Look what DS did last night.

[LambShanksShabbaRanks]

Context. DS was 4 in August and has been going through a major sleep regression since starting reception. He just wants to sleep/cuddle with me (we co-slept till he was 3, he's now in his own room and was fine with that for the first 9-10 months) and has been waking up 4/5 times a night (he doesn't do it at his dad's house).

I've been making him stay in/go back to his own bed and doing the slow retreat thing with minimal success.

Last night he woke once and I stayed with him till he went back over.

Then at 4am this morning I heard a weird noise, jumped out of bed, went to check on him and he wasn't in bed. Cue mad panic.

Ran back to my room and heard a soft snoring noise....

He had snuck upstairs and gone to sleep. Under my fucking bed 😢😱. It's simultaneously adorable and heartwrenching. I'm impressed at the wee bugger's ingenuity.

On a serious note, if anyone has any tips on how to get through this, that would be great.

Also, someone please send coffee 😴 .

[CesiraAndEnrico]

OMG that is adorable !

I have no tips. My son didn't sleep in his own bed, or through the night, till he was six. I wasn't very good at the "make the little darling sleep and stay sleeping" bit.

If it makes you feel any better, you'll (mostly) forget the nightmare of sleep deprivation. But that photo will give you warm fuzzies forever. 💕💕💕

[Rainatnight]

Oh bless him. I feel a bit weepy.

[Nacknick]

Let him sleep in your bed - he just wants to be near you at night

[LambShanksShabbaRanks]

"you'll (mostly) forget the nightmare of sleep deprivation. But that photo will give you warm fuzzies forever. 💕💕💕"

You're right 😊

Thankfully he's at his dad's tonight so I can hopefully catch up on my sleep. Haven't felt like this since the early baby days and I can't say I care for it!

[sashh]

Is his room on a different floor? Maybe he just wants to be nearer to you.

[OrangeOrBlackcurrant]

That is do cute!
My own moment this morning. Because ds3 is poorly I let ds2 walk to school yesterday am and met him at the shop at finish time. (School is 5 mins away and ds2 is 8) Today (ds3 not allowed back in school today) ds2 asked if he could walk all the way home by himself. We had a chat about it and I agreed then praised him for being so sensible and what a good boy he is growing up to be.
He said its just like that song Slipping Through My Fingers when children become independent 😂😭 I asked him where he had heard that song (can't remember him watching Mamma Mia) but he said it was on Alvin and the Chipmunks 😂😂 love that boy! 😂 xxx

[akkakk]

He had snuck upstairs and gone to sleep.
Do you both sleep on different floors at yours - and does he sleep on the same floor at his father's - if so, perhaps the cause of the differences...

very cute though - always amazing where kids can sleep

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

Awwwwwwww. That's far too cute. Couldn't you just put him on a butty and eat him.

[EgremontRusset]

Oh bless him. How would it be if there was a cot bed mattress on the floor in your room, could he pop up and sleep there without it waking you?

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Oh bless him! Reception kids are just babies really. You're obviously not agin co-sleeping if you did it till he was 3 and I get that sharing with a massive wriggly 4 year old isn't fun and you don't want to regress with his independent sleeping, but how about a mattress on your floor? He obviously wants you and there's so much going on in his wee head if he's just started school.

[ScarlettDarling]

Oh wow, that has seriously tugged my heartstrings! I'd second putting a mattress on the floor of your bedroom. Put him to bed in his own room but if he wakes in the night and needs to, he can come into your room and sleep on the mattress there. Lamb!!

[StorminaBcup]

Can you make a little bed for him in your room (nothing too comfortable and on the floor), so he's reassured he can come in if he needs you but with the hope he'll figure out his bed is much more comfortable? Either this or give him something of yours to have at night and tell him he has to look after it for you and that you'll need it in the morning?

We had this with with ds1 and I still have to go in and give him a cuddle if we wakes in the night. I bought the no-cry sleep solution off Amazon which had some useful tips in. One day it'll pass....until then there's always coffee

[StorminaBcup]

I see I'm about the 11th person to suggest the bed!

[LambShanksShabbaRanks]

royalton you've just made me burst into tears. I'm such an idiot.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Will definitely consider the mattress idea.

I just don't know what to do for the best tbh. I've always been very lentil weavery non-routine based and attachment parent-y with both DC. Co-sleeping from birth, slings, extended bf-ing etc. Began to doubt myself after being told by family members, friends etc to start being firmer and initiating routines. I'm job hunting for the first time in 8 years (going from SAHM to full time - have 3 interviews lined up so far - yay!) and thought that him being in his own room would be best for everyone.

We're on different floors as that's just the layout of the house, nothing I can do about that. I always leave the hall light on for him and his sister is next door. Have bought a nightlight so will see if that helps.

Thanks again. Home from school run now so going to make a brew and maybe have a nap.

[Tawdrylocalbrouhaha]

I wish DS would do that instead of climbing into my bed at 4am and then kicking, sighing, rolling around, stealing the covers, kicking some more, snoring, throwing his arms around...

He would be perfectly welcome if he would just sleep like a normal person. Or under the bed, either or.

[Peridot1]

Oh bless. DS slept with me till he was about 7. I did have friends say he should be in his own bed and I said they were right and when he starts to bring girls (or boys) home it wold be a bit awkward still sleeping with me. He gradually moved into his own bed himself.

[IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere]

We had an airbed on the floor by our bed for a long while and would wake up to find a small person curled up there.

[Beaverhausen]

I can not offer up any advice sorry OP my DD slept with me till she was 6 and I am the one crawling into bed with her every now and then just to cuddle her.

[MiggledyHiggins]

It's adorable

Fuck it, I'd just admit defeat and let him snuggle in with you if it was me. But I'm a big softie.

[DaffoDeffo]

oh god yes let him get into bed with you - he won't be there forever. Sounds like there's a lot of change in both your lives and he's feeling the need to be physically close to you.

my eldest has just left home and believe me, I wish I had grabbed onto every moment she wanted to be in bed with me at that age

we can have a group cry in a minute

[RB68]

years ago parents would have had a truckle bed (what is today a toddler/small child bed) in the corner of a room if there was room and it would have rolled away under the bed to tidy up. Maybe that is the way to go for this reception year - its a tough year for them for everything to change. Even more so when you start working.

[serbska]

Aw let him sleep with you! He'll grow out of it when he is ready.

I don't know why we insist little children are in their pwn bed in their own rooms, how lonely. Most adults prefer sharing a bed with their partners than sleeping on their own don't they? Humans like to be close to each other.

[SeaViewBliss]

Agree with all the other posters saying let him come in with you. DS was a terrible sleeper and just getting sleep exams our priority. He is 13 now and doesn’t come in to
Us anymore!

[SeaViewBliss]

*BECAME our priority

Your DS is adorable btw!