3 year old DD wanting to cosleep NOW?

[MommatoAandA]

My 3 year old has been coming in the room at night to sleep in our bed. she never coslept, she always liked her own sleep space, even as a baby. She keeps talking about mosquitos in her room (she loves bugs, collects them its funny). But there are no bugs in her room. She is also a fidgeter and is awake then for about an hour and a half (this is at around 2-3 in the AM usually. I recently went back to work and we moved. She also jsut potty trained and is doing extremely well.

The problem? I am soooo tired and really need my sleep. My DP is very happy to bedshare but I often leave the room and go sleep in DD's bed alone and I feel guilty because we don't get much couple time (not sex, just bonding), because I work 3-11.

Any suggestions or maybe just commiseration or stories? I do try to put her back in her bed but she usually ends up screaming and pleading to be in our bed which is just not cool. I'm not going to let her be that upset, whining a little, ok, screaming, NO.

[mommytomahmoud]

it sounds like she is still getting use to the new place, being potty trained, and u working, alot of changes will make a kid want to sleep in momma's room, even if they never did

my advice would be to just sit in her room with her and tell her it is ok u will wait with her until she goes to sleep

[MommatoAandA]

I have been trying that. She is usually up though for an hour or two. I feel bad for her. She had been sleeping so well for so long. I guess its just a stage and we have to get through it!

[meemee]

mama you have a lot on your plate. just put your priorities in order.

it totally makes sense that your dd wants to cosleep now. is she an overtly imaginative child? this is the age of illogical fears and i am wondering if that is why she wants to cosleep.

the thing that i have found is the harder you fight it, the longer they take to get out of that stage. obviously she needs something otherwise she wouldnt be there. so hang there for a while till she gets out of the stage.

right now your no. 1 priority is sleep. even if u miss ur dh's company. get some sleep and then try other things. see how ingenious you guys can get. how about some playdates?

[chiefmir]

My DD (now almost 5) always slept in her own space, but started having major issues right around the same age as your DD. In our case, she had just had her night-time pacifier taken away (her 3rd birthday) and I was pregnant. She didn't sleep in her own room for 8 months-- and this was AWFUL for me because I am a terrible sleeper (and have been ever since she was born!). what we ended up doing was setting up a little tent (it was designed as a tent to go over a single mattress) in a corner of our room- and put an extra crib mattress in there. She went to bed there, happily, alone every night for 8 months. one time per night she'd usually come over to the side of our bed (we taught her to go to DH's side since he is able to easily fall back asleep and I am not) for a hug- and that was it. at 3 years 8 months (2 months after her sister was born) she began showing interest in a "big girl bed" (she had been in a toddler bed prior to 3 years) and then easily transitioned back to her room full time when we got her new bed.

[MommatoAandA]

hmmm She has a Dora Couch that I could have her lay on on my side on rough nights! That could work! She did well last night, I just let her lay with me for 30 minutes and snuggled and loved on her a bunch and she happily went off to bed at 9:30 and she was OUT! It was great. So maybe I will pull out her Dora couch and stick it in the corner. My mom has a play tent I can get it from her to cover DD. She might love it. Maybe I can give her her flashlight too.

Oh and YES she is extremely imaginative.