What's a consequence for this?

either natural or logical? I can't think of what to do.

Our two boys share a room. 18months and just over 3.(one in a crib the 3yo in a twin bed) We have a new baby coming and the two boys need to share this room. The first two weeks they shared, they did awesome. Then, and still now, my 3yo climbs into the crib every.single.night and during every nap and wakes up his brother. For awhile, we turned the crib around because the back was higher and he couldn't get in. Voila - problem solved. Until that crib was recalled and we had to tear it down and start using our spare crib (well the one for the new baby when she comes). Now he can easily get in and out of this one. Or the 3yo gets out of bed, changes his clothes (who knows why.) and that involves turning on the bedroom light - even though there's a night light - and thus, waking up his brother.

My 3yo never had a problem sleeping in his bed until 2 weeks after they started sharing and it's driving us bonkers. During the day for me and nighttime especially my DH.

Normally, I just tell my 3yo he has to sleep in our bed...but that's not really a consequence - he likes it. And I don't want him to keep doing the naughty behavior just to get something he likes to do. That doesn't make sense. But I really don't want to be dealing with this when the new baby comes and we can't think of anything that will keep him out of his brother's crib!!!!

[ArmsOfLove]

Your question is based on the idea that he needs to be uncomfortable or not like what happens in order to change behavior. I want to challenge that punitive mindset

Honestly, your children are too young to really understand the dynamics or the issue of new baby coming (and until new baby comes there's not really a problem except the one being created by trying to adjust them now which I understand but have found unnecessary each time ). The issue with sleep is to have everyone sleep where everyone sleeps best. Is there a way you can brainstorm this issue for new solutions that will work for everyone?

Also, when is new baby due?

[PurpleButterfly]

I don't think he's "naughty", I think he's lonely.

Can the 18 mo sleep in the twin bed with him, or can you sidecar the crib right next to the bed so they can be closer?

[SouthPaw]

We just put our 2 girls together. It's getting better! If I don't feel like supervising I put the older one to bed first and then insert the younger once she is asleep. If I do feel up to it, I remind her what the rules are in order to be able to sleep in the same room with little sister - no getting out of bed, light stays off - and then just keep a very close ear out. If she chooses to break the rules, she must sleep in the 'spare' room by herself (not scary or anything for her, just not the preferred option) so that she does not disturb her sister. This does motivate her because she LIKES having little sis in the same room - if the boys aren't fond of the move, it may be a different matter.

I realized a couple days in that I did have to make very clear what the expectations were. Listening in I found that the younger one was ASKING her to get up, get her books, turn the light on, get her toys - and I was upset with big sis just for 'helping' So I informed her that her job was to stay quiet so that lil sis could get to sleep, NOT to help her stay awake and play.

Typically, we put the 18m old to bed at 7:30 and the 3yo to bed at 8:30. They started sharing a room 3 months ago, until then they'd both been in their own rooms.

I don't know how the 3yo can be lonely when he's never slept anywhere besides his own room since he was 3 months old. I understand him being excited about being in the same room with his brother, and that's maybe why he initially started getting in his crib, but now I would think after almost 3 months of constantly being told to stay out of the crib and keep the light off, that it'd *click* to listen to us. I know he's just 3, but he does a darn good job of learning how to put dishes in the sink when we're done eating, saying please and thank you, etc -- I just mean that he listens to us and learns quickly on most things so why is this issues taking so long?

We have no other place to put either child to sleep besides our bed. And even when the 3yo falls asleep in our bed, when we move him, no matter how quietly - he still wakes up and either turns the light on or wakes his brother up. Some nights he doesn't even get in the crib he just starts throwing stuffed animals at him. The baby is due in 10 weeks. and then what? We don't want the 3yo still in our bed when I'm going to sleep early or when the baby is sleeping in our room when she's first born - we'll have the exact same problem just him waking up a different kid.

[canadiyank]

Can they both share the twin? That's what my dd's did at about that age.

[JessicaNichole]

My children have always all had their very own rooms. And after my son turned 3 it all changed. All of a sudden he was i n our bed everynight and no one was getting good sleep, so we put him in with big sister and boom! he not only slept through the night, but was happier in the morning from getting good sleep.
Nap time is another story though. our 4 year old takes a nap in the guest room bed, he likes sleeping there and he takes a nice long nap there and our 2 year old sleeps in her bed ( all three of my kids now share a room! ). This way everyone gets a nap and rest time. When my 6 year old is tiered and needs a nap she takes our bed. I dont mind giving up my room in the middle of hte day so ic an have some peace and quiet to get my chores done or read a book. my couch is comfy for me to nap on if i need one
and the night time bed time thing, we used to do one at a time, but we found that when we put them all down at the same time it worked so much better. they chatter for a few minutes in the dark after we have sang and prayed, and then they just slowly start falling asleep one by one.

[PurpleButterfly]

I agree, I would put them to bed at the same time (compromise at 8, maybe?) and let your 3 yo decide where to sleep (in his bed alone or with brother either sharing the bed or crib sidecarred next to him, daybed style). I am 42 and still hate sleeping in the dark, even though my parents tried to force it on me for many years, I always felt uncomfortable in the dark. A small nightlight would have made such a difference and saved them a lot of aggrevation. We use a salt-rock lamp, which casts a soft amber glow and purifies the air at the same time. Before we got it, we used a neat little rotating "fake" aquarium lamp from Wmart, it was very soothing and peaceful.

[ArmsOfLove]

It's not unusual for 3yo's to wake up and want to play during the night. He just happens to have his brother in there to wake up right now. Even if baby wasn't in the room to be woken your 3yo may still wake during the night Can you put a monitor in the room and go in there as soon as he wakes up and redirect him back to bed?