Is it normal for an 8 year old to still want to sleep with dad?

[Dodo76]

DP's son is 8 and asks every night if he can sleep with his dad (who says no, at least whilst they are at mine). I just wondered if this is typical of 8 year olds or if most have grown out of this by this age. I have two DSs, who have just turned 6 and 4, who start off the night in their own beds but always come into my bed around midnight. I was hoping they would have grown out of this well before 8.

[colditz]

Oh god, mine is nearly eight and he would LIVE in my bed if he could

[Dodo76]

Oh god, really? 8 seems so grown up from my perspective but I guess they are still small. An undisturbed night's sleep still seems a long way off!

[PirateJones]

my daughter still came into my bed on and off until she was 10.

[fhdl34]

My niece and nephew are 8 and their dad still stays with then while they fall asleep

[confuddledDOTcom]

Depends what they're used to. My kids all slept on their dad's chest as babies (not normally recommended for bedsharing but he is a very light sleeper and aware of every movement) and love to do it now, my eldest loves to share a bed with anyone - we often have to explain she can't complain her sister is too wriggly in her own bed!

[Peacenquiet2]

Yep normal for us anyway. My dd is 8 in oct and wud sleep in our bed every night if i allowed it. When she was younger she did stay every night but i stopped it last year and now shes allowed to sleep with us on a fri as treat night. My ds (3) hasnt been as bad but will still come and get in at times, im hoping dc 3 never wants to sleep with us!

[DeWe]

I wouldn't say if you've a 6yo that he'll grow out of it "well" before 8. I'd say he was past that. 6yo and 8yo aren't that different imo.

My 6yo loves our bed. If he wakes he comes and wriggles up between us. Sometimes he'll ask if he can go to sleep in our bed.

Dd2 liked coming in our bed, but was very wriggly, and liked to sleep perpendicular to us, so was discouraged strongly. However (she's 10yo now) she does still quite like snuggling down in our bed in the morning or if she's not well.

Dd1 never wanted to sleep with us, she much prefers her bed.

[affinia]

My 9 year old LOVES sleeping in our room when we have guests. He'd be there every night if he could. He'd be in our bed too but he's too long and bony now and even he admits he doesn't sleep well (although he'd happily kick me or DH out to get the space).

8s not so old in the grand scheme but I'm guessing there'll be massive changes in the next 4 years.

[mercibucket]

If your 6 year old still likes to come in bed with you now, he probably still will at 8

One of mine stopped at 3, never comes in. Other one stopped at 9 or 10

[AngelinaCongleton]

My nearly 8 year old is very partial to my bed and have no doubt would prefer to sleep there, I do allow it if they are sick.