We have never considered ourselves a co-sleeping family. At times I have been envious of co-sleeping families but we have never really been one. There are a lot of reasons for this. For one thing Hubby and I hang out in our room at night after the kids go to bed. Sure, we could go downstairs and watch tv in there but we like hanging out in our bedroom. For another I shower at night. And, of course, I could go use the kids' bathroom instead of ours (which you can only get to by going through our room) but that seems silly since we paid the money to have one in our room. Also, Hubby gets up pretty early and he has a tendency to hit his alarms about a million times which will wake up anyone sleeping with him and there is no reason for my kids to have to wake up that early - or me for that matter. So, really we are just not a co-sleeping family. Or we weren't I should say.
A few months ago Big Sister was waking only a few times a week to come into our bed. I thought this practice of waking in the middle and joining us in our bed was on it's way out. I thought it was almost done. I thought that within a few months she would sleep through the night every night and only wake occasionally, like Big Brother still does, to join us in bed. But I was wrong. Not that long ago bed time got more difficult for Big Sister, she hated going to sleep. So, among other changes we started bringing her into our bed when we were going to sleep. The thought being that she could comfortably sleep from eight when we put her to bed until eleven when we went to bed if she knew that she did not even have to call for us - we were coming to get her. It has helped (as well as other changes) and she usually goes to sleep fairly quickly and stays asleep until we go to get her.
Some times after this started Big Brother started trying to wake himself up in the middle of the night so he could sleep with us too. I mean he has always been allowed to sleep with us if he wakes up and wants us for any reason but he normally sleeps all night without a problem. Every morning he was very disappointed to wake up in his own bed. Finally, this past week he asked Hubby what time we went to bed. He was planning on trying to stay awake. Well, that is not a good idea - and believe me he can do it - so we decided to try something different. We asked him if he wanted us to get him from his bed when we got Big Sister from hers. He, of course, said yes. And now when Hubby and I are ready for bed we get both kids and bring them to our bed.
The alarm thing was a problem the first few days but then Hubby started getting up the first time. We discussed putting them to sleep in our bed as that would be easier. But we decided against it. They are doing great going to sleep in their own beds so why change the routine when it is working? It is easier on me to shower in my bathroom. And Big Brother reads in bed for a little while after we put him to bed - with the lights on. We did not want to take that away from him.
Little Sister still sleeps very happily in her own room. She loves her crib. She reaches for it. She takes her little tag blanket and snuggles with it and goes right to sleep. And it makes her happy. She would not want to sleep with four other people in a bed. Too much movement, too many legs that might kick her, too many people. Although, I do sort of wonder - when will she join us? It seems like at some point she will want to. Maybe not. Maybe by the time she is old enough to understand what they are doing and that they both want to they will be in their own beds. Or maybe when we move her to a bed she will decide that a crowded bed is just as good as an empty one. Or maybe she will always prefer to sleep alone. Who knows? All I know is that this evolutionary process to co-sleeping has taken quite a few unexpected turns. I wonder what the next evolutionary step is.
Can this be considered tackling sleep? I think so! :) So, I am linking to Tackle It Tuesday. Since this currently works for us I am also linking it to Works For Me Wednesday.
A few months ago Big Sister was waking only a few times a week to come into our bed. I thought this practice of waking in the middle and joining us in our bed was on it's way out. I thought it was almost done. I thought that within a few months she would sleep through the night every night and only wake occasionally, like Big Brother still does, to join us in bed. But I was wrong. Not that long ago bed time got more difficult for Big Sister, she hated going to sleep. So, among other changes we started bringing her into our bed when we were going to sleep. The thought being that she could comfortably sleep from eight when we put her to bed until eleven when we went to bed if she knew that she did not even have to call for us - we were coming to get her. It has helped (as well as other changes) and she usually goes to sleep fairly quickly and stays asleep until we go to get her.
Some times after this started Big Brother started trying to wake himself up in the middle of the night so he could sleep with us too. I mean he has always been allowed to sleep with us if he wakes up and wants us for any reason but he normally sleeps all night without a problem. Every morning he was very disappointed to wake up in his own bed. Finally, this past week he asked Hubby what time we went to bed. He was planning on trying to stay awake. Well, that is not a good idea - and believe me he can do it - so we decided to try something different. We asked him if he wanted us to get him from his bed when we got Big Sister from hers. He, of course, said yes. And now when Hubby and I are ready for bed we get both kids and bring them to our bed.
The alarm thing was a problem the first few days but then Hubby started getting up the first time. We discussed putting them to sleep in our bed as that would be easier. But we decided against it. They are doing great going to sleep in their own beds so why change the routine when it is working? It is easier on me to shower in my bathroom. And Big Brother reads in bed for a little while after we put him to bed - with the lights on. We did not want to take that away from him.
Little Sister still sleeps very happily in her own room. She loves her crib. She reaches for it. She takes her little tag blanket and snuggles with it and goes right to sleep. And it makes her happy. She would not want to sleep with four other people in a bed. Too much movement, too many legs that might kick her, too many people. Although, I do sort of wonder - when will she join us? It seems like at some point she will want to. Maybe not. Maybe by the time she is old enough to understand what they are doing and that they both want to they will be in their own beds. Or maybe when we move her to a bed she will decide that a crowded bed is just as good as an empty one. Or maybe she will always prefer to sleep alone. Who knows? All I know is that this evolutionary process to co-sleeping has taken quite a few unexpected turns. I wonder what the next evolutionary step is.
Can this be considered tackling sleep? I think so! :) So, I am linking to Tackle It Tuesday. Since this currently works for us I am also linking it to Works For Me Wednesday.
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Thanks for your kind words! I love hearing from you.