Sleeping together
20 June 11
David and I have never been fans of co-sleeping. It just hasn’t been our family style. However, while travelling in such small quarters, we’ve adjusted to each other’s space and noise. Here’s what our family looks like while sleeping together in the horse truck.
When we put them to bed, the three girls lay together in a nicely parallel fashion. But after a couple of hours, they find a new way to fit together on the queen-sized mattress.
Delaney loves the tightness of her blanket-box-bed and sleeps happily in it at night and for day-naps. We put her in a sleeping bag for extra warmth on cool evenings.
Up in the top bed, David is already wrapped up and asleep. There's plenty of room for me to climb in and lay next to him — although personal effects are tumbling out of the shelves and onto the bed. (I just push them out of the way and pack them properly back into their spots before we drive off.)
After previously believing that we needed a bedroom for each child (plus a separate one for us!), I find my core beliefs about what is necessary for a happy family life have changed so much over the past year! We’re very thankful for all the changes that have happened to us and the freedom that we’re now living in — including sleeping together in tight quarters!
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1 · Jessica · 21 June 2011, 01:07
Awesome.
2 · Heather · 21 June 2011, 03:25
That is awesome. My kids often all sleep together in the living room and the very concept of co-sleeping just never would have worked for us as hubby needs at least 8 hours and we have several who beat people up in their sleep (I know as I have camped with the kids, and wake up battled and bruised anytime I sleep anywhere near the younger two, and fall off the bed if I sleep near the oldest.)
3 · Kim h · 21 June 2011, 05:55
I love co-sleeping! We’ve always done it and loved it. It looks so lovely and cosy in your horse truck. I do get anxiety attacks though looking at the spot you and David sleep in. I have a phobia about tight spaces! xx
4 · Janet · 21 June 2011, 12:02
I don’t want anyone in my bed – but I am glad my boys like to sleep with each other! Our 2 year old has recently taken to falling asleep one place and moving to another – usually the couch or next to a brother!
And your baby in that blanket box – how cute is that?!?!
5 · Lisa Wood · 21 June 2011, 17:10
We have always co-sleeped with our babies. I would lay them on myside and hubby would be on my other side. That way I knew that Dave would sleep through, and I am such a light sleeper that I could easily wake and BF baby before he woke too much, and before there was too much crying!
As soon as they stop BF all of our babies move into their own bed.
Now that we are in our Motorhome everyone is happy that they can sleep in their own bed, and in the morning they jump into our bed to get warm and for cuddles. Love the way your girls all sleep and share their bed :)
cheers
Lisa
6 · Sarah · 22 June 2011, 15:55
I love your website, but I have to say … the photo of your baby sleeping in that small box was kind of unsettling. It really looks like a coffin. She can’t stretch out as children often will during their sleep. I would be very concerned about how this might affect her development. Things may have the appearances of being fine, but a child’s psychological development is reactive to subtle nuances, and sleeping in a space like that can negatively affect her.
7 · Lauren · 23 June 2011, 14:51
Hi Sarah,
We think Delaney is very happy in her box as she chooses to sleep in it at naptimes when she could otherwise climb onto the big bed. She can stretch out lengthwise — just not with her arms. However, I think you may find that she has as much room as she would have if co-sleeping in our bed between two adults.
Thanks for your concern, Sarah. I appreciate your kind words.
Love,
Lauren.