Siblings won't share beds?

[DisneyRegulars]

Growing up I always shared a bed with my brother when we travelled. There was never a question of whether I wanted to or not, it's just what happened. I feel like I read extremely frequently on these boards about how families needs x number of beds because their kids "won't share beds". What's up with this? For parents of these kids can you explain this to me? I just really don't get it, and would like to understand. Why won't they share beds, and why wouldn't you just make them?

Sent from my phone using DISBoards Ap, please excuse any typos and autocorrect mistakes.

This is purely just a curiosity question because it seems so strange to me. I'm not at all questioning parenting skills or style.

 

[Haley]

Yeah I feel the same way you do. If I had kids that said they couldn't share a bed I'd tell them they can get a job to help pay for a villa - until then they might have to share.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My son is 15, my daughter is 9. I do not make them share a bed. They did when they were younger but now I just feel they are too old to be sleeping in the same bed.

We try and get bunk beds or a daybed. If it doesn't work that way. DH will share a bed with DS and myself with DD.

I'm an only child and never had to share a bed . DH has a younger sister but they never traveled so it was not an issue for them.

 

[Gracie09]

I'm in the boat that once they start getting around tween/puberty years opposite sex children should not share beds. My sister has boy/girls twins an around ten they stopped sharing beds on vacation but either would share with their brother who was five years younger. Kids around tween years have al kinds of hormones and emotions and it can be very uncomfortable for them.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

I guess I should add that my brother and I are 6 years apart and we shared a bed right up until our last family trip before I got married.

Sent from my phone using DISBoards Ap, please excuse any typos and autocorrect mistakes.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

I'm in the boat that once they start getting around tween/puberty years opposite sex children should not share beds. My sister has boy/girls twins an around ten they stopped sharing beds on vacation but either would share with their brother who was five years younger. Kids around tween years have al kinds of hormones and emotions and it can be very uncomfortable for them.

Interesting, never really thought about this. Did kids express they were uncomfortable, or did you just assume they were?

Sent from my phone using DISBoards Ap, please excuse any typos and autocorrect mistakes.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I have two boys, 12 and 10. Until this trip, they have always shared a bed without a problem. This trip, the older one decided he did not want to sleep with the younger one. Not that I blame him, younger ds kicks, turns sideways, and is just a mess when he sleeps. Older one decided he would take a sleeping pad that he uses when they camp and his sleeping bag, and he slept on the floor the whole trip. We didn't make him, but I wasn't going to get a second room, either. I suggested they take turns, but older ds said he liked sleeping on the floor.

 

[1000HappyWishes]

I either sleep in the same bed as somebody in my family, or I have the option of the couch or the floor. Why people need extra beds for everyone is beyond me.

 

[Mom2six]

My children have always shared beds on vacation, but now that my oldest son is 14, I feel he is too old to share a bed with his sisters (three of them are also teenagers). Everyone else has to share though and if they don't want to share a bed, they don't have to - Grandma has an extra bed at her house.

 

[Mama Who]

Growing up I always shared a bed with my brother when we travelled. There was never a question of whether I wanted to or not, it's just what happened. I feel like I read extremely frequently on these boards about how families needs x number of beds because their kids "won't share beds". What's up with this? For parents of these kids can you explain this to me? I just really don't get it, and would like to understand. Why won't they share beds, and why wouldn't you just make them?

Sent from my phone using DISBoards Ap, please excuse any typos and autocorrect mistakes.

This is purely just a curiosity question because it seems so strange to me. I'm not at all questioning parenting skills or style.

I do not expect my 15 year old son to share with his toddler sister because he's big, hotel beds are narrow and she KICKS. As he's already tall enough to need to sleep diagonal across a full size bed, making him dodge her all night is impractical.

Sibs who won't share beds may have good reasons. Someone kicks or wets or has screaming flailing nightmares... I wouldn't put up with "I just don't wanna" but there are a lot of perfectly valid reasons. People should be able to sleep and sometimes sharing makes that difficult.

(If it's just "I don't wanna" they can sleep on the floor.)

 

[Dani784]

I shared a bed with my brother on every family vacation except one. That one we went to visit my uncle out west and stayed at his house. My brother bunked with his stepson and I got an air mattress on the living room floor.

I also shared a room worth my brother until I was 19 and moved out. He's seven years younger than me. So it's never been an issue. It's not like siblings are going to do anything inappropriate while sharing a bed in a hotel. Especially since presumably mom and dad are sleeping in the same room.

So I'll be making my kids share. If they don't want to they can always cough up the cash for their own room or stay home. I have four children so getting a room that fits all of us is hard enough without them demanding their own bed.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

I do not expect my 15 year old son to share with his toddler sister because he's big, hotel beds are narrow and she KICKS. As he's already tall enough to need to sleep diagonal across a full size bed, making him dodge her all night is impractical.

Sibs who won't share beds may have good reasons. Someone kicks or wets or has screaming flailing nightmares... I wouldn't put up with "I just don't wanna" but there are a lot of perfectly valid reasons. People should be able to sleep and sometimes sharing makes that difficult.

(If it's just "I don't wanna" they can sleep on the floor.)

These reasons all make sense to me. Especially the "everyone deserves a good night's rest" point of view. I think I'm getting some good perspectives here thanks!

Sent from my phone using DISBoards Ap, please excuse any typos and autocorrect mistakes.

 

[Gracie09]

It's not that they would do anything inappropriate its about them being comfortable. What if the boy has "morning wood" or nocturnal emissions or te girl has a period and leaks at night. When your dealing with changes like this I feel their feelings should be taken into account.
As for wait until the kids ask or just do it, I would probably judge the situation. But we are dvc so for our Disney trips its easier to afford a bigger room when we need it.

 

[Mom2six]

It's not that they would do anything inappropriate its about them being comfortable. What if the boy has "morning wood" or nocturnal emissions or te girl has a period and leaks at night. When your dealing with changes like this I feel their feelings should be taken into account.
As for wait until the kids ask or just do it, I would probably judge the situation. But we are dvc so for our Disney trips its easier to afford a bigger room when we need it.

Exactly...teenage boys don't always wake up in a situation where they would want to be in a bed with their sister.

 

[momofboyz3]

It's times like this I am glad I have 3 boys! Last trip my twins 13 shared a queen and I shared A queen w/my 9 yr old. I was the one not to comfy since my 9 yr old likes to spread his legs and arms out... Lol

 

[DisneyRegulars]

Exactly...teenage boys don't always wake up in a situation where they would want to be in a bed with their sister.

Ha! I knew there must be good reasons, and that you guys could shed some light on them for me!

Sent from my phone using DISBoards Ap, please excuse any typos and autocorrect mistakes.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

In our family it was me and DB. So I shared a bed with mom, dad shared a bed with DB. They didnt think anyone should have to sleep on the floor, air mattress, couch, etc when there was a perfectly good bed there.

 

[darnheather]

I was a real $#@$ as a teenager and refused to share with my sister to the point that if a roll away wasn't available I'd sleep in a chair. Don't know how my parents would have forced me.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Our boys are going on 18 and 15. We've outgrown rooms with 2 beds. Our oldest has Asperger's and really needs his own space. He generally gets along with his brother, but putting them in the same bed would be torture for everyone involved. A few weeks ago, we had a suite near Disneyland with three queen beds, which was perfect. One of the beds was in it's own bedroom we let older DS have it to himself. Younger DS had his own bed in our room. The older guy needs that space to decompress after a busy, noisy day.

We're going to WDW in August and we chose a 3-bedroom off-site villa. DH and I are taking the master, my sister is taking the queen room. The boys will have a room with two twin beds. I told older DS that he could sleep in the room with his brother (in his own bed), or use the sofa sleeper in the living room. He said he might sleep in the living room so he could have his own space and his own TV. Fine by me. He'll do whatever makes him the most comfortable.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It's not like siblings are going to do anything inappropriate while sharing a bed in a hotel. Especially since presumably mom and dad are sleeping in the same room.

Oh my. This is a terribly naive statement.

I would not have opposite sex children sharing a bed once they reach age 10 at most.