Make Way for Siblings
Having a second child can be exhilarating; everything you learned the first time around you can now bring to bear on the second child, and possibly have more fun this time.
But another child means having to find space somewhere. During the first year, you might get away with keeping the crib in your bedroom; you know you'll be spending enough time getting up to attend the newborn anyway, and this way you'll save some steps. But newborns grow into babies, and then into kids. What do you do if you're not ready or able to move into a larger place, and the second bedroom is already occupied by the No. 1 son or daughter?
The function of the child's room shifts when a second kid is brought in: Now, in the same amount of space, you've got to serve the needs of two kids. The bunk bed is one of the greatest space-saving inventions, and it's been updated since you went to Cyndi Thompson's for sleepovers in sixth grade.
But sharing a room not only means two beds, it also means two dressers and possibly two night tables. Remember that the kids will each want his or her own of whatever-it-is: a bed, a reading lamp, a piece of cake. To cut down on the sibling spats, make sure when you're designing the room that each child has the same set of things. They don't have to be fancy; the kids won't notice if they're using the cast-off, plastic-framed mirror you've kept boxed in the basement.
To maximize function, consider having two small dressers rather than one large one. This will cut down on confusion when you're sorting through the laundry, and will emphasize the kids each having his or her own set of things.
It's About Atmosphere
Next, consider the mood of the room. Any child's room should have a playful,
childlike quality, and this is especially true with two kids. Bunk beds instantly
help with this mood: They serve not only as a place to sleep, but also as the
frame for a fort or a gymnasium from which to hang over. In a shared room you
do want to make it as easy as possible for the kids to keep the room organized,
so a couple of brightly colored toy bins and laundry hampers are in order. Again,
these don't have to be fancy; oversized plastic boxes do just fine as toy chests
and have the advantage of being available in different colors.
Finally, you want everything to harmonize in the room as much as possible – a tall order with two individuals trying to exert their identities as they form them and then grow and evolve. Try to get the kids to agree on a color scheme for the room, so that even if Lisa wants floral prints and Lauren wants plaid, they'll go together more if they're in the same colors. The colors don't have to be identical, but should be in the same range, such as blue and green, or red and orange.
And just make sure you get that bigger place before going ahead with kid No. 3.
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