Family Bed - Miami, FL

Dear V.,
I think you are doing just fine! When she is ready for her own bed, she will go there on her own. Until then, you's should enjoy the company and special times you can share togther! Being a single mom is a very hard job; and having your child next to you, every second you can, is a joy & blessing! I raised my son and he went to his own bed when he was ready. He is now a US Marine and he will stay lay down next to me and just enjoy the nearness of each other, our special moments, that we treasure, till he is too sleepy-then he will go sleep on the sofa. We have a very great bond and there is no time frame for such love! As a single mom, my son and I are very well adjusted people. He grew up to be superb person. So will your daughter and you. May God guide and bless you both!

I totally agree with the other mom, Relax and enjoy your daughter and every moment of cuddles you have, they grow up too quickly.

My personal opinion on the subject is that you should just relax and enjoy your daughter. She will only be little for so long and the memories will last a lifetime - for both you and her. Don't stress about what "other" people are doing. Do what's right for you and your daughter - period.

I'll join the chorus!

Enjoy your time together!!

If you feel you need/want more support, there are local AP (Attachment Parenting) groups :-)

i have a 4yr myself..she sleeps in a toddler bed in my room still! even though i bought her a brand new bedroom set just for her. she loves her toddler bed...Now she naps on her room, hopefully she will sleep on her own room...I guess is little by little...Just try a toddler bed in your room for now they use the same mattress for a crib..Good Luck!

The site ate my first draft, so let me try this again. I slept with my mom until past my third birthday. It never negatively affected me, as we're very close, I have an IQ of 166, was moderately independant as a child and hit my milestones early. My mom was also a single mother who worked long hours, so it was our special time.
My almost 9 month old sleeps with us and I love the closeness of having her with me. Daddy works nights, so it's nice to not have an empty bed when I go to sleep, and he gets to spend some time with her, even if she's asleep when he gets home. We sorta fell into it also, I had a c-section and lived alone in the beginning (lease restrictions, not our choice) so getting up for her several times a night just wasn't an option.
Just do whatever is comfortable and "right" for you and your daughter. Don't worry, one day she'll want her independance and you'll miss these times. Cherish having her close to you, we all know how fast this time goes by.

I just wanted to encourage you!

I love the 'family bed' model! I hope you continue to do it as long as you and your daughter are happy and comfortable. She'll probably just go into her own bed ON her own WHEN she wants to. It is nice that its there and available. Don't fret and enjoy this time. Because the time will come when she won't want to cuddle. Good luck with everything else!

V.,
The only advice I can give you is to do what feels right to you. Everyone has a differnet opinion on family beds and as long as you and your daughter are ok with it. Dr. Sears supports cosleeping so you can read his book.
good luck
A.

I think the decision is yours. I don't think you are doing her any harm at all. The only time it becomes a problem is if you no longer want her to sleep with you and she still does. I personally don't want my son to start sleeping in our bed, but that's my choice. There are a lot of opinions on this subject, but I think in the end you are the mom and it's up to you. Best of luck...

Hi,

You sound like a wonderful mother! I don't think there are any problems associated with co-sleeping.I have done a lot of reading, you should look up Dr. Sears. His books are very well known, he is a pediatrician. I have a four month old that sleeps on his own in his room because my husband does not believe in co-sleeping. If it were up to me, he would sleep with us. I think that co-sleeping has MANY advantanges for the child. You should definitely look up Dr. Sears if you want a peace of mind. Good Luck!

I was a single mother for about 4 years (from the time she was born until she was just over four). We did the "family bed" too. I loved her sleeping with me for the exact reasons that you did. When she had her second birthday she got a "Big Girl" bed and she liked sleeping there and pretty much the same thing as your case she would go to sleep there most nights then get in my bed in the night. I didn't mind this, then when her father and I started to get back together I started to enforce that she stay in bed because we decided to get married and by this time she was almost 4 and so I would just explain to her that she is a big girl and that big girls sleep in thier own beds all night long. It has worked out(she still sneaks into our bed sometimes) but we love it!
As far as the pacifier and bottle thing well we sort of had a hard time with the pacy. She had to have three at all times and when she was almost 2 i stopped buying them and as they disappeared or got yucky she was just without. Then when it came down to the last one it actually got chewed up by our puppy and I told her that was the last one and the doggy ate it! She was just a little upset but she threw it in the trash and that was the end of it. Bottles were very easy for her to stop she never really cared for them she liked the sippy cups much better.
I hope that I have helped!