How to Room Share with a Baby

If you are a parent who is room sharing with your baby— either because you are living in a limited space or you just simply want to share a room with your baby, we are going to share some tips and strategies for you in this blog post.

 AAP GUIDELINES FOR ROOM SHARING

Before we jump in, let’s review the American Academy of Pediatrics’  recommendations on room sharing. The AAP suggests sharing a room with your baby for at least the first six months and, ideally, up to one year.

However, it’s important to understand that this is a suggestion, not a rule or mandate. As a parent, you have the flexibility to decide what works best for your family.

Making the Right Choice for You

Every parent approaches room sharing differently:

• If you feel strongly about following the AAP’s guidance, that’s great!
• If you decide to transition away from room sharing earlier, that’s perfectly fine too.

Ultimately, you know your baby best. Whether you choose to room share for six months, a year, or another timeframe, the decision is yours to make based on your family’s needs and comfort.

WHAT IS ROOM SHARING?

Let’s make some distinctions when it comes to room sharing, co-sleeping, and bed-sharing.

• Room sharing: Room sharing is when you are sharing the same room as your child, but you each have your own beds.
• Bed-sharing: This is when your child is in the same bed as you. We do not promote bed-sharing, as this is not the safest option for baby. If you are going to bed-share, you cannot have pillows, blankets, sheets, or any other item in the bed.
• Co-sleeping: We refer to co-sleeping as your child sharing the same room as you, but not in your bed. 

That’s why we prefer to use the term room sharing because it’s very clear that you’re not bed-sharing, you’re just sharing a room.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR BEDROOM FOR ROOM SHARING

When we’re talking about room sharing, there are a few things we need to do to set up your bedroom for success.

The first thing we are going to check is the distance between the crib and your side of the bed. After 8 weeks (recognizing that in those early days you need them closer), we want the crib to be on the opposite side of your bedroom.

Even if your child has been sleeping all night, if they are just a few feet away from you, you are going to hear every little move and sound. If you have a baby that you need to share a space with, please move them away from you so you can get more sound sleep.

Creating a Dark Sleep Environment While Room Sharing

Even when room sharing, a dark room is essential for helping your baby get quality sleep. A darker environment minimizes distractions, promotes melatonin production, and encourages longer, more restorative sleep.

Tips for Darkening the Room

If you’re room sharing, here are some effective ways to create a dark sleep environment:

• Use blackout curtains or shades to block out natural light.
• Try portable blackout covers for windows to maintain flexibility.
• Consider blackout travel tents designed for cribs or pack ‘n plays to create a private and darkened sleeping area.

By creating a dark, cozy space, you can help ensure that both you and your baby get the restful sleep you need while room sharing.

After you explore crib placement and darkness in the room, you should explore your Rest next. We recommend you start with the lowest effective decibel level for your child’s sleep and advise our customers to adhere to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidance by placing Hatch products as far away as possible from the baby. A spot closer to potential outside noise is also more effective at blocking it out! With all sound machines, a simple volume level confirmation can be done by standing at arm's length away from your little one and testing whether or not you can have a conversation without raising your voice. And as with any parenting decision, always check with your child’s pediatrician before deciding what is right for you and your family.

For the light we recommend starting your light at a soft glow, but every room is different. If baby needs a little extra comfort, go for a brighter light. 

After setting up your room sharing strategies, take a moment to evaluate the noise levels in the room. Small, unexpected sounds can disrupt your baby’s sleep, especially during light sleep cycles.

Tips for Minimizing Noise

• Check for squeaky areas: Walk around the room and identify squeaky spots on the floor. If possible, block those areas with furniture to avoid noisy floorboards during your morning and evening routines.
• Fix door squeaks: Use WD-40 or a similar lubricant on hinges to prevent squeaky doors.
• Plan your movement: Think about your routine and how you’ll navigate the room quietly when your baby is sleeping.

By proactively addressing noise sources, you can help create a peaceful, sleep-friendly environment for both you and your baby.

HOW TO RESPOND TO YOUR CHILD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

Room sharing can make responding to your baby’s night wakings a bit more challenging, especially since they are aware of your presence in the room. If they can see you, it can make settling back to sleep even harder (this is where a private sleep space, like a blackout cover, can be helpful).

Here are some practical tips for handling night wakings while room sharing:

Tip #1: Consider Moving Out Temporarily During Sleep Training

• If your baby is 4 months or older and waking frequently during the night, it can disrupt everyone’s sleep.
• When starting sleep training at this age, consider temporarily moving out of the room for the first few nights. This makes it easier to stay consistent with your plan while giving your baby space to self-soothe.

Tip #2: Utilize Creative In-Room Solutions

• If your home has a ventilated closet, it can serve as an excellent space for an in-room nursery. Many families have found this setup to be effective, providing a dedicated sleep area for the baby while keeping them close.

Tip #3: Understand Sleep Cycles

• Babies naturally cycle in and out of light sleep during the night, approximately every 90 minutes.
• During these wakings, your baby may not be fully alert or awake—they are often transitioning between sleep stages. Try to observe for a moment before responding, as they may settle back into sleep on their own.

 CONCLUSION

You Can Successfully Share a Room with Your Baby!

Here are our top tips for room sharing:

1. Understand the Basics
2. Know the difference between room sharing, bed-sharing, and co-sleeping.
3. Based on AAP guidelines for safe sleep, we only advocate for sharing a room, not a bed.
4. Set Your Room Up for Success
5. Keep your baby at an appropriate distance from your bed to minimize disturbances.
6. Make the room as dark as possible using blackout curtains or window covers.
7. Use white noise, such as your Rest device, to drown out distracting sounds.
8. Check for squeaky floorboards or door hinges and fix them to keep nighttime movements quiet.
9. Plan for Night Wakings
10. Have an age-appropriate response plan for handling your baby’s middle-of-the-night needs while fostering independence.

Be encouraged that, wherever you are and whatever choices you make, you can create a plan that works best for your family. You can absolutely make sleep a reality for everyone—even while sharing a room!