Bea’s bedside lamp. It stays on for about 30 minutes after they’re both tucked in and allows her to read quietly in bed before falling asleep.
As they’ve grown older, things have become easier. Bea learned to sleep through Xan’s night wakings. And most importantly they’re forming the sweetest bond! Their nightly giggle sessions spent egging each other on (to mine and Luke’s mild annoyance) can extend far after the lamplight goes out. But witnessing them becoming closer and starting their own friendship has been the highlight of this whole room sharing endeavor – one that I pray can be nurtured well into adulthood. 🖤
Photography: Bethany Gilbert