A Delicate Question

[Bizzy Lizzy]

Does anyone have an opinion or is there any kind of ruling about when a brother and sister should stop sleeping in the same bed? My GS1 is now eleven and a half and his sister is eight and a half and they are coming for a sleepover again in a couple of weeks. I have no idea what is right or wrong here. We would find it difficult to put them into two rooms and would have to buy something for the second to sleep on if we did. I would appreciate any advice from anyone or perhaps some of you have had the same experience with your own grandchildren.

[aggie]

Might be a bit late to wait and see what they think ? My experience has been that boys really object to sharing with younger siblings , be they boys or girls . Camp bed in the same room ? or poor Grandfather evicted to share ?

[Plantaholic]

I agree with Aggie, they are a bit old to share rooms.

[Enfys]

I don't think there is a problem with them sharing a room but wouldn't expect them to share a bed. Maybe a blow up bed for one of them. Our GC used to love that, always argued over who would have the "bouncy" bed

[Nanto2girls]

My opinion is that they should have separate rooms considering the GS is now 11½. But as I say, this is just MY opinion.

[Libra Gran]

I think as a rule as soon as eldest of either sex is 11 they should no longer share a room.

[Daisy]

I think LG is right - it might be 10 or 11, not sure, but I think when families are being assessed for housing needs the ruling is that siblings of opposite sexes shouldn't share at about that age.

[Enfys]

But if it's only for a sleepover........

[Elisi]

No harm done if they share this time, but thinking caps on for the next time I would say. A blow up bed is a fab idea. Kids love that, and it could be the lad sleeps in the lounge on it. Give him a chance to forage in the kitchen for food, they are so hungry at that age!

Mind you there is plenty of time to get a blow up bed by the time they come. Ebay would be a good place to start!

[Oma]

I think at this age they should at least be in there own beds , . Good idea about a blow up bed in the lounge if need be, they are very cheap these days and you can get away with a sleeping bag rather than duvets Or GD could sleep on a blow up bed in your room , our boys thought it was like camping out if they slept on a blow up bed in our room

[Bizzy Lizzy]

Thanks everyone for advice. I was thinking I should mention this subject to DS2 before they come but wondered if I was being a fusspot which I know he thinks I am sometimes. GS1 is a big lad and looks older than he is too so I am uncomfortable about the situation myself. It would be good to find a way of getting them into separate rooms as they hate each other at the moment and squabble the whole time even in bed. Time to price a blow up bed and a sleeping bag.

[Mimi]

When GS (14) and GD (11) come for a sleepover I sleep with GD in the sofa bed and GS sleeps with OH in our bed.
I personally think brothers and sisters shouldn't sleep in the same bed / bed room at a much earlier age than the government has ruled when it come to social housing, but then their reasons for coming up with those guidelines are more more to do with cost than anything else.

[Bizzy Lizzy]

Quite right Mimi the ruling in that case is to do with money not morals.

[Glammanana]

We have always had a blow up bed available where ever we lived as DGSs enjoyed the camping experience,when we lived abroad the 4 of the boys all came for 6 weeks holidays and we errected a 2 man tent on the patio and the two biggest had a grand time in there,with social housing the age is 11 for the eldest child for sharing,for some unknown reason the child is invisible until that age as we found out when DD applied for a bigger house a few years ago.

[Bizzy Lizzy]

I discussed with DS who, as I thought he would be, was rather dismissive. He said that they often choose to sleep in the same room at weekends at home - but in separate beds. Well I will get the inflatable bed and then ask GS1 whether he wants it in the same room as his sister or a separate room. A compromise I suppose.