To bed share with my toddler?

[graygoose]

I’m a single mum, ex-DH and I split up when DC was 10 weeks old - she’s 14 months now. For the last few months she’s slept in the bed with me as it’s been easier than getting out of bed to see to her in the crib. She’s an uneasy sleeper and I find it better for both of our sleep.

My friend was horrified when I told her, she seemed to think that it’ll screw up my DC somehow and she’ll be in my bed until she goes off to uni. I know I probably need to sleep train her or something but I don’t share a bed with anyone else so it’s not like I have a romantic relationship to keep alive.

I do plan to wean her off this eventually, transition her to a small bed and then to her own room but right now she’s just so little. But am I spoiling her by bed sharing and not sleep training her?

AIBU to bed share?

Not at all. It's the easiest way for some.

Tell your friend to stop sticking her nose in. Some people piss me off

It's fine. My son was a terrible sleeper, we got so stressed trying to get him to sleep. For peace all round we just let him crawl into bed with us when he wanted. From then on we all slept. Lasted until he was 11. I missed his starfish in the middle of the bed! He's 15 now and sleeps in his own bed u till midday. Don't stress

Currently have a baby to my right and toddler will join us from first wake up. I love it! As do they. We all get much better sleep this way compared to trying to force my toddler to not want to be near me/go against her survival instinct. I will do it until it no longer works for us... judging by friends it's very normal to still bed hop and share throughout primary school.

Our 4DC were getting into our bed from when they were in cot beds most nights up until about age 7-8. The times when we had the 3 eldest all getting in with foots in faces was fun! Thankfully we have always had a SuperKing size bed.

I can confirm as young adults and teens, they have had no desire to get in our bed for many years although oldest did have a phase of appearing in our bedroom with her mattress and sleeping beside us on the floor at about age 14-15 due to watching scary movies with her mates😂

Cosleeping saved my sanity. Typing this with my DC sleeping next to me. We're all happy after a good night's sleep.

As long as you are doing it safely, it’s recommended to co-sleep until 5 because it’s better for brain development in those crucial early years…

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