Co Sleeping at 6months

[tryingtobemarypoppins2]

We have been co-sleeping with DS2 for 6 months but having gone back to work part time I have now stopped breastfeeding which was the main reason we co-slept.

I like him in with us, nice to reconnect after a few days at work but DH thinks he will find it hard to sleep on his own and 6 months is pushing our luck??

Any thoughts?

Should add that when he has slept in his crib by our bed he has been much more unsettled and we all get a full nights sleep when he is in bed with us.

Naturally, children aren't ready to leave the family bed until they're 4-7 years old. If you enjoy him being there, then maybe make an active decision to keep him there until he's naturally ready to leave, when the transition will be easy and stress-free.

Have sex elsewhere - it'll make it more exciting...like being a teenager again!

And enjoy cuddling your boy while he still wants to be cuddled! I miss those of my children who don't come in our bed anymore, and I'm so pleased, even with the wriggliness, to still have DD4 (2) in with us and occassionally DD3 (3.5). It's special.

ahhhh, right off to bed for cuddles it is then NotAnotherBrick!! Thank-you

When he's a bit older, you could get him to sleep in his own bed in his own room; and then just expect him to toddle in (or ask to be collected!) at some point in the night...then you get your couple time and cuddles with DS!

Utterly agree with NAB. DD is 3.4 and while she chooses to get into her own bed some nights and ours others, she is always welcome. She comes through in the night sometimes and climbs in.

Works well for us. Never a tear over bedtimes and if I explain I want her to sleep in her own bed (if I'm ill for example), she's happy to do so.

Listen to your DH, it's his bed as well and he is telling you (very nicely) that he thinks its time that junior slept in his cot.

We co-slept until 11 months and had absolutely no problems putting DS in his own room and bed. We got to the stage where we all slept better apart and DS was walking and rolling etc by then so it seemed a bit dangerous to still have him in with us. He went from waking 4-6 times a night to only 2 (although he's still waking twice at 13 months). Everyone told us it would be a nightmare but actually it's been lovely to know he's sleeping better and to have mine and DH's bed back.

I always thought I'd be co-sleeping until 4 but it was a really natural transition for us. Perhaps see if he wants to play in there in the day and get him familiar with a new cot/room without putting to bed in it and just see how you go. DS still comes in for a cuddle when he wakes up in the morning and occasionally we all have an afternoon nap together in the bed, although sometimes I do miss him at night. The sleep I'm getting now is all worth it though!!

Good luck, it's hard because they're so lovely and warm and kissy at this age.

nelliesmum - firstly, the OP's DH actually said he's wary of leaving it longer than 6m in case they can never get the baby out of their bed. Secondly, are you really saying you think a grown man's desire to have his own space than a small child's need to be close to his parents? Shouldn't a grown man be able to cope with compromise for a few short years for the sake of a secure, happy family?

Equally Notanotherbrick there are plenty of secure happy families who don't co-sleep or who chose to give up co-sleeping at some point before the 4-7 year old window. I do think that the OP and her DH should discuss this at length.

I have friends who co-sleep with their 2yo. At about 12 months the DH was very stressed and against the idea, it caused a lot of problems. That said, they now love having their boy there, so lovely to cuddle and have a giggle with in the mornings they say.

My DH and I personally couldn't stand sharing our space and DD feels the same, she doesn't even sleep on our laps, only in her cot or buggy.

The main thing is for the OP and her DH to come to the right decision for their family and not to feel bad about whatever the choose. There are no right (or wrong!) answers here.