Co-sleeping with child

[Yemenite]

My son is almost 4 and has never been a particularly good sleeper. Tried everything and really reached breaking point some days.

He was really ill last wk so I put him in bed with me and asked my husband to sleep in our son's room while he was sick.

Anyway then hubby got ill so sleeping arrangements continued and suddenly I noticed that we were all getting a good nights sleep!

Son had zero night wakings and slept a solid 11 hours a night. Hubby had bed to himself and could snore to wake the dead if he wished. And I slept because I know son was ok and didn't have to get up to check
On him.

So co-sleeping is working. Is it going to damage my son in anyway? Am I making a mistake by sleeping with him every night!?(despite him now sleeping through!).

I don't mind not sharing with hubby as he's a dick and I'm glad he's nowhere near me.

I'd appreciate your opinions.

I always wonder this myself. my dd ended up sleeping with us on and off from early age as dd was a terrible sleeper, and wen we thought we had finally cracked it she broke her arm and needed extra support. at the same time I was preg and was needing my own space so she ended up with her dad a lot. ds now 10 month and we separately co sleep. usually dad with ds and me with dd. it seems to work perfectly with us. both kids sleep and so do parents not ideal as sometimes I would like to see my husband . but while we are all sleeping we are less cranky

tho ur comment about dh being not good worries. that's a seperate issue

I co sleep with my almost 10 month old. Most nights I love it, DP is in the Army so only comes home at weekends, so not something I have to think about.
I started it because DS hated the Moses and was too small for the crib. He's also a really bad sleeper and It was easier to feed him in bed than keeping getting up.
Iv tried to get him in the cot but he wakes up every 45 mins to an hour. When he's in with me I at least get 2/3 hours. I don't think it does them any harm, however I think it's he'd when the time comes to get them out your bed, unless of course you keep co sleeping until they are old enough to decide themselves they want to be in their own bed.

DH issues aside, then no I don't think you're doing any harm at all co-sleeping.

DS2, nearly 3 is a crap sleeper, always has been but recently got loads worse. We've now got a bed for him pushed up against ours and we're getting loads more rest! Our bed was getting too small for all of us to sleep comfortably and DH and I didn't want to end up in seperate rooms so its working well.

DD is 3.8 years and has always slept in our bed with us.

It makes it very handy when we stay with relatives - only need the one bed for us all - and frankly we all enjoy it, and get loads of sleep.

If you are at all worried, get a copy of Deborah Jackson's 'Three In A Bed' for lots of advice.

Very few 10 year olds are still shacked up with their parents so I wouldn't worry too much.

Thanks for all your replies!

Dd1 (3.5) hops in with me if she wakes in the night - seems to have no effect on bedtime or behaviour in general

dd is 3.8 and still gets in with me! Has no negative impact on her as far as I can tell.

I do it. We all love it. Soon enough the dd's won't want to do it, so we are enjoying it while we can.

Dd is 3.5 and still sleeps in her bedside cot next to us.

We have no plans to change the arrangement as we are all happy with it

I'm still co-sleeping and neither of us have ever slept so well. I am happy with it and hearing your stories has made me feel better about it. We both need to sleep and this makes it happen