Whose Been Sleeping In My Bed

I never thought when I had kids that they wouldn’t sleep from 8-8 in a crib in their own room.  The thought just never ever crossed my mind.  It was at my work baby shower when a co-worker said to me that the best advice she could give me was “Don’t be afraid of the family bed”  I didn’t have an opinion or thought of the family bed, nor did I really know what she meant.  Then there I was a few months later up with Derek in the middle of the night when I threw my hands up in defeat, brought him into my bed where he immediately stopped crying, fell sound asleep and it came to me “ahhhh…..the family bed”  I have found over the past 3 years that it doesn’t matter anymore who sleeps where, what time or with who as long as we sleep!!

I wake up to this happy face every morning!

It amazes me how many people care that my kids sleep in my bed.  I have no idea why!?!?  I don’t feel I need to keep it a secret or be ashamed so when people ask how Hayley sleeps I say “We Co-Sleep” many people are so taken back! I don’t still don’t know why!!  I hear silence on the phone from family members when it’s mentioned or have people ask when I’m getting her into her crib.  I don’t have a plan on moving her.  She sleeps well with me.  I work all day and I miss my kids so much during the day that if I think about it too much it hurts my heart so why would anyone want to begrudge me any extra time with my babies.  Also, if they need me at 2am I don’t have it in me to tell Derek to go back to his room after he tells me he is scared of monsters or to make Hayley “cry it out.” Why does anyone else care since it doesn’t bother me, I don’t complain to people about my kids and sleeping so the unsolicited advice on cribs and their own beds isn’t necessary.  


The best part of “The Family Bed” is that I go to sleep and wake up with a sweet smiling baby and toddler who in 10 years from now won’t want to cuddle with me.  Oh and I won’t even mention to the nah-sayers that Finnegan sleeps in my bed too!!!!


Here is a link to an article by Dr Sears on the benefits of co-sleeping  
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/co-sleeping-yes-no-sometimes