Am I totally wrong to start cosleeping at 1?

[Dontforgettoscreamatthebear]

DS never seemed to want to before. Never slept through, wakes 2-3 times every night but resettles fairly easily (bf.). He was once up every 25 mins when he was little so this feels ok!

We did gradual retreat very gently and he can settle himself at first at night but seems to need help when he wakes.

We've just finished building work and I was going to move him to his own room again soon but tried cosleeping the other day as he was really unsettled after jabs and was a revelation.

Last night I'm sure he did five hours straight which has never ever happened before (always used to be up every two hoursish) or if he did wake I don't even remember because it was so easy to resettle in the same bed. I feel so much better and he seems happy too.

But - I also had felt like it was the right time for his own room, and I thought it would be good for DH and I to share a bed again (he's currently in spare room so as not to be disturbed - I suppose even with DS in own room he would still be disturbed a bit if I get up three times a night)

When would this stop if I decided to cosleep? We want what is best for DS most of all.

Not unreasonable at all to do what works for you as a family.

My 3 year old still co sleeps with me, I've tried a few times but as soon as she wakes up I just end up putting her back in my bed. I think if you want to get him sleeping on his own this is a good age to do so, otherwise you will miss the "window" and then never get them out of your bed!

Saying that I don't mind cosleeping at all, whatever gets us all the most sleep is my thinking. It depends what's best for you really

We've swung back and forth doing this with dd2 for numerous reasons, and now at almost 4 she's back in her own bed and sleeps through.

Dd1 never wanted to sleep with us so I'm probably enjoying it a bit too much with dd2

It is a bit hard to say as all little ones are different! But faced with the choice of breastfeeding 2 or 3x a night versus 5 hours straight sleep I know which I would pick. How long do you want to bfeed at night for?

Not at all, whatever works best for the family, besides those sleepy cuddles become a treasure memories.
It can be difficult getting them back to their own room, but a big boy bed some stickers usually bribe them at about 3.

I would talk it over with your DH. With my DD2, we coslept from quite early on. At 1, I would settle her in her cot at the start of the evening, but when she woke for the first time I would just bring her in with us. I certainly got more sleep that way.

On the other hand, she is 7 now and still creeps into out bed in the middle of the night, so perhaps the people who say it will lead to bad habits have it right! We have never really done anything to break the habit though, I'm sure we could if it really bothered us.

Do it! I cosleep with my DD2. She has a double bed in her room, goes to sleep in it then when she first wakes in the night (usually between 1 & 3) I just stagger through & get in with her and we both go straight back to sleep. She doesn’t wake again til morning once I’m in there with her, & she starting to sometimes sleep through so I don’t have to go in, so I imagine this is how it’ll gradually phase out as she sleeps better.
Honestly I really regret NOT cosleeping with DD1 now, as I spent SO much time trying to convince her to sleep in a cot. Wasted time that we could have both been asleep!

Nothing wrong at all, nice and cosy all cuddled up. Make the most of it, it won't last forever.

Nothing wrong with it at all, nice and cosy all cuddled up. Make the most of it, it won't last forever.

I started co sleeping at 14 months. I couldn't cope with working and sleep deprivation any longer. But now DC is 2.5, I'm struggling to stop. I feel it saved my sanity but now I'm struggling to change it. I love snuggling up but my other half would like things to change (he's in the spare room).

I can’t sleep at all with DDs in the bed and I’m very lucky that they have both been good sleepers. But I love my sleep and if they hadn’t have been good sleepers then I’d have done anything for a few solid hours of sleep! If you can sleep well with him there then why not?
As for future bad habits... well yes, that’s possible but you can cross that bridge when you come to it... you’ll have more energy by then!

Thanks for the replies.

It didn't work before I think because I was so worried about the risks I could barely sleep. I'm still very careful - no duvets or pillows near DS etc but feel much more relaxed now he is bigger and to be honest it's so nice for us both

I'm just not sure if it's the best thing for him long term. It's hard to know what's the right thing

Co slept till 2.5 she then picked her own bedding and slept in her big girl bed (not a cot a normal bed) with a toy. I still lay in bed and read her a book but the translation was no issue and caused no issues long term.

The cosleeping magic seems to have faded so although it's still lovely, I think the sensible route will be to move to own room now and maybe very gently sleep train