I really feel that though it's lovely to rock your child to sleep and even lovelier to sleep with them it's really not good for the child. We're talking about setting up good sleeping habits for them for life, not just for a year or two.
What I would suggest, and it's something I did with both my boys is when they are babies let them sleep on your chest during the day. That way you have lots of extra cuddle time. They will get too big to sleep that way so enjoy it while you can. Nights however there should be few exceptions, baby in cot. This way you can differentiate between night and day with the days sleeps being a treat for both of you. Perhaps rocking your child to sleep every night for years is ok for you now but what about if you have more children, are you going to do it for all of them and when are you going to rest yourself? And what is it doing to your child? Is he/she going to become an adult that needs the tv on to sleep or sleeping tablets or someone holding their hand forever because they can't fall asleep on their own?
My two year old is a great sleeper. We've just started to have him share a room with his 1 year old brother. During the day I will let him sleep in my bed so he doesn't wake his brother who will be grumpy without enough sleep. If i'm home i will often hop in with him (i'm pregnant and exhausted!) but at night my bed is a no go zone. He tried to hop in once but was told that day time naps in mummy's bed are special treats.
So you can have special extra cuddles even when they are older but you have to do it in a way that they don't come to depend on it.  |