2 months ago
7 
A MUM has sparked backlash after sharing a look at how she’s set up sleeping arrangements for four kids in just one room.
Danielle took to Instagram to post a video of how she “makes it work” with the children all sleeping in the same bedroom, as she insisted “it helps that our kids are small”.
instagram/@contentmentwithsimplicityMum-of-four Danielle took to Instagram to share how she fits her kids in one bedroom[/caption]
The oldest two have bunk beds, while the youngest is in a cot – and the almost three-year-old is left with a floor mattressinstagram/@contentmentwithsimplicity
Taking the camera into the room, she showed the bunk beds where her eldest, seven, sleeps on the top bunk and her five-year-old is on the bottom.
But it was when she showed where her “nearly three-year-old” sleeps that people were left stunned.
Instead of a bed like his siblings, the little one has a mattress on the floor, which is half in the closet – with clothes on rails above him.
The youngest, 11 months old, is then in a travel cot on the other side of the room.
Danielle also shared how she’d managed to get shelves and a “reading nook” into the room.
“They are still little, which helps a lot (well, kinda – try convincing a 2.5 year old to be quiet so the 11 month old can get to sleep),” Danielle added in the caption.
“But we’re getting there!”
She then listed some of the sleeping aids that have helped, including curtains on the bunk beds so that the eldest two kids can have some “quiet reading time at night and we minimise light pollution”.
They also use a sound machine, which works for “bedtime and morning protocol” – to help the kids remember that when the machine is on, they need to “respect your siblings’ sleep/quiet rest time”.
“It isn’t always easy, but I grew up sharing a room with some of my siblings and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she added, revealing she’s planning in the future to have one room for her two boys and another for her two girls.
But in the comments section, outraged people questioned why the three-year-old had been put in the closet – with many adding that the “reading nook” could have been turned into a bed space instead.
“I feel sorry for the closet child,” one sighed.
“Um……. maybe you shouldn’t have had so many kids……. if you can’t ethically house them,” another insisted.
“Nothing is cute about a s**tty mattress on the floor in the closet,” a third raged.
“‘Cute little floor bed’. No mama,” someone else said.
“Your baby got a mattress on the floor halfway through a closet.
Bedtime tips for mums
IF YOU'RE fed up with your toddler refusing to go to bed, then keep reading.
A child health expert has revealed the five steps you need to take to calm your kid down for a good night’s sleep.
Dr Kaylene Henderson spoke to Nine Honey about what to do if your toddler just won’t seem to settle for the night.
Each child is different and needs a different amount of sleep depending on their age, but these easy steps can make the evenings a little easier for parents.
Just like adults, children need enough time to wind down before being put to bed.
One step to take is to ensure they have enough time to properly wind down after a busy day.
The expert recommends one to two hours to transition toddlers into bed time.
And it’s just as important that parents take the time to wind down and be more present to help toddlers feel calmer.
Dr Henderson explains: “Our children are like barometers of household tension after all.
“If we want our children to wind down, we need to make an effort to switch off – from our phones, our work emails and from the many other sources or distraction competing for our attention.”
We’ve all been told to turn our screens off before going to bed because the blue light stops our brains from producing melatonin, our body’s sleep hormone.
So the expert suggests turning it off 60 to 90 minutes before bed to ensure children get a good night’s sleep.
Music and meditation can also help get your child into the land of nod claims the expert.
She adds that slow-paced music, of around 60 beats per minute, can help their breath, heart rate, brain waves, and relax their muscles.
“There are also lovely guided meditations developed specifically to help young children to get to sleep at night.
“Headspace for Kids dedicated section on sleep that is customised to three age groups: five and under, six to eight and nine to 12 – and you can try it for free,” she adds.
Finally, Dr Henderson recommends sticking to a nightly routine every night to help your toddler drift off easily.
When children know what to expect every night they find it easier to relax, and of course, fall asleep.
One of the best ways to do this is with a bedtime story.
She adds: “Remember, the goal is to transition our little ones towards sleep, so bedtime stories tend to be the perfect tool, in the perfect place.”
“And I bet the parents’ room is much larger than this!”
“What’s cute about a mattress on the floor in the closet??” another questioned.
“Do you also sleep on the floor? I would rather give my children my own bed then to let them sleep on the floor.”
“Well, we know who the least favourite is,” someone else wrote angrily.
However, there were also those who understood Danielle’s setup for her kids.
“Everyone is this comment section is so privileged,” one sighed.
“I like this setup for these ages. They don’t need much right now, and it works.
“If it were me though, everyone would be on a king-size floor mattress.”
“You’re doing a great job,” another added.
“Everyone has a safe place to sleep that is developmentally appropriate for them.
“A toddler is safer on the floor than in a higher bed.”
“You are rocking it mama! What a clean, safe, wonderful bedroom,” a third insisted.
“Way to get creative. All of our ancestors slept in much much smaller spaces and thrived.”
“Small but clean and organised! Lovely job mumma,” someone else praised.
AlamyBunk beds are a good way to maximise the space in a kids’ bedroom[/caption] 
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