Letting 3 yo sleep with the dog??

[MidnightCommando]

We coslept with DD until about 6 months ago and gently transitioned her in her own bed. We have a set night routine and bedtime (flexible within an hour since our daily schedule is semi-erratic) and until the last few weeks she has been sleeping like a dream. Over the course of 2 weeks, she has been getting up in the middle of the night and going to sleep with our dog in his inside kennel or wherever the dog (atlas) happens to be sleeping.

She also has recently developed a fear of 'someone coming to get her in the night' which we cannot figure out where it is stemming from. She is, and always has been, very attached to Atlas and he is the same to her. She now says she does not feel safe without him in her room and so we have obliged her, hoping it would stop the night roaming trying to find him. Now she wants to sleep on her bedroom floor on top of the dog, using him as a pillow.

Should we continue this? We have an open invitation to our bed but she does not want to unless Atlas is on there too - he is a 100 pound very large animal so it doesn't quite work. We have no worries about him - we trust him with our life. When she does use him as a pillow, he does not move until she gets up - even if called.

What would you do?

Thanks

[Fujiko]

I think it's sweet. I don't know if there are any safety issues, but my first reaction was "awwww!"

[larzanna]

I personally would not care. As long as you trust the dog totally.
but see how many pets i have in my sig.

Would she sleep in bed if the dog was in her bed with her...maybe at the foot of it? Or i guess she could "tuck the dog in" under the blankets with her if she would stay in bed. For me i would not want her on the cold floor i guess, so i would try to encourage dog in bed with her in some fashion...even if it meant more changing of bed sheets (due to gross dog feet and hair)

[MidnightCommando]

Last night was better. We put her in her bed and made Atlas lay right next to it so she could touch him with her hand. I went to check on her this morning and they were both in the same place!

I would go for him in her bed but she's got a toddler bed and Atlas would fit in it by himself, let alone the two of them.

We are going to try this for a while and see where it takes us. I cannot believe my daughter's 'security blanket' is our dog!

ETA- is this fear of someone coming to get her age appropriate and what measures (other than the dog) can we help to ease her mind? Thanks!!!

[SunshineJ]

I don't know about other kids, but yeah, that's when some of those type fears starting hitting our kids - and while they don't have as close a relationship with our dog, they feel the same security from his presence. Honestly if it were me and having him lay by her bed doesn't pan out, I'd make a bed "nest" for both of them in her room and call it good. She won't sleep with the dog forever, and there are far worse things!

[noobmom]

Originally Posted by MidnightCommando

Last night was better. We put her in her bed and made Atlas lay right next to it so she could touch him with her hand. I went to check on her this morning and they were both in the same place!

Great solution!

[babycatcher12]

Originally Posted by MidnightCommando

ETA- is this fear of someone coming to get her age appropriate and what measures (other than the dog) can we help to ease her mind? Thanks!!!

Yeah. This is when our kids started having the same fear. I would have no qualms about letting your child sleep with the dog. Although I can't imagine it's that comfy. Our family dog sleeps in the same room with the boys and they often nap on her during the day. I think it's kind of sweet.