Is anyone else’s kid coming in their bed more during all this?

[Anonymous]

I have an almost 4 year old who was in his bed every night. The first week in March we went on a trip where he has to sleep with us. Then when we got back we had about a week and then social distancing. He’s been saying he scared to be alone and asking to come in our bed. We haven’t told him anything about what’s going on in the world bc he’s so young, and he generally doesn’t seem bothered by being at home. But I imagine he may be picking up on our stress. He’s been extra clingy. Anyone else’s kids doing this? Are you letting them sleep with you? Spouse and I are a bit divided on this.

[Anonymous]

Yes. There have been long threads on both my town parents facebook group and my kids' preschool facebook group. Lots of kids are feeling the stress and want that comfort. You aren't alone.

[Anonymous]

Yes. We have rarely let our kids sleep with us, but these are. Very scary times for all of us.

[Anonymous]

Yes. My 6-year-old has been especially feeling it. Our usual bedtime routine involves stories in bed and then a quick snuggle (DH and I trade off nights/kids). She's been begging for both of us, or for us to stay until she falls asleep. And then waking up and coming to our bed. Our 8-year-old has been coming to our bed too. Tonight we tried putting them in bed together, so I'm hopeful it will do the trick. Of course, now I'm waking up and can't get back to sleep.

[Anonymous]

On weekends the kids always come in our bed in the morning. Now, probably because they don't have to rush around getting out to school, they do it every day. It's very cosy.

[Anonymous]

My 4yo too. But he won’t sleep in our bed. So we switch off sleeping on an air mattress in his room.
He’s been a great sleeper (once we did sleep training), so I don’t mind it much. Although, I’m not quite sure how or when this will end.

[Anonymous]

Yes, my 5yodd has been coming to my bed. We're fine with it. She feels the stress too.

You can always establish boundaries once you are back to the usual routine, when you have to leave daily for work/school. I'm not worried about it right now.

[Anonymous]

Yep. My kids are regressing is all sorts of ways. My 3 year old wants to be a baby again and has started waking up crying like a baby several times in the night. It's hard. We are all sleeping together and sometimes doing sleepover parties in the living room.

[Anonymous]

The same is true for older kid. My 16 yo has been super cuddly and one night last week asked if she could sleep in my bed. Her dad was fine with giving up his space that night and sleeping in the guest room. These are hard times and kids and adults both need extra reassurance.

[Anonymous]

Yep. My 4 yr old needs her snuggles.

[Anonymous]

Yes, and it’s fine.

[Anonymous]

Haven't experienced any increased need for affection from 6 and 9 year old. Then again they have never slept in my bed so I guess there was never a trend to increase on that.

[Anonymous]

Yes, our child is too. We are fine it.

[Anonymous]

Yes. In fact my three girls to 12 are all sleeping together in their rooms. Even with that I often wake up with one of them in bed.

[Anonymous]

Yep. My 15-year-old. It's a disruptive time for all of us. She was really enjoying freshman year and suddenly it's basically over. It's frankly nice to have someone to snuggle in all of this (separated from STBXH and not seeing BF because of virus).