Co-sleeping / Toddler in Your Bed - Just Curious

You're probably going to get so many different answers which is what I love about the option of co-sleeping.

My daughter is five and she's always gone to sleep in my bed first and then I climb into bed about three hours later. She likes to take nap in her own room - now rest time on the weekends - but I think its because she wants access to her books.

When she's sick or feeling particularly nervous when we travel, I will go to bed with her. There are very few nights that I do this because she's typically an excellent sleeper.

I think when people think co-sleeping, they think lax parenting, when in fact I'm fairly strict. I listen when she's scared or sick - but she doesn't play games because I don't have it - but I know when she needs me and I'm there. Bed time is same routine, pretty close to the same time every night, even on weekends (there are exceptions, of course.)

As with all of parenting, routines and how this came about evolved from babyhood, toddlerhood and now childhood. My daughter knows she has a choice between my bed or her bed and with our life style (single M., travelers) this works well for us.

Funny, I slept in a crib right away, loved my own bed and bedroom. I had trouble getting used to sleeping next to someone when I was married. My ex, on the other hand, loves sleeping with someone, slept with his M. until he was four and only feels comfortable sleeping when there is a house full of people. My daughter is the same way, so that it is just she and I in our little home, I can't imagine she will be leaving my bed any time soon.

To each, there own, right: )

I really resisted cosleeping, and the pediatrician even said to let her sleep anywhere except with me. However, I adopted my daughter from an orphanage at age 2, and she'd never slept in a room with less than 12 other people at any point in her life. When she would fall asleep, she'd sleep so lightly that she woke up every 2 hours all night long and be awake from 4:30a.m.on. It was killing me, so I finally allowed cosleeping. Once I let her sleep with me, it was blessed sleep for both of us! And, truly, I like being close to her, so it works for us. I usually put her to bed in my bed stay with her until she falls asleep, then I get up until I'm ready for bed. In the morning, I try to get up before she wakes, but that tends to be a challenge.

We cosleep and firmly believe our kids and we sleep better that way. They fall asleep in our bed, and nap when they do in either room. Sometimes they fall asleep in their own rooms but always wake up earlier when they do.

It depends on where they fall asleep. If I am reading to them, I prefer they be in their own beds and I probably end up falling asleep there. Often times, they will fall asleep in ours and then we sneak them into theirs.

My children all sleep in their own beds, but I think when they're about 3, or 4 they will go to sleep in their own bed and come into my bed in the middle of the night. I don't mind. All of my children have done that. They all sleep in their own bed now. I think every now and then, ie: thunderstorm, bad dream, or movie night it's fine.

My babies go to sleep the same time I do, or nap on a chair, or couch or co sleeper crib or bassinet, or on me. Depending on what age they are. My two older girls have separate rooms from each other (they are 9 and 3).. They used to sleep with me every night my husband was out of town, which is often. When I had my third baby a month ago the girls sleep together in whichever room of their choosing, my youngest girl has come to my bed 2 times since the baby was born. I sleep only with the baby for now , well and my husband too( when he's in town) when I'm not in bed my baby sleeps on the couch, or in his co sleeper bed which is mobile and can be lifed with ease and set anywhere. It is meant to be used in the bed but we don't. I'm confident in my abilities as a mother not to squish my children. I dont get wasted or have a sleeping disorder ( which is the overwhelming majority cause of co sleeping death)

All 3 of my babies slept with me and never started out anywhere else.