Do you have kids and/or animals in your bed regularly?

[Anonymous]

6 yr old goes to sleep in her own bed, but creeps into ours sometime past midnight most nights. I’m fine with it. I feel like I get the best of both worlds: time and privacy for evening intimacy with husband and cuddles from my sweet child.

[Anonymous]

Kids always welcome, other animals never.

[Anonymous]

NOPE

When we started dating, my husband and I each had a dog. His slept in his bed and constantly woke him up by moving, licking him, etc. I said I have a rule that dogs don't sleep in the bed. I LOVE my dogs and they are so spoiled but sleep is important and there is no point letting it be ruined by a dog. We worked to move his dog out of the bedroom and since then, no dogs.

Kids slept in our room in bassinets until 4 weeks, then went to the nursery. I could count on my fingers the number of times in the last decade we've had a kid in bed (and then one of us goes to the guest room). It's generally been for when one is really sick or upset or something, so that doesn't happen often. We all sleep quite well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no judgement of other families and their sleep arrangements. Do what works for you. Co-sleeping, not co-sleeping, however you help kids fall asleep (or not if you just let them do it themselves). Whatever works. Sleep is really important.

But I don't get complaining about a sleep arrangement that isn't working for you, for years. A few months, sure, I've been there. DD has mostly slept in her own room since 10 months but over the last 6 years we've certainly gone through phases where she was coming into our bed at night, or calling out for us to come to her, or unable to fall asleep on her own, etc. We've had weeks or sometimes even a month or two where the sleep arrangement is not ideal. Basically anytime she's coming into our bed to sleep, we'll be exhausted because our bed is really not big enough for three people and she's a super active sleeper -- we will do it temporarily to address fears or insecurity for her, but it is not a long term sleep solution for us. But I don't get why someone would cosleep or whatever for years without addressing it and fixing the situation.

I also don't get complaining about pets in the bed. My cat sleeps by my feet and has for 13 years. I love it and it's one of the reasons I got him. I had a cat growing up who did the same and it has always helped me to sleep to have an animal in bed with me. My DH runs super hot at night and has never been a cuddle, but the cat loves to cuddle. I would never complain about this, it's a behavior I intentionally cultivated when he was a kitten and now it's part of our routine.

So do what you want and what works for you, but why are you complaining? Take care of your sleep needs and don't be a martyr about it. If your kids and pets are disrupting your sleep, find a way to fix it.

+1

I lack sympathy for that, for sure, whether dogs or kids

[Anonymous]

Beds are a place for comfort and love. Animals and kids all welcome.

[Anonymous]

It is normal and also not talked about because people judge.

[Anonymous]

We don't have any pets and both our kids sleep for the most part in their own beds. Sometimes DS, who is an early riser, crawls into bed with us in the morning to snuggle up.

[Anonymous]

My husband won’t let me turn a small light in to read and won’t let the dog in the bed, so I sleep in the guest bed where I can stay up reading and sleep next to my dog.

[Anonymous]

Kids— yes, anytime.
Pets— no.

[Anonymous]

For all those people who allow their pets on their bed but not their kids…don’t be shocked when your kids need intense therapy where they will wonder why an animal was allowed on mom’s bed but not me 😄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For all those people who allow their pets on their bed but not their kids…don’t be shocked when your kids need intense therapy where they will wonder why an animal was allowed on mom’s bed but not me 😄

No kidding!!!!

[Anonymous]

Dogs (when we had them) yes.
Kids no.

I don't care if people judge me. Dogs don't require sleep training to reverse bad habits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cat sleeps on my head for part of the night then awake knocking shit over doing cat things Kid only in the bed when sick - age 6.

I am allergic to cats but I love when people tell me they sleep on their heads. I would love that.

One of mine does! On my pillow every night, usually with her paws in my hair. Sometime a nose in my ear. Lots of purrs. It’s amazing.

And actually, easier than the one who sleeps by my feet. That can make it harder to roll around (though I’ve had cats since I was a kid and have gotten pretty good at rolling and not disturbing a cat!)

[Anonymous]

The dog isn’t allowed/can’t get up but the kid comes in in the morning usually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For all those people who allow their pets on their bed but not their kids…don’t be shocked when your kids need intense therapy where they will wonder why an animal was allowed on mom’s bed but not me 😄

My parents had a “no kids in our bed” rule (though I napped in there during the day sometimes) and always had cats on their bed and I turned out just fine. Same rules for my kids.