Starting co sleeping with a 2 year old. Bad idea?

[Memoo]

Dd is 2.5 and although she usually goes down easily in her cot she wakes up numerous times in the night. She only ever needs a little reassurance and a cuddle but being up and down all night is really tiring.

The past few nights I have just let her come in bed with me and dh and she has slept really well albeit with her face pressed against mine :)

I quite like her sleeping with us and im considering just letting her sleep with us all the time. It feels very natural to me to have my young child sleep close to me. Dh still sleeps well and doesnt mind as such but feels we will really regret letting her get use to sleeping with us. The old 'rod for your own back' was muttered at one point.

I'm torn about what to do. I'd be really interested to hear others thoughts?

[PattiMayor]

I started co-sleeping again when my DS was about that age. It took me a while to get him back into his own bed but I don't regret it. I'm single though so lack of sex wasn't an issue :o

[TanteRose]

We coslept from birth until DD was 4.5 and DS was 3. By that age, they were very happy to go into their own room. And we still had plenty of sex!! Never understand why that is an issue with co-sleeping...

[SucksToBeMe]

I think co-sleeping is a great idea.

[PattiMayor]

I don't know, I've never slept with DC and someone I'm shagging in the same bed - I assumed it would be an issue

[BertieBotts]

I think it's a good idea. It is likely she will do it for a short time and then go back to her own bed. Perhaps she just needs a little reassurance.

Sex thing not an issue, you can always move them when asleep, or have sex elsewhere. I probably wouldn't want to do it next to a sleeping 2 year old, smaller baby not such an issue.

(Just realised OP didn't even mention sex so why are we all discussing it? )

[DonInKillerHeels]

We're about to stop co-sleeping because I have developed night-terrors where I dream that DS 20 months has stopped sleeping and I actually half-wake and stick my fingers down his throat to make him breathe. It's terrifying and upsetting for everyone, and I'm frightened I'm really going to hurt him.

[DonInKillerHeels]

sigh... that should read stopped BREATHING, not stopped sleeping.

[PattiMayor]

That was my fault Bertie. Lowering the tone as ever

[Memoo]

I'm not about to have sex next to my sleeping toddler

I think I'm going to go with the co sleeping. I've just put dd down in her cot and she is screaming the house down. I can't stand it. It breaks my heart. I'd rather just let her sleep with me.

[CranworthMummy]

go for it! The fact that it makes you feel better and your DC feel better and your DH doesn't mind - all big factors in its favour! I never regret any moment I spend with my kids, day or night - I love that they love to be with me, and as far as I'm concerned, my ultimate role (especially when they're small) is to make sure my DCs are happy and reassured... can't see how a child crying themself to sleep or screaming the house down can benefit anyone! Go for it.

[DucketyDuckDuck]

Always done co-sleeping. Right from day one. I did about 6 months of trying to get dd to sleep in her cot. In the end it just wore me down.

Each to their own I suppose, but I listened to others, who made me feel bad that dd slept with us.

Went by my own judgement in the end, and its working out. I do feel that there will come a time, when she wants to sleep in her own bed. Until then so be it!

Do what you are comfy with and enjoy, it won't last forever!

[BabyEl]

Can I ask how this worked out for you?