Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Step-parenting

Connect with other Mumsnetters here for step-parenting advice and support.

DP insists on sleeping with DSD

285 replies

Lena007 · 06/09/2021 13:03

It doesn't sit right with me.

Have been together with DP 1.5 years. He has one 8 years old DD. We live separately but there are talks about us renting together in the nearest future.

DSD is with her dad 50% of time, just various days/ times/ nights. All fine.

She is a lovely girl, we all spend some time together but most of the time she spends with DP on their own. I spend some time with her too, just the two of us to slowly build a nice relationship.

Whenever I am at DP's and stay overnight when DSD is there I am expected to sleep in the spare bedroom so they can share the bed in the master bedroom. DP calls it 'their room' ie his and DSD's. It has been going on for over 6 months.

Initially I thought, ok, she needs to adjust and settle in the new place and accept the fact her dad is in a new relationship (first relationship after he split with her mum), but that's not that. She says one day she would love to go on holiday with me and DP but of course she is having one room with dad and I can sleep in another hotel room. DP just changed subject because he had seen shock on my face.
On the same day she says to DP that she wants to sleep in the spare bedroom on her own, to which DP replied ' No. I'm never going to leave you like that ' and he insists he sleeps with her whenever she is at his. I have heard her saying it at least 3 times. They stay up late watching tv/ netflix cuddled up on the sofa then they both go to bed together. I'm sat on the second sofa and then go to bed there on my own.

I've raised it with him and he says it is him who wants to sleep with DSD, not her. He says he loves her so much and misses her, that he loves failing asleep and waking up next to her and he isn't going to do anything about it because it is just a way it is and he wants to sleep with her. Then I've said it doesn't make any sense for me to stay overnight at his when she is here, I would rather be at my own place if I've to sleep on my own anyway. He says that he doesn't want to spend less time together and he wants me to be a part on their lives and be here when DSD is here too, and that he would expect me to behave like an adult, not to be jelaous and just understand and accept it because he would. I have told him I thought it was only a temp solution and in standard relationships adults sleep together instead one adult being delegated to the spare bedroom when children are here. He said that we aren't in a 'normal' relationship and will never be because he doesn't get to see his DD every day.
I would understand it if she needed to sleep with him, but no, it is him insisting on it.

He says if we rent together this will change and he will be going to sleep in DSD bedroom sometimes and I won't have to sleep in the spare room. But it still just doesn't feel right.

Aibu?

OP posts:
Stormyequine · 06/09/2021 13:20

It sounds like a very unhealthy dynamic. He has already told you he doesn't want to change it, so your choices are put up with it, or end the relationship. I know which I would choose! I feel very sorry for his DD. This is not good for her at all.

Starlight39 · 06/09/2021 13:20

This isn't OK at all. His DD is voicing that she wants to sleep by herself and her Dad isn't listening. At best, that's pretty horrific boundary trampling by him.

I sometimes let DS (9) sleep in my bed but only when DP isn't around AND when DS asks to, I would never ever force it or even suggest it. I think it'll probably peter out in the next year.

RobinPenguins · 06/09/2021 13:21

Yes this is weird and I’d be removing myself from it. I would find it weird if it was a mum and her 8 year old too. Cosleeping is one thing (I don’t really get it when the child is 8 but whatever) but the stuff about “our” room and watching Netflix till late together is just strange. Worrying that he’s not respecting the child’s desire to go in her own room.

HollowTalk · 06/09/2021 13:21

My son used to get into bed with me until he was about nine or ten - I'd wake up and he was there. That's very different to telling a child that she's got to sleep with her dad whether she likes it or not.

I wonder what his own family background was like. Did he sleep with his parents at that age?

But in any case, I'd dump him a) for being weird and b) for not putting his child's interests first and c) for putting you so far down the pecking order that you might as well not be there.

Cabinfever10 · 06/09/2021 13:22

@Lena007 when I read your post I felt my stomach lurch please report this man to the police and social services because this is wrong on so many levels

aSofaNearYou · 06/09/2021 13:24

Jesus Christ I don't think I've ever gotten the ick more from a post.

He said that we aren't in a 'normal' relationship and will never be because he doesn't get to see his DD every day.

This alone should have you running for the hills, coupled with his comments about "expecting you to behave like an adult". These are the red flags to end all red flags in step families, he sounds selfish and gaslighting, and he will use his almighty "dad status" to get away with those things and paint you as the problem.

And yes, the fact that it's him pushing for this dynamic is really creepy and unhealthy.

Restinblue · 06/09/2021 13:24

That’s not fair on the girl especially as she sounds more than ready to sleep on her own. What about when she gets to 10 years of age or older? She will know herself it’s not normal, poor kid.

Tbh I wouldn’t have put up with that from the first night it happened, unless she was ill or had a nightmare or something as a one off. I would have gone home and not continued with the relationship.

As pps have said, very weird.

FatJan · 06/09/2021 13:25

Would be a completely different story if the daughter was insisting they share a bed, but the FATHER insisting!?!? When she has asked to sleep alone!!??

No no no no no no no.

huuskymam · 06/09/2021 13:26

That's very weird considering the child wants to sleep on her own. If he's not going to change, I'd dump him.

StarshipsAreMeantToFly · 06/09/2021 13:27

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

This is freaky as shit - she doesnt want him there? I think this would fall under a safeguarding concern. End the relationship now and call NSPCCfor some advice.
Please do this. It's not right that he is insisting.
eeyore228 · 06/09/2021 13:27

If this child is actively asking she have her bed then that's what she should have. Your DP’s behaviour is not acceptable and I would be worried. It's one thing if she is struggling but it's clear she isn't. Your DP has the problem and your DSD should be safeguarded. This is not right!!!!!

NowEvenBetter · 06/09/2021 13:28

@Aquamarine1029

How do I speak to him to get him to understand how mad this is?

Why would you bother? He has already made it very clear where you stand and that he will not stop sleeping with his child. There is nothing to talk about.

Please be wise enough to get yourself out of this dysfunctional relationship. The man is a walking red flag.

This. Raise it with the school as a safeguarding concern, at minimum, before you dump him. Obviously.
Justmuddlingalong · 06/09/2021 13:28

If it's him pushing for them sharing a bed, sadly I think you're onto a hiding to nothing. Time to walk away, OP. 💐

Figgygal · 06/09/2021 13:29

So weird
And it would be if her mother was carrying on this way too

StaceysmomandIhavegotitgoinon · 06/09/2021 13:29

That is scary. I would run a mile from it. The odd time I would completely understand but not all of the time and him insisting on it is quite wrong. It actually is quite troubling. I would print this entire thread off and leave it out for him to read to be honest. I do not see his intentions as innocent if he is insisting they sleep together all the time. I actually feel quite sad about it to be honest. Poor young girl.

Bananarama21 · 06/09/2021 13:29

Very odd op I have an 8 year old and she comes I for a cuddle on the morning but she doesn't sleep with me the rare time has been when she was poorly but even then she was younger.

FilledSoda · 06/09/2021 13:30

I feel ill reading this .
Why would you want this man in your life ?

lunar1 · 06/09/2021 13:30

Read your op as if your friend was saying this to you, what would you advise her to do?

There is nothing wrong with sharing a bed if the child wants to. But there is something wrong if she is asking not to and he insists.

There is no room for you in this relationship, you deserve better and are probably too caught up in the situation to see it.

Youseethethingis · 06/09/2021 13:32

This is the sleep equivalent of deliberately keeping a 4 year old in nappies.
It's a bloody shame for this girl if both her parents have actively made the decision that they will be hampering her development.
You'd be a fool to stay as if it's weird and creepy now, it will be more so in 2 or 3 years time when puberty is in full swing.
My DSD still bed shares and I can tolerate it for 3 reasons, none of which applies to you.

  1. DH has tried everything under the sun to make it stop
  2. he goes to DSD, it wouldn't enter his head to ask me to leave our bed
  3. she's only here EOW, half holidays + ad-hoc

🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

Restinblue · 06/09/2021 13:32

It’s odd in itself but his comments to explain why he wants to do it are even more weird.

Miniroofbox · 06/09/2021 13:33

You need to report him. This is seriously odd.

ChequerBoard · 06/09/2021 13:33

I was in two minds about this, thinking that if the DD has been brought up sharing a bed with her parents perhaps this was a comfort thing to help her adjust to we parents separation.

But then I read that she doesn't want to and he is insisting. Hell no, his behaviour is odd to say the least.

Run.

Tsubasa1 · 06/09/2021 13:34

I would call social services.

Akire · 06/09/2021 13:34

He needs serious talking to. She’s a child not a Possession. It’s about what’s best for her not what he wants. He is equally clinging to her rest of the day? He must realise he need grow up and how the hell this would look if school or SS get whiff of it. He must know this doesn’t look healthy or normal when 8y old girls asking for own bed.

If have it out with him, speak to girls mum and the run for the hills.

Lottapianos · 06/09/2021 13:36

Agree with everyone else. Deeply weird, controlling, creepy and highly inappropriate. That poor kid. Run for the hills OP, he is just too odd