I have lied to the Health Visitor & not for the first time.

[sleepdeprivationandme]

My health visitor asks how things are, i say, oh fine thanks. What I really mean is this:

My ds 1, 2.5, and is sleeping on the floor and has done on just about every night since the arrival of Ds 2, 3 months ago. He has an ear infection and has just finished his antibiotic. still not well,or eating. I have made him a bed on the floor, right in the bedroom doorway where he sleeps now. I may be making the problem worse by putting a bed on the floor, but he wont get well easily if he is sleeping on cold floor.

I do intend to move the makeshift bed once he is well, but I am aware I am encouraging a terrible habit.

I have also bought snuggly jamas with feet in so he isnt too cold.

Have also previously tried leaving him on the floor, thinking if he is cold & uncomfortable he will get back into bed, but he doesnt and is up through the night and rises very early - therefore shattered and grumpy parents and children. We have also previously kept putting him back into bed but every one was exausted up and down all night.

Can anyone help?

[cockles]

Totally agree - let him sleep wherever works - it sounds like a good compromise for him and probably gives him a bit of a sense of control. As for the HV, why would you tell her anyway? Is she likely to be of any use? Not in my experience, but maybe yours are different!

[GillL]

My dd slept on the floor by the safety gate for months when we first put her in her own room at 2 yrs old. I felt no reason to mention this to the health visitor at her 2 year check as I knew she would eventually start sleeping in the bed by herself, which she did after about 2-3 months iirc. My health visitor is a bit patronising anyway and would probably have tried to tell me it's not good and to try to get her in a bed or to put her back in the cot. We always put her into bed once she was asleep as one of the other posters mentioned.

[Piggy]

How about one of those Thomas blow up bed things with sleeping bags? We have one for when friends with small children come to stay. Very comfy and warm. May as well make it enjoyable for him so he gets a good nights sleep.

[PrunersOfEight]

Your ds sounds lovely and has found his own solution to his problem - he wants to be near you all, so he has sorted out a way to do it for himself. He sounds like an original thinker.

[emmaagain]

I love blueshoes post too.

Seems like NBD to me as well - if he'd like a mattress on the floor, well and fine. Sometimes just a duvet under is enough to keep a child snug on the floor though (as well as a duvet over)

And I see no need to tell HV anything at all in my life!!!!

[bambam30]

we uused a bob the builder blow up bed to try convince our little man to sleep on his own after 2 yrs of co sleeping like yours he loves btb and it worked 1 st time after many many many many attempts at trying in a cot so give it a go and i wouldnt worry we have all lied to the health visitor before

[fireflyfairy2]

I don't have any advice really, but just felt the need to say "aaaawwwww" @ the wee pet lying sleeping in the doorway.. makes my heart melt