The Family Bed . . . What Do You Think?

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Homeschooling Mom to Daniel (13 Years), Andrew (10 Years), Stephen (8 Years) and Emily (4 Years)

The benefits of co-sleeping with your child are great but I draw the line at an older child. DD co-sleep with me for almost the first two years of her life and she is a very happy child. But she did have a crib and everything so she could sleep in it if she wanted too. DD at 2 decided she wanted her toddler bed as she wanted to sleep in a nest. DS never wanted to co-sleep as he likes his space and he sleeps like an egg beater. On another site, there is a group who believe in co-sleeping and have tweens and teens in the bed with them and it just creeps me out. If it works for your family go for it.

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When they find the center of the universe, how many people will be upset they are not it.

Okay... that's just creepy!

I love the fact that DS can come climb in bed with us. I would have loved to be able to feel the love like that from my parents. I'm sure as he gets older he'll no longer want to.

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We began co sleeping with Carter at birth, coslept until he slept through the night at 4 months!! From about 4-8 months he slept in his crib when teething had him up and when we moved our new house and he was on a different floor he wanted to cosleep again.... we still cosleep 90% of the nights but some night we lay him down and he sleeps through the night in his own bed! I enjoy cosleeping and tend to sleep better when he is in our bed, I can wake up check on him then fall back alseep! I will draw the line at preschool/school age, just our families opinion

I think it's fine, we've done it.

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I think there will always be a time when you need sleep and your children are in your bed! LOL

Teenagers, even past 5 yrs old ( on a constant basis, not a random night ) I don't like and would not do.

We co sleep with all of our babes from birth til I feel they are ready to get out. usually around rolling time for naps, and a bit later for night time.

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married 8 years to a crazy Brit, mommy to a banana, she is 5 and a pineapple who is just about 2 , mommy to 4 ~angel~ babies

It's great if it works for your family, but 1. I like my alone time with DH in my bed, and 2. I like to spread out when I sleep, and even with a king size bed, we run out of room.

Oh NO way!

Only because when we went on vacation, my DH and DS shared 1 bed and me and DD shared the other. Those kids, toss and turn, kick, slap you with the stuffed animals, grind their teeth.... NEVER AGAIN..

We learned the hard way. So every vacation after that, they share a bed. Let them battle it out. Of course, they are 4 and 6, though!

Whatever works. Every family is different.

I do think its weird for a tween or teen to still sleep with their parents.

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DS-17
DD-14
DD-6
DS-4

We had DD in a crib in our bedroom till she was 2 - and when she cried at night we would just bring her to our bed. It was much easier. Even now, DD is 2.5, there are days when she climbs on to our bed in the middle of the night and sleeps - and we don't mind it. As long as we all sleep peacefully I do not mind - I become a very crappy person if I do not get atleast 7 hrs of sleep.

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And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil:4:7