My 3rd DS is 4yo. He's a high-energy, high-intensity little boy who has always slept with us. On very rare occasions, he's fallen asleep with is brothers in their shared room. When he was younger, he'd fall asleep on the couch sometimes, so at least DH and I had part of the night on our own (and I figured it was pretty much like him having his own room - it was just kinda big!).
He seems to have a high need for comfort/grounding/settling. He is my only child to take a pacifier beyond maybe 6 months of age. He gave it up sometime after 3 when we discussed how it was beginning to hurt his teeth (thankfully, the dentist says they're fine!). While he took his paci, he'd sometimes take himself to bed, snuggle up with his blankey, and take a nap with absolutely no assistance. (Did I mention that he also nursed until nearly 3, weaning gradually due to my pregnancy with #4?) With the paci, he was a really good sleeper - my best, by far.
When we took the paci away, I was thrilled that he could fall asleep simply by snuggling up with DH. A year later, that's still how he falls asleep for the night. For naps, he either needs to snuggle with a parent (me, during the day, now, as DH moved to a WOH job) or be in the car. At bedtime, DH takes him and they snuggle in our bed. Sometimes, we'll move him to the boys' room, but with a 1yo to juggle, too, it doesn't always seem worth the trouble (i.e., waking DH up, or risking putting the baby down in order for me to move DS).
This afternoon I had a very sweet conversation with DS as we laid in bed and snuggled to sleep... But it left me wondering if he will EVER want to move to his own bed (well, with his brothers). I asked if he knew that most boys don't get to snuggle with their mommies and daddies for bedtime. He was shocked. He said that they must be sad to not get to snuggle. He told me that if he didn't get to snuggle, he, "wouldn't have enough time." Time with us, he meant. I asked him if he thought he'd like to sleep in his brothers' room, and he was clear that he wanted to be with us, to have time with us, and it would be sad if he didn't. :heart So very, very sweet... He really is the sweetest thing I have ever met (intensely sweet AND intensely crazy, all wrapped up into one little boy!).
But now I'm wondering just how long it will be before he'll be ready to really transition! The older boys both moved out of our bed around 2, so he's twice as old, now, as they were. They've always had the freedom to come back (limited more now that they're much older and bigger!), but they would at least start the night in their own beds.
We've tried putting a mattress in their room for the little guy; tried having him start with one or the other of the boys; tried letting him sleep in the living room or playroom. But it seems like he really needs that quieting time in order to sleep. Will he ever NOT need that?
He seems to have a high need for comfort/grounding/settling. He is my only child to take a pacifier beyond maybe 6 months of age. He gave it up sometime after 3 when we discussed how it was beginning to hurt his teeth (thankfully, the dentist says they're fine!). While he took his paci, he'd sometimes take himself to bed, snuggle up with his blankey, and take a nap with absolutely no assistance. (Did I mention that he also nursed until nearly 3, weaning gradually due to my pregnancy with #4?) With the paci, he was a really good sleeper - my best, by far.
When we took the paci away, I was thrilled that he could fall asleep simply by snuggling up with DH. A year later, that's still how he falls asleep for the night. For naps, he either needs to snuggle with a parent (me, during the day, now, as DH moved to a WOH job) or be in the car. At bedtime, DH takes him and they snuggle in our bed. Sometimes, we'll move him to the boys' room, but with a 1yo to juggle, too, it doesn't always seem worth the trouble (i.e., waking DH up, or risking putting the baby down in order for me to move DS).
This afternoon I had a very sweet conversation with DS as we laid in bed and snuggled to sleep... But it left me wondering if he will EVER want to move to his own bed (well, with his brothers). I asked if he knew that most boys don't get to snuggle with their mommies and daddies for bedtime. He was shocked. He said that they must be sad to not get to snuggle. He told me that if he didn't get to snuggle, he, "wouldn't have enough time." Time with us, he meant. I asked him if he thought he'd like to sleep in his brothers' room, and he was clear that he wanted to be with us, to have time with us, and it would be sad if he didn't. :heart So very, very sweet... He really is the sweetest thing I have ever met (intensely sweet AND intensely crazy, all wrapped up into one little boy!).
But now I'm wondering just how long it will be before he'll be ready to really transition! The older boys both moved out of our bed around 2, so he's twice as old, now, as they were. They've always had the freedom to come back (limited more now that they're much older and bigger!), but they would at least start the night in their own beds.
We've tried putting a mattress in their room for the little guy; tried having him start with one or the other of the boys; tried letting him sleep in the living room or playroom. But it seems like he really needs that quieting time in order to sleep. Will he ever NOT need that?
