Co-sleeping is such a treat…go for it whenever you can. It promotes a healthy physical bond between parent and child. And for me, as a busy, busy working Mom that 8 hours of sleep is an opportunity to make up for lost physical bonding during the day. I bring him into my bed every once in a while. He actually sleeps better in his own bed because I think I toss and turn. But if he ever just needs me, I can sense it and then immediately bring him downstairs. I know when he’s older I’ll be a total sucker for cuddling each other to sleep. If it does become a habit, that’s just another test for a potential man in your life. If he can’t handle a child in your bed then he’s just not worthy.

Rachel, this is so timely. My ex and I were never ones to let our children sleep in bed with us, and for the most part I still don’t. I suppose some may consider that selfish, but I’m a complete wreck if I don’t get enough sleep and then what good does that do? But when there is a thunderstorm, or as I’ve written about this week, my daughter is completely distraught after seeing a scary movie, I let them in. It’s somewhat of a slippery slope, I know, but they’re just kids. Sometimes, too, it is much better if we ALL get to sleep rather than me having to go into their rooms every 15 minutes.

Alexis used to sleep in her crib in her room with no problem, but when we got the “big girl bed” (a toddler bed), she wanted nothing to do with it, and every night was a struggle. I had to walk her back to her room at least 2 or 3 times per night, ’til it sank in that I was serious. Sure, I was preparing for the eventual relationship that would eventually lead to intimacy (but then again, I realized that this probably wouldn’t happen when she’s home, anyway, because I’m all about setting a good example.) So then I was thinking of her rest since I get up one hour ahead of her in the early a.m. to get myself ready for the day, before I get her up. I try to let her sleep as long as possible, considering we leave the house while it’s still dark and I’m in the office by 7 a.m. But she wasn’t understanding (or caring much) for my rationale, and I got tired of explaining myself to a 3-year-old, so I finally agreed to letting her sleep in my bed on weekends only, when we don’t have to get up so early. That seems to work out ok now, with an occasional midweek exception if she’s had a bad dream or gotten up to go potty and asks me nicely.

Of course, all the moms probably agree with me, but I say do it while you can, before they don’t try any more!

That’s for sure! And I believe for sinlge moms, there’s not the same need as a couple needing privacy. My daughter and I both enjoy it, and I love having her small, warm body cuddled up next to me.

I’ve always been very firm about the privacy of my bed, but now that my kids are 8 and 10 I enjoy inviting one or the other to sleep with me on a very rare occasion, sometimes because of leg cramps or nightmares, and sometimes just because. They understand that their beds are theirs and mine is mine, but sometimes I just feel like cuddling them.

I co slept with both of my children. When I was a young mother and didn’t know anything I brought my tiny baby home from the hospital and couldn’t bear to have her away from me so the crib was mostly unused. It came in handy for naps.

When I got married to someone else a few years later, she started to use her own bed with no problem.

When my husband and I had a baby of our own I convinced him before our son was even born that cosleeping was the way to go. We didn’t even bother buying a crib.
It worked great for our family and when my husband and I split up my son continued to sleep in my bed. He’s six now and he has his own bed but he still sleeps with me.
I’m single so I see no pressing reason to rush him out.

Co sleeping is the norm in the vast majority of the world. Most other cultures would find us odd for how uptight we can be about it.

I’m actually from another culture and I’m puzzled by a few of the American “guidelines” and beliefs about parenting. Although I’m no expert, I think it’s best to go with your instinct and do what’s best for you and your child. It’s OK to not give in to peer pressure and other well-intended but odd parenting advice.

No My darling, my daughter is 11 months and has slept in my bed since she came home from the hospital and I have a lovely crib complete with bedding that stays empty at nights and serves a ‘holding’ place for her while I am in the bathroom and on those occasions where I just need a minute. Now, i know this isn’t exactly ideal and when you factor in the fact that I have the resources to do better…. but I just love her smell and the feel of her sleeping beside me at nights… I know it sounds cheesy…. but what can I say? It’s the truth!

hi, i am a single mom of a 2 1/2 year old and i coslept with her the first two years. but i find i need my time alone at night and so i put her in her own bed–she hates it and cries and puts up a fight but i need my alone time. i would not mind if she would just fall asleep in my bed before i go to sleep-but she is not that kind of kid. i wish she would cause i love co sleeping with her. but i dont’ rest as well cause she takes a very long time to settle down before actually sleeping. i think cosleeping is a great thing and i hope to incorporate it more once i get her back on her own sleeping in her room , schedule. the other thing is that she doesn’t get enough sleep when she sleeps with me becasue i go to bed later and she won’t sleep until i am in the bed.

Eric sleeps in my bed with me, and as you know, he and Mae are the same age. I don’t feel weird about it, but my mom is constantly telling me that he needs to sleep in his own bed. I figure, no one else is there, and he seems to get a better nights rest…I sometimes suffer because he tosses and turns, snores, grinds his teeth. Also, I know it is only a matter of time when he won’t want to anymore.

I’m a single mom who has to share physical custody of my 16 month old daughther with the father who did not care about her throughout the whole pregnancy, coming back at the end to ask for all the benefits and goodies of being a parent. Since I have to work full time to support my parents (who I also take care of), my daughter and myself I find the time I have to spend with my daughter so limited and precious, that I cannot stop having her sleeping with me. She uses her crib for her naps, but for night time, she’s still with me. I cnosider that part of my quality time with my daughter. Now that she getting bigger, it’s a little bit unconfortable to sleep since she pushes me with her feet to get all the space across the Queen Bed. But still I cannot imagine not being there in the middle of the night when she looks for me to hug me, and being woken up by her with a kiss (or a bite) :-). I have just decided to follow my instincts instead of what parent’s magazines say.

My large king-sized bed is usually shared with 2 cats and Lyn, my girl. Whenever there is a thunderstorm, we ALL four would be under the same blanket too. I just love the closeness and knowing that I would not have her too long now when she leaves for college. She has a lovely room all dolled up in pinks and purples but I guess sometimes she also feels the need to be with me to catch up some “girls” time together.

My 9 year old daughter still sleeps with me. She has a great room which she spends time in, but doesn’t sleep (well) there. I have a 10 year old who likes to be in her own room and only rarely will come into mine. I guess my thinking is that different kids need different things. My 10 year doesn’t need to be with me at night — my 9 year old does, so I go with it. I’m a single mom, so the need for privacy isn’t an issue. I know that she’ll grow out of it in time, so I’m choosing to enjoy it while I can.