Should you let your child sleep-share with you?
By agmamayo
@agmamayo (804)
Philippines
March 12, 2009 1:37am CST
Most families share beds together especially when their child is still young, however there are some who opt no to.Speak out your minds on why you let your kids sleep-share with you- or why you choose not to- and why do you think it is good or bad. Share some ideas.
2 people like this
5 responses
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
12 Mar 09
I had my daughter's bassinette in my room for the first three months, and then she moved to the cot in her room and eventually a bed when she was about three and a half. All was progressing well until last year. She was six years old and would occasionally sleep with me if she had a bad dream or something. Now she is seven and refuses to sleep by herself claiming she is terrified of the dark.
My husband tells me not to be concerned as he went through that as a little kid and he used to jump into the bed of his older sister due to fear of the dark.
She hasn't slept on her own in months and although I am still working on getting her back to her own bed, I tend to think that if that is the worst of our parenting problems, we are doing okay. 
1 person likes this
@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
12 Mar 09
Well thats ok Paula, it is natural for a 7 year old to have fear of the dark or having bad dreams. You just need to alter the environment where she is sleeping now, especially her room. Try to paint it with a lighter color, or turn on the lights when she goes to sleep. Don't let her also to watch scary movies in Tv. However, it takes time also for it to readjust when she gets older she can finally be able to sleep on her own. Try to offer her a warm drink before she goes to sleep.
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@cherriemae (3370)
• Philippines
12 Mar 09
hi there agmamayo..my daughter is still sleeping with me since birth and now she's 4yrs old.. we have the same bed and that makes me feel comfortable because she's beside me.. i'm single mom and she's all for me, so maybe until she's on here elementary or high school years.. i wanted her to be with me, that i can talk to here even where in the room going to sleep.. that i wanted her to be more close to me so that she can share her secrets to me and she will be more comfortable to be with me..happy mylotting..
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@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
12 Mar 09
Definitely, it is quite good to really have some quality time with your child. You can make her feel secure and comforted. Readily you can respond to your daughter's needs more quickly and effectively. Most mother's define sleep-sharing as a meaningful interactions that are safe and healthy. It is a way of assuring their little kids that they are continually available for them. Thanks for commenting Cherriemae
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@candy811123 (334)
• China
12 Mar 09
My choice is not to sleep-share with my baby.First,I don't want my baby too dependent.Second,I think people should have their own space.My husband and I don't want to change our living way just because of sleep-share with baby.I don't know which opt is good,just different people have different choice.Happy mylotting.
1 person likes this
@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
12 Mar 09
A study conducted about this topic among 100 parent respondents, and 50% of them responded No, meaning they don't want to sleep-share with their baby, instead they choose not to because of what you have in mind too Candy, avoid dependency. They had to keep their baby to an adjascent room or a crib, instead. Thanks for the comment.
1 person likes this
@searchingwithin (31)
• United States
12 Mar 09
No, I do not believe a child should sleep with their parents, in part because of the dependency reason, but also for the privacy of the parents.
I never allowed my son to sleep with us when he was growing up. If he had a bad dream, I went to his room and laid with him in his bed until he fell asleep, and then went back to my bed.
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