It’s been an emotional week, the four-year-old turned into a five-year-old in what seems like the blink of an eye. Her hair is getting longer, her mouth is getting bigger but she’s as petite as ever, she’s my little sugar-plum fairy. The past couple of months we’ve been co-sleeping.
I’m pretty strict when it comes to bedtime, after a story, bedtime is bedtime!. I kiss goodnight, leave the door ajar and hop, skip and jump down the stairs to freedom. Then one night for some insane reason I said ‘night night, sleep tight; don’t let the bed bugs bite’ as I walked out of the room.
What the hell was I thinking! I spent the next two-hours, cradling, cuddling and telling magical stories to comfort my then four-year-old. She was having none of it. She ended up in my bed, where of course there were no bed-bugs.
That night I climbed in beside her, wrapped my arms around her and she cuddled into me and said ‘I love you maaammy’. After the long night trying to reassure her and comfort her from my wrong choice of words I gripped her so tight and never wanted to let her go. It was a beautiful moment. One I never will never forget. I finally found out what it felt like to be a co-sleeper.
As the nights went on, I would find her in my bed almost every evening along with teddy and bubbles the blanket. My mam would tell me I was crazy, to cop on, to just put her back in her own bed, be persistent. But you know what, I love coming up those stairs at bedtime and finding her there all cosy, waiting for me, waiting for those cuddles.
She’s my little girl and she won’t be so little for much longer. She’ll be asking for sleep-overs, for me to close her bedroom door and to turn off the night lights soon.
She can stay where she is for now, if it makes her feel safe and secure, cuddled up like a teddy bear next to me until she’s ready to make the transition back into her own bed.
37 Comments on Let Them Be Little | Co-Sleeping with a Five Year Old
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Much the same here, with a six year old who doesn’t want to sleep alone because she “saw a scary film”. And, annoying as it is at least half the time, the other half I secretly do love it.
Sometimes it can be frustrating, especially if they are having a wiggly night but it could stop tomorrow. Secretly hoping it doesn’t 😉
Finn is 4 comes in to our bed every night, it’s not going to last forever and I know I will miss his curly hair in our bed when it stops so I say enjoy it while it lasts xxxx
Hoping she’s doesn’t grow out of it soon, being five and all that. Cherishing it while it lasts xx
It can be difficult to have an imposter every night, but as you say it doesn’t last forever, you will remember these days fondly and miss them for a long time to come. A lovely post.
I’ve missed them for so long following my mothers old school parenting tips. Totally making up for it now and loving every second x
Time brings wisdom! We learned after our first to do as we wanted and not let on to some what we were doing. Hope you all sleep tight tonight.
No she’s in her daddies tonight, missing my snugs. Sniff! Haha
My 7 year old daughter come in like clockwork at 6:3o in the morning. It’s 6:30 because I told her no earlier. I really don’t know how her body knows every morning to wake up exactly then?! Anyways, she just wants to come in and snuggle. She climbs in and goes right back to sleep until 7 when we need to get up and get ready for school. I definitely don’t mind the snuggles while I can get them!
It really is amazing how they wake like clockwork. So cute! Enjoy!!
Such a cute photo 🙂 my little boy’s 16 months and very rarely sleeps in my bed, but when he does it’s really lovely xx
It can be pain at times too but they’re only little for a short time. Enjoy him xx
Aww, such a sweet post. Co-slept with my older one until he started jumping on us at 4.30 am in the morning when I was pregnant… Now have the baby with me in bed, he’s 14 months and I have no intention of putting him in his own bed until he’s ready. 🙂 xx
Awww, such a lovely post, she looks so snuggley in your bed =)
I’ve always loved it when Zach ends up in our bed at night! It hasn’t happened for a while now as he loves his own bed and generally sleeps through but if he ever does end up in ours, I always spend the night cuddling him! It’s such a precious time when they are asleep – I love watching him! Lovely post, we have to make the most of them being little! #mummymonday
Exactly they’re only little for awhile, treasure it while we can!!
How sweet! I cherish every night I get to stay in the same bed as my son but it’s rare as he favours the feet in face sleeping position.
Oh no can’t be dealing with that haha
Oh no!! It’s such a bitter sweet moment. Amelia’s taken to co-sleeping again from like 3ish onward which is lovely for cuddles but exhausting because she is so restless and I’m getting ZERO sleep! It’s a really hard cycle to break, hoping to crack it when Amelia goes into her big girl bed! We should definitely enjoy it while we can xx
Ps. Thankyou for linking up!! #Mummymonday x
Lovely post! I love the snuggles. But my goodness, my youngest is a disaster – it’s co-waking and co-being-kicked-and-wallopped more than co-sleeping 🙂
I’m quite pro on Co sleeping. It’s something that has never bothered me. The boys have their bedtime and always go to sleep in their beds but there isn’t a night that at least one of them comes in and snuggles up. It clearly comforts them in what they need. And, like you, if they’re happy, safe, secure and comforted then good. There will be a time when it’ll obviously stop but in the meantime I quite enjoy it.
Exactly when they are ready they’ll stay in their own bed. Let them be little…
Aww bless her, It’s hard to say no to them when they want to be in your bed. My little one is 6 months, and shes always co-slept on and off. It’s really hard to not put them in your bed when they’re so upset. If they’re happy, and secure with you, why upset them. Children grow up so fast, it’s good your enjoying the time you have with her at the moment.
Steph | http://www.raisingemily.net
Beautiful post Kelly. my co-sleeping 4 1/2 year old drives me insane on the nights she kicks but i love waking up to her beautiful smile on the weekend. It makes it so worthwhile
Thank you Muuka. The kicks and punches are the downfall to co-sleeping especially with the bigger kids but as you say that smile makes it all worthwhile x
my husband isn’t a fan of that…i get him though…cuddle with the little ones in there bed for 20minutes and go back to hubby and cuddle with him…
You’ve got the best of both worlds!
I have this with my 2 year old. One night he must have had a bad dream, made it into our bed and has ever since never slept a full night back in his own bed. it’s been about 4 months now. He’s safe, he’s happy and for now I’m willing to let him stay there until he’s ready to sleep the whole night in his bed. Keep doing what you feel and your little girl feel happy with. #MMWBH
We’re going through exactly the same with our Son, Harry, who’s 4 in August. We’ve always co-slept with him. He always starts off in his bed, but at some point during the night he wanders in. We have a little girl now who does the same so we’re trying to encourage Harry to stay in his room now. I even have an airbed on the floor next to our bed, that Harry now sleeps on if he comes in our room. I’d rather that than him going backwards and forwards all night and all of us being tired the next day! 🙂 x
I think you are just right! Our little ones won’t be little for long, so it’s important we make the most of these beautiful moments! Such a sweet post. Thanks for linking up to the #MMWBH 🙂