Co-sleeping 6 Year Old- LOVE IT!!!!

My three year old co-sleeps with me and we love it too. She and I both sleep so much better with her next to me. I got some flak for it too and I gave into it for a while and tried to make her sleep in her bed. DIASTER! She woke up several times each night, crying and screaming, she would eventually just come and get in my bed and if I returned her to her bed it would end up in a fight. Neither of us got enough sleep which then affected her mood all day and she would be cranky (I was pretty cranky too :)). I decided screw what people said- her happiness and being able to sleep was more important. Now if anyone says anything I just smile sweetly and say something like "Well, this is what works for us" and go on about my business. I figure eventually she'll want her own space and will sleep in her own bed when she's ready. I doubt she'll be going to high school and still sleeping in my bed! Who cares what other people think- they aren't in our bed with us at night.

It's funny that you bring this up because we are currently visiting my parents in Florida and my mom makes comments to me about cosleeping with our 5 1/2 and 3 1/2 yr old boys. She said I should be sleeping with my husband and I pointed out that she does not sleep with hers because he snores too loudly. Too funny. She truly does not understand why we do it even though I've tried to explain. My older son has a seizure disorder so we sleep with him in case anything would happen at night (and it has). The younger one does not know any other way to sleep and he is a very happy child because of it (IMHO). My husband and I have switched off who sleeps with them but it is usually me since he gets up very early. My husband was uncomfortable speaking about this with his friends (if it came up) but now he's ok since it turns out a lot of them co-slept as well as needed. Unfortunately, people who have never done it sometimes have no clue why anyone would do it and have some very strange feelings about it. It seems to freak people out more the older the child is. We'll do it until our children no longer want to and then will probably keep the boys together so my older son is not alone. Congrats on not letting other people change your ways when you know what's best for your own child/family.

If your 6-year old has no negative issues related to co-sleeping then I would not worry about what other people have to say. In other cultures it might be weird if you DIDN'T co-sleep.

Realize that it's all in the way you bring it up. I homeschool and I get a lot of flak for it. I've found if I bring it up like I think homeschooling is BETTER than public school then I'm offending everyone who sends their kids to public school. Usually I don't bring it up at all, it's no one's business but my own. I will defend it if need be, but usually I just say "it works for my family, I'm sure what you do works for you."

Let me preface my comment by saying I do advocate cosleeping and my 3 year old and 1 yr old co sleep with us. However, I do not tell people nor do I flaunt that I co sleep. Each to his own. I agree with the other poster that when one tells others in a manner which may come across preachy, others defend their positions. I would just do what works for you guys and not feel absolute about anything. It is not better for some people and for others it is. I have my personal opinion but that doesn't mean I am a better or worse mother as is the case with your cosleeping issue. Based on some other postings you have made (number of kids being an issue) it sounds like you may be trying to prove yourself to others -- do not worry about what others think. You need to be the best for your potential and not worry about what other mothers do. your kids will learn from your self-confidence and grow into accepting open and nurturing human beings.

You know this is one area where people are going to put their two cents in, so I wouldn't even bring it up. If you do bring it up, you are inviting the comments so be prepared. If someone brings it up to you and you don't want to talk about it, put the ball back in their court and simply and nicely ask "why would you be interested in that? that's a personal thing within my family."

Do you make it known that you cosleep? Once you open yourself up by making it known, you unfortunately open yourself up to comments