Controversial topic, but a personal experience for both the like-minded and the not-so-much-so...
DS and I have co-slept on and off since he was an infant - sometimes more when there is emotional turmoil (i.e., when me and his dad split), sometimes just for "sleepovers" as he's got older, and recently because he was struggling to settle himself to sleep (his mind races) so I thought, hey why not try some of the meditation / mindfulness training I am currently practicing with him?
So we sleep in the same bed together, doing a guided mindfulness meditation (body scan, for those who are familiar) at bedtime and he falls asleep sometimes 30 seconds in (like the first few nights), and sometimes after 15 mins or so (more recently), which is an improvement over the 30 mins to an hour we used to spend just chatting to exhaust his mind from all he'd stored up over the day! Now he really loves the practice and craves it - he asks every night for me to put on "the guy" (it's guided by a male voice), and we listen together, and many times we both end up dropping off together.
This is the part that I love, and that's just for me - sometimes he wakes up in the night, and in his half-sleep he says "I love you mom." It's the best part of my day, and the sun hasn't even come up. Don't get me wrong, he's a loving kid, so I hear that a lot, but to hear it when he's barely conscious, and in the quiet and peace of the night, is just priceless.
I know this won't go on forever - he will grow tired of "the guy" or he'll get into another independence stage and insist on his own bed (maybe with "the guy", maybe not), but regardless I am treasuring every night I get of this experience.
Sending this into the ether for others who still enjoy their kids' cuddles through the night - just my experience, one person among many, and it's a controversial topic, but I just wanted to share.
AIBU?
AIBU to still love co-sleeping with my 9 year old?
freewheelingfox · 24/06/2016 23:35
I'm in bed next to my 8.5y old right now. 
It's nice to hear of others still cosleeping at this age as I often find that when people talk about cosleeping with older children then mean about 3 or 4y old.
My DS talks in his sleep so I enjoy gibberish conversations with him, they make me laugh!
Sounds lovely.
And it works for you, so enjoy 
My DSs would tell me where to go…
I'm desperately trying to get cosleeping 6yo out of my bed, I was kind of hoping she would grow out of it by 9!
On the other side, YANBU, there is something very lovely about having her lying next to me at night, and being woken up with "mummy I love you" ... But the bedtime routine is killing me 
It's absolutely lovely. I think a child still willing to sleep with their mum is still innocent. Slot of kids think they too cool. I let my ds in beside me he coming nine and I love watching him sleep and he still my baby.
My 7 and a half year old still climbs in bed with me if he's unwell or upset. I don't mind too much but he is very fidgety! I couldn't do it every night, but if it works for you then why not. I used to sleep in with my mum sometimes when I was 14/15. We would watch a film together snuggled in her bed and both end up falling asleep (I'm 24 and have no problem sleeping on my own! In fact with 3 children I love to be in my bed on my own )
I randomly slept in with my mum til 1 was about 12 
My dad worked offshore, 3 on 3 off, and my sister and I would take it in turns!
It was just lovely to snuggle in with mum except when bratty little sister would try and get in the middle
My DD is 5, and I can't pretend I'm dreading the day she doesn't want to come in for a cuddle, or sleep in with me when her dad's on nights.....my MIL is very disapproving of co sleeping so just out of peevishness I hope it doesn't end anytime soon
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