But how do I get them OUT of my bed?

[Gendenwitha]

mine are 5.5 & just turned 7. We have a queen size bed, and for the couple inches bigger and hundreds of dollars more, a king just doesn't seem worth the expense.

I put their bunkbeds in our room in hopes they'd sleep in them once they were in the same room. Didn't really work unless we put them there after they fell asleep (which now since back injury isn't even an option), and then 5.5 yo would wake up & go back into our bed in middle of night, and 7yo would wake up feeling lonely & left out.

I don't mind sleeping with them except there's just no room any more! I'm developing clausterphobia from being over-cuddled. And in another year or so we want to TTC again, and then there definately won't be room, but I don't want them to see the new baby as the one "kicking them out" so I want to get them out now. Help?

[manitoba_mommy]

Do you think they are old enough to talk to about how you are feeling and have them help brainstorm solutions? Maybe you could try a large mat on the floor right beside your bed where they could both sleep? Maybe sleeping bags with the rule that they can sleep there, right beside you, if they need to? Maybe they can wake you up if they get scared or lonely and you will tuck them back in? How about negotiating an open door policy on each other's bed? I know my middle girl loved being able to crawl in with her sister when she first started sleeping on her own and she will still crawl in if she is not ambitious enough to come to our room.

I would just be honest with them about the crowding issue and see what solutions they can come up with.

HTH
MM

[Lucky Charm]

I agree with discussing this with them. They are certainly old enough, especially the 7 year old, to be reasoned with.

Setting firm limits is what i would do. Sleeping bags is an excellant idea, but they already have bunkbeds in your room....so i dont see why they cant, or wont stay in them.

Being in your room, close by, seems like a good compromise. Talk with them, every night if you have to.

if worse comes to worse, get out of bed and get into one of the bunkbeds....at least you wont be as claustrophobic!

[Ms. Frizzle]

Are you sure there isn't more going on than just the co sleeping? At 5 and 7 they should understand that co sleeping is not working anymore.
Can you carry them to their own beds after they fall asleep?
I wish I knew what else to say. I hope you are able to resolve this.

[Gendenwitha]

Originally posted by Ms. Frizzle
Are you sure there isn't more going on than just the co sleeping?

No, but I don't know what else it is, any ideas?

At 5 and 7 they should understand that co sleeping is not working anymore.

In a way they're very emotionally mature, but I also shelter them from a lot of the stuff I think pushes kids to grow up too fast, so they're not the 7 going on 17 a lot of kids are. I still get called back with a shout if I start to walk away from them at school with a hug and kiss!

Can you carry them to their own beds after they fall asleep?

That's what we were doing until a car accident at the end of November, now dh and I both have injured backs and can't do that. But even that wasn't really working because, youngest would crawl back in bed with us, and oldest would feel left out. They're just both very snuggly creatures. I'm hoping to get the dog potty-trained enough where she can sleep with them.

[TiredX2]

So sorry you are having a hard time.

Two comments:

1) that 18" difference between a queen and a king is HUGE!!!

2) instead of putting the two in seperate beds could you start them their own bed? In their own room? Maybe they could just snuggle together? Would that work?

Good luck,
Kay