# Room sharing

**Should siblings share a room?**

Whether siblings have their own rooms or share, and by what rule: age, gender, or choice.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: Own rooms; Share when young, separate later; Share by choice; Rule by age or gender. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: toddler.

- Area: Family size and siblings
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: Toddler
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/family-size-and-siblings--room-sharing

## Room sharing: what are the options?

1. **Own rooms**: Each child has a bedroom.
2. **Share when young, separate later**: Children share while small and get their own rooms later.
3. **Share by choice**: Children share only if they want to.
4. **Rule by age or gender**: You separate children at a set age, or when a brother and sister reach a certain age.

## Room sharing: what does the evidence say?

**Your call.** No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

No outcome research gathered on this yet — treat it as a preference.

## What else is worth knowing?

Whether children share a bedroom depends on space as much as preference. Sharing is common around the world and many siblings enjoy it. Some families separate children at a certain age.

## Questions to ask each other

- Did we share rooms and what do we remember?
- What would make sharing work or not?
- When would we want them to have their own space?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=family-size-and-siblings&topic=family-size-and-siblings--room-sharing