When you become a parent, you realise how precious sleep is. For the years that follow, you treasure your solid six to eight hours, (if you’re lucky enough to get them, of course). But have you ever found yourself with a plus one in your bed, after years of them sleeping in their own bedroom?

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Suddenly, you’re thrown back into co-sleeping again. However, this time it’s a little different, they’re much bigger and chatting away. Here’s what I did when my five-year-old insisted on sleeping with me.

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The Ups and Downs of Co-Sleeping with a Five-Year-Old

Image: My Little Babog Blog

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 attitude is getting bigger, even her personality but she’s not growing. She’s as petite as ever, she’s my little sugar plum fairy.

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 was I thinking? I spent the next two-hours, cradling, cuddling and telling magical bedtime 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 mummmy’. 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.

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She Won’t Be Little For Much Longer

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 sleepovers, for me to close her bedroom door and to turn off the nightlights soon.

For now, she can stay where she is until she’s ready to make the transition back to her own bed. If it makes her feel safe and secure, cuddled up like a teddy bear next to me, what’s the harm?

She won’t be my baby for long and they grow up too quickly.

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