Moms Share Photos How They Organize the Bedroom They Share With Their Kids

In 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released an updated set of safe sleep guidelines for parents to consider. Among those guidelines, one advised parents to share a bedroom (not a bed) with their child until he or she turns 1 or at least within the baby’s first six months. According to the AAP, sharing a room with your baby can actually reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by 50%.

For most Filipino parents, however, it's a given to share the master bedroom with a new baby, and whether it's by choice or because there's no spare room, he will grow up sleeping with his parents well into his tweens.

How to organize your shared bedroom with your child

We asked moms on our Facebook group Smart Parenting Village to share their tips on how to organize their shared bedrooms. Their say? Be mindful about organizing and storage, keep out unnecessary items, and never forget to do a bit of cleaning every day!

Designate spaces in the room

“I designated a [place] for each of us in our closet,” shares mom Dys Pacete Navarro. “So my husband knows where to get his clothes even without asking me.”

Shelves, baskets, and bins will come in handy

Stick to the essentials so you can keep the clutter at bay

Sarah Ockwell-Smith, the author of The Gentle Sleep Book, advises parents to free the room from objects that can stimulate baby and make it difficult for him to go to sleep. Items like toys and books are better kept somewhere else, while the most essential items, such as bottles and extra clothes, should be stored right where you can access them easily.

Mom Katherine Cipriano shared, “I removed everything! As in everything! The only thing that was left inside our room [was] our bed. It helped us a lot to put [our baby] to sleep easily. No distractions. The only thing she sees is the bed, which means [it’s] bedtime already.”

Keeping the room bare may also be a good safety measure, especially for parents with babies, like mom Diane Sanchez Tolentino. “Walang kahit ano sa room except for fans…When baby got older, mattress na lang naiwan sa floor [at] wala [nang] foam tiles sa paligid. Wala pa rin kahit ano para iwas untog.”

Make it a habit to tidy up every day

Other moms also shared the following tips:

Remember you want to create a sleep-inducing space, not just for your baby but for you, the parents!