Co-sleeping has been a really normal and actually very lovely part of our parenting journey, it just always made sense to us. The whole 'family bed' thing just happened naturally.

I think it generally does when you are breastfeeding. Logistically and emotionally it makes sense.

We always got the most sleep when we embraced all things co-sleeping. We went through different phases where our son would start the night in his own bed and end up in ours by midnight. We even had a three night spell where he didn’t visit us at all.

The novelty of the Paw Patrol sheets was always going to wear off though. We always ended up co-sleeping and genuinely we were fine about it. I’d go as far as saying that we were happy about it for the most part.
 
Co-sleeping with a three and a half year old has been a little bit trickier. Ironically we now find ourselves having to co-sleep.

Previous homes had afforded us the luxury of more than one bedroom. These days we find ourselves in a one bedroom apartment saving for what will hopefully be our forever home and we have to co-sleep. There is one bed and one bed only.
 
For the most part things are actually great. It’s not a daily stress or worry, however, you can’t help but be aware of the fact that as the kid gets bigger the bed gets smaller.

What was once a little dot in the bed is now a fully formed three and a half year old who enjoys putting his foot in your eye.
 
And he requires the toilet, this kid.

Gone are the days of nappies and sorting things out in the morning (within reason obviously). He’ll now wake up, tap you on the shoulder and inform you that he needs to go to the toilet.

It’s a family affair and he wants everyone involved. He’ll make his decision about which parent  he has chosen for the trip and the other one must lie in the bed and keep things under control there.

He reassures the other parent that he will be back in a minute and then proceeds to shout at them from afar. A run by run account of what is happening in the bathroom then ensues.

When he does return everyone is wide awake and at the very moment that sleep begins to resume he will request a drink of some description.

It comes with it’s complexities this co-sleeping stuff. If circumstances were different we would most likely be encouraging a big boy bed and some independence in that department.

But for now we find ourselves snuggled up to the world’s loveliest hot water bottle and I can’t help but feel like we will never ever get these days back.

Written by Tracey Quinn, Staff Writer, with Family Friendly HQ.