Co-Sleeping - How long did it last?

[Quootiepie]

Hiya,
I co-sleep with my son (now 6 months) and I was wondering when they want to go in to their own rooms? Im not fussed myself, but I decorated his nursery really nice, and planned to redecorate it in a few months to something more age appropriate but if hes not going to use it for sleep for a good while, I think I want to make it into a safe playroom for him (limited space in living room). Does this sound OK or will he bve using it as a bedroom within say - a year? Thanks!

Hi Quootiepie, I started co-sleeping at around 6mths, and moved him into his own room at the same time if that makes sense! Previously he had been in a cot in our room, so I'd always put him back in the cot when he'd fed. At 6mths I started putting him to bed in his own room at the start of the evening, but then bringing him into us whenever he woke later on. The reason we started co-sleeping for part of the night was because I just couldn't keep getting up to him - I was exhausted.

So I suppose if you wanted him to sleep in his own room you could start by getting him used to the room and maybe starting off the night in there? But if you are not bothered about moving him, I wouldn't imagine that he would want to move of his own accord for a good couple of years yet! Think what I am trying to say is that my ds only sleeps in his own room at the beginning of the night because I have got him used to it - not because he decided he wanted to (he is 18mths btw) Not sure if I answered your question there!?

It's up to you, love.
IME I had to prize my boys out of our bed with bribery and thinly veiled threats at 14-24 months. But then I 'm a bit slack,

TBH after the lovely snuggly comforting experience of co sleeping you could be putting them into a palace and they still wouldn't care, they would rather be with you. So you can either wait til you need your bed back and get hardcore or you can put him in it now when he's too little to kick up

Sorry

Kinda! I want DS to move on his own accord (unless he gets a pain or I have twins next or something!) and didnt know when that would be...

they never move of their own accord, unless you put a PS2 in their room or they get a girlfriend

hmm, I was thinking of the ps2 idea to get my 18 month old out of my bed

I think if you want him to move of his own accord you will probably be waiting at least a couple of years, possibly more... which is fine if you are happy with that. As I'm doing half and half I think I'm quite happy for ds to be in with us until he's ready to move on - I'm still getting a bit of space to myself at the beginning of the night so I don't feel deprived of anything Plus, he still bf through the night so for me co-sleeping is just so easy at the moment. Much easier than any alternative.

We co-slept from 4 months - @ 18 months. By the end none of us were getting a decent night's sleep. But it only took one night of grumbling for him to settle in his cot and sleep all night. So, if "by their own accord" you mean doing it when they are ready, the wait may not be that long.

ok... looking at least a year. I might aswell make that room a playroom

Hiya Quootie, we made ds's room into a playroom and I am glad we did, because when we / he decided it was time for him to have his own bed in his own room, we were able to make it very exciting with the purchase of the new bed, duvet covers, etc etc and the rearrangement of the room all helped to make it thrilling for him to be in there. He had just turned 3 at this point.

Generally from talking to people who have co-slept, their children have usually moved out through choice (or been chucked out ) around age 4 to 5, so you should have a while yet, but I also know quite a few people who have decided they have had enough when their babies are around 1 or so, or felt forced into it because they find their children aren't sleeping well while bedsharing any longer. It does change quite a lot when they are over a year and I personally couldn't have done it without a very big bed, so you may find you want to make changes before your ds decides he has had enough. Meanwhile enjoy it.

DS quit sleeping well with us at about 9 months and started sleeping really well on his own at the same time. That was a lot earlier than I'd expected. But then we only semi-coslept (he'd go down for the night in his cot and come in with us when he woke up) which may have had something to do with it. I'm actually kind of hoping that when we move him to a big bed sometime within the next few months (he's 20 months now) he might decide that he wants to come in with us again. I was rather looking forward to the snuggly mornings with a toddler.

Come in with us for part of the night, that is.

Yep, snuggly mornings with a toddler are great! My son has co-slept with me since he was a baby. At 18 months moved him to his own bed where he now always starts the night. He's three now and must still wake in the night and come into my bed because every morning when I wake up he's there next to me! I am hoping to get him to stay in his own bed though...but haven't got a clue how to go about that as he doesn't laways wake me when he gets into my bed!
Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

we started co-sleeping whe DS was 12mths & I went back to work & he started nursery.He starts his night in his cot & when he wakes up we move him into our bed. I found as I wasnt seeing him much during the day that by having him with me at night was lovely. For me I struggled with the idea for ages as I had been so strict on not bringing him to our bed when I was on maternity leave as he was with me all the time & i needed my space and then that changed. He is now 19mths & we are not thinking of moving him out until we have another baby or even later. we turned his room into a play room & this works for us, even though i know plenty of mothers frown on these arrangments. Do what suits u....