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 😴 .

I have a 6 year old and she still comes into bed with me. I am a single parent though.

Lately she has been sleeping in her own bed more, but coming into my room early in the morning which is a nice compromise.

That's so cute! DS1 used to fall asleep behind his bedroom door, DS2 used to fall asleep on a mattress on the floor beside his bed.

They do all eventually sleep in their own beds. 😁

For whatever reason, he needs to be with you, at night. It won’t be forever. The very fact that he’d rather sleep on the floor “with you” than in his own bed, tells me he’s going through a phase which needs careful handling and he will come out of it naturally, when he’s ready. Bless.

And yes, do catch up on your sleep, love!

Awwwwwwww

Such a sweetie.

I'd go with just letting him co-sleep. He'll stop doing it in his own time and unless his presence is disrupting your sleep don't worry about it

Began to doubt myself after being told by family members, friends etc to start being firmer and initiating routines.
Don't listen to them, listen to MN and let him stay!

Oh bless him! I would just let him come and snuggle with you when he needs to. It won’t last forever. My eldest ds coslept with us until he was six but now sleeps brilliantly in his own bed.

Those of you who are saying ‘just let them’ do yourDC not sleep like starfish engaging in a prize fight? My DSs kick, thump and generally wallop me all night if they’re in our bed (doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen fairly frequently but does mean we’re not fans). It was glorious when they were tiny but my 2 year old can pack a punch in his sleep and the 5 year old...

Oh, I have something in my eye. Bless his little socks. ❤️

How fucking adorable! I'd melt if that were one of mine.

Those of you who are saying ‘just let them’ do your DC not sleep like starfish engaging in a prize fight?

Yeah, exactly what I was thinking. Just let them and have a lovely cuddle and all get some sleep... except no, if my 3 year old is in my bed I will not be sleeping at all. I'll be dozing at best, woken up very frequently and in the morning I will feel absolutely wiped out.

Sometimes in the middle of the night I think, oh I'll just let her, I can't be bothered to get up and resettle her, maybe this time we really will all get more sleep this way like everyone says we should. And always, nope, I deeply regret this decision. Sometimes I just leave her in there with DP and sneak off to get some actual sleep in her bed (and last time I did that, DP was the other way round in the morning in an attempt to avoid our daughter's furious sleeping).

Bed on the floor sounds like a reasonable compromise, though.

Agree, get him a mattress on your floor, tell him if he wakes up he can come up and sleep on that, but doesn't need to wake you up. He'll grow out of it.

God that is so bloody cute!!!
I'd just let him for the time being, although I am a big softie and always getting my ds1 in my bed

OP my DD will be 4 next week and slept in her sidecar cot next to me until 9 months ago. I have the exact same problem! It's adorable but frustrating and emotionally difficult for everyone. Watching with interest while I lose the sleep battle...

I absolutely love this!

It reminds me of when I was little and my DB used to creep downstairs and sleep on my carpet surrounded by all my teddies. Used to scare my parents when they came to check on me and saw my little brothers head poking out between my toys!

Those of you who are saying ‘just let them’ do yourDC not sleep like starfish engaging in a prize fight?

Super king bed + pillow between us

Oh bless him.

I have no advice OP, my DD was also 4 in August and also wakes 4/5 times a night and will only settle again if I go and sit on the end of her bed until she drops back off. I'm 33 weeks pregnant so not ideal.

But I 100% feel your pain. I just keep being told they grow out of it 🤷🏽‍♀️