Alright so my son will be two on the 31st and has not even once slept in bed with me (even though we share a room). He has had the big boy bed now for about three months or so and loves it. Since he has had it he doesn't even get out of his bed during the night, well not typically anyway :) So I put him to bed last night and sometime around 8 I went in to check on him and to get my address book. I looked over and noticed he was not in his bed.
Well that scared me a little bit but then I realized he was in my bed. He wasn't quite asleep yet so I put him back in his bed and we sang a few songs and I left. Well I went to bed and he was back in my bed. I again put him in his bed. Throughout the night we continued this two other times. I am not quite sure what to do about it. He isn't waking up with nightmares or anything he is just quietly getting up and coming in my bed. Has this happened withanyone? I am not sure why he is doing it and I am not sure what I should do about it? Any advice would be helpful
Thank you Ladies for all of your wonderful input. I rather enjoyed reading the responses. It has now been a while and he still gets into my bed (which I don't mind unless he brings 100 cars :) I tried putting him back in his bed a few times but he will sleep there for about an hour and I will find him back in my bed. It is quite funny sometimes. He has gotten really quiet about it so sometimes he is there for quite some time before I notice it. We are doing great now though I know it must be awfully tempting anyway because we share the room. So thank you for all of your input!
He might be cold... it's been chilly the last few nights! Or he might just need to snuggle with mama. It depends on how you feel about it. You could either keep putting him back in his own bed each time you notice him, or you could let him stay. We have an "open bed" policy in my house, and if the kids come in, they can stay. But it really depends on what you feel comfortable with!
My son is 2 1/2 and he has slept with us since birth basically. My oldest slept with us until I got remarried when he was 7 with no issues. there are still mornings he will come crawl in bed to 'cuddle up' at 11. I am a believer in the family bed but each has to decide for themselves. I would just treasure the time and if its not causing problems for you allow it. Has he recently started anything new, like potty training or you being gone longer than before?? IF so it is likely he is feeling insecure and needs you a little extra right now. Enjoy as it will be gone before you know it..........
S.
This may sound funny, but it could be that your bed smells like you which is comforting. But I still wouldn't let him stay there. I'd just give him kisses and hugs and tell him it's time for him to get back in his bed.
Best of luck, Jen
Pretty much I totally agree with all the other moms. As long as you don't mind, it's no big deal. My 3yr old never slept in my bed either, then at 2 1/2 he would wander in and then say, "okay, I'm good now, I'll go back to my bed". It's a growth spurt thing, they feel a little anxiety from the changes that's all, my 5yr old son does it sometimes too....I cherish it, I know that soon enough he'll be too big to cuddle without being embarrassed, so I let him stay and carry him out after he's been asleep a while.
Good luck! Enjoy Christmas, he'll love it this year at his age!
I can relate to this one all to well. My three year old daughter goes through spurts like this. She NEVER slept in my bed as an infant and she has had her own "big girl" bed since she was about 20 months old. She doesn't sleep in my room either. In spurts of about a week at a time, I will go to bed and she will be in mine. I put her back to her bed and I will wake up to find her climbing in at 2am. I would put her back in bed and it will happen again at 4am. I finally give up and just let her sleep with me. We will go through this for about a week and then it stops for a while. I have always assumed it is just something to do with growing spurts and take it for what it is. Hang in there because soon he won't want all that cuddly time anymore. I have an 8 yr old that wants nothing to do with me half the time. Have a great Christmas Holiday!
To me, it sounds so sweet. He probably just loves to be with you and this is just another way he can do that. Maybe he likes how your mattress feels as opposed to his own. Maybe your covers are softer. Maybe he likes to feel the warmth of you next to him. They're only young once. As long as it doesn't bother you, don't put too much weight on it. You can keep putting him back in his own bed, or you can let him sleep with you every once in a while. When my third was 2 he would get up and come in my room at all hours. It was about 3-4 months after having his big boy bed. He figured out that he could get out of it without me. So he would get up and wander around. This is why some parents keep their children in the crib for longer periods of time. Sometimes he would wander back into his own bed, but sometimes he would try to climb in bed with us. They're naturally curious at that age and I think that's the most wonderful trait they have. His curiosity could be waking him up and making him think... I wonder what would happen if I slept up there. They test their limits. That's how they know what they can get away with. But in my opinion, he sounds like a very sweet little boy that loves his mommy.
Greetings and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
In response to your "sleeping in bed" request, it's actually quite normal for your son to be found by your side in bed. Tho you stress the fact to him that he's a "big boy" and he probably is, there's nothing wrong with getting extra hugs and feeling secure from Mommy. Does he have a stuffed animal or favorite blanket he can use as an item to feel secure when he's alone? This is a stage he will eventually grow out of, but at the moment for some reason he's basicly insecure...and that's normal, he's growing. Being a single parent does in a small way weigh on this factor. You sound like a wonderful mother and you are doing the right things. Don't worry! This too shall pass :) I have 3 awesome children. Two boys and a girl. 22, 19 and 14. Even to this day, all my children now and then on their own will come to me for that extra hug. Now and then one or the other will even surprise me while I'm sitting on the couch watching tv, will grab a blanket and curl up next to me with their head rested on my leg. When the older ones are stressed out for what ever reason this is their way of feeling secure knowing Mommy (lol) makes everything feel better. Aware that "Mommy" can't always fix things for them, their content that I'm always there when they need me. God Bless and Take care...hope this helps!
My Dearest J.,
I am laughing only because, he will always want to be in your bed. And if you sleep in his bed, he will be in his bed. And if you sleep on the couch, he will come find you and sleep there too.
I am going through this with my 3 year old. Same things exactly. My daughter, 2, doesn't seem to have an issue with it however, but she does cry for me to lay down with her in her bed.
He simply wants to be with you. Last night, both my children slept in my bed. It never fails. When I wake up, they are there. Just think of them as little puppies without the fur.. lol! :O) It's really not a big deal as far as him and development. I tried to get in my parents bed well after age five and I still talk with people whose older children do the same.
It's normal and natural.
Wow... I'm amazed it took that long! Both of my boys have been wanderers and constant bedmates with me and my husband since birth! I do know that 2 is around the age of nightmares, dreams, and sleepwalking in general. I would find both of my boys on the floor in the hallway and stuff like that. They wander! Sometimes we bring them back to their own bed, sometimes let them stay with us, etc. depending on if they seem to NEED to be with us or are just looking for a drink or a hug or whatever. I have heard all the arguments like "If you let them do it once, they'll never stop..." whatever. My boys are 5 and 3, they've slept with us on and off since they were born, and it's no more than about once a week that one of them wanders in. No big deal. Good luck with yoru little one and with school.
