Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To just let 2 year old sleep in my bed?

103 replies

Tykia · 01/12/2025 12:38

We have 2, 9 & 13 year old and the 2 year old has always been a rubbish sleeper, he’s never slept through the night, constant wake ups ect and I didn’t do anything different with him compared to the older two.

Me and DH both work full time in fairly stressful jobs and I just need to sleep!

He used to go down in his cot really quickly but would only last a few hours then he would be up every hour or so just wanting a cuddle/to sleep on me (even if it was me holding him in his bedroom sat on the floor). The last couple of weeks he seems absolutely traumatised even entering his bedroom.

We have tried the CIO method and it just didn’t work, I think it made him scared of his bedroom tbh, and it just didn’t feel like that is the right approach for him.

As a last resort last night I put him in my bed with a baby monitor on (i went up to bed around 2 hours after him) and he slept for 11 hours STRAIGHT!!!

is it stupid to just let him sleep with us so we all actually get a decent nights sleep? Or am I truthfully just setting ourselves up for disaster further down the line?

Any advice would be massively appreciated.

OP posts:
SJM1988 · 01/12/2025 12:45

I 100% believe in doing what works before for everyone involved.
I've had 2 bad sleepers (Now 8 and 4). My first we stuck it out and barely let him in our bed. It was awful for months, years on end of not sleeping great. He didn't sleep through until nearly school age. With my second I decided to just let her sleep in our bed when needed. We had a few months of every night but 90% of the time now, she sleeps in her room. She settles quicker than her older brother. I always start in her room going to bed but if she comes in I just leave her to sleep with one of us and the other parent decants to her bed if needed. It's saved alot of nights not sleeping for me.

BuffaloCauliflower · 01/12/2025 12:42

Why would it be stupid? It’s the norm for our species to sleep together, it’s really a very odd modern western idea that babies (and 2 is still a baby) should sleep alone in other rooms. His behaviour is letting you know what he needs - you, and comfort and the safety of being close. Do whatever gets everyone the most sleep and don’t worry about it.

CocoPlum · 01/12/2025 12:40

I coslept with one of mine for years as it was just much easier than trying to get him to sleep alone. It didn't bother us so we just carried on. Do what works until it stops working then reevaluate!