6 year old back in bed with us

[Bridget]

Savana's been in her own bed for years now. She always has her times where she come in the middle of the night and we also went through a spell after Sawyer was born where it was me, Sawyer, and her on a futon mattress. Now she's been with us the past 4 nights. One of her classmates was hit by a car and killed which has been weighing heavily on her little heart and that was followed by a nasty tummy bug. Tonight I asked her if she was ready to go back to her bed and she immediately started crying and said that she just feels so safe and warm in our bed and she never has any scary thoughts and wakes up feeling so happy. I have to say she seems very well rested in the mornings.

I don't know why I'm even posting this, really. Just trying to share with some folks who might understand. Won't likely share irl anywhere as I'm sure generally a six year old should not be sleeping in mom and dad's bed but I really can't argue with the simple logic of feeling warm and safe. And she's going through a rough time right now. I feel thankful that dbf, for all his faults, is cool with it too.

Oh, and Sawyer is just tickled pink to wake up and see Savana on the other side of me.

[elle77]

to you and your little one. Sounds like she is having a tough time. Its great you can be there for her in this way. Maybe wait a bit and see what happens?

[raspberry]

Your last line put a big ole smile on my face. I think with everything that Savana has gone through it's normal to want to be close to mommy and daddy. When I was little, I was scared of the dark, and it was so comforting to crawl into my mom and dad's bed, and have my mom cuddle me. I remember when I was about nine, we took a tour of Alcatraz, at the time I was excited and I loved it. Well, when we got home, I had terrible nightmares of being locked in a prison. I still remember waking up totally freaked out, and how safe I felt when my mom let me sleep in their bed for weeks afterward.

Also, makes me think of Mayim Bialik, her and her husband still bed share with their six and three year olds

[i.<3.cheesysmiles]

poor girl You are right that you can not argue with the logic of feeling safe and warm.

[xtrememousey]

her world has gone wonky......there is not a darn thing wrong with her wanting to be where she feels safest momma!

[Inca]

You're def doing the right thing. I'd revisit her going backt o her bed when things calm down a little bit with her tummy and her emotional state.

[AbbeysMom]

You're def doing the right thing. I'd revisit her going backt o her bed when things calm down a little bit with her tummy and her emotional state.

Agree! Whenever you decide to transition back, it might be easier for her if one of you could sleep in her bed for a little while with her, or at least lay with her until she goes to sleep.

[NHKate]

So nice for her that she has parents who let her sleep in their bed.

[misfit]

Nothing wrong with it! I remember sleeping in my parents bed when I was 7. My dad might still have the picture of my mom on one side of the bed, my younger sister on thee other, me sprawled across the bottom with our cat snoozing in the middle.

[tanyachap]

I completely understand. Kevin has no plans to sleep on his own any time in the near future. Lol. I'm sure he will move out at some point. My mom said I was very independent but co slept till I was almost 14. LOL. But based on what I read about her, I bet she will decide to move out much sooner than that. Kevin on the other hand is a different story

[Jai]

Poor girl.. she's had a rough time.

And if it makes you feel any better.. Peyton (whos now 6) hasn't went through the tragedy that S has, nor has she been sick and she's still in my bed pretty much every night. She says she sleeps better when I can hold her.

[BabyHopes]

She won't want to sleep in your bed forever . . . that is almost a certainty. How can you argue with her sweet words? Good for you!

[Sugar&Spice]

Bridget, you are such a wonderful, inspirational mom. Your love and compassion toward your children is evident in the stories you tell about them. I'm a big believer that giving your child what she needs emotionally is just as important as giving her what she needs physically, so age aside, loving your daughter in these small ways will make her a stronger, more secure, more loving person in the future. Way to go!

Just to add, when I was 13, I had a horrible flu that lasted for weeks, and I slept in my dad's bed the entire time. Most people would probably think that's absurd at that age, but I guess my dad realized that your kids need you no matter the age, and it was never treated like a big deal. Compassion makes for happier, healthier children!

[cheeksy]

I think she is just undergoing a stage. She is leaving the childhood soon and won't want to sleep or even cuddle anymore at some point. As my DH said - even if our daughter is 18 and she wants to come and sit on daddy's lap, I will always let her and hug her as if she is the little girl she was. They need affection, at any age.
Hope her rough patch goes away soon for her own good