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As an attached parent I love my occasional cuddle buddy in my bed. There are nights where we've both had a long day and we settle down early with a Disney movie in Daddy's room and pass out together.
I sleep better, she sleeps better, we wake up rested and happy. Well she wakes up rested and happy, I wake up to an earthquake of toddler bounces on my bed.

Here's how it all started. A new baby, the decision to breast feed and myself falling asleep in the armchair with a baby in my arms, quietly nursing all night. The realization that I did not have to get up to mix formula, or actually even wake up to take care of feeding at night. The way we both slept better knowing the other was close and the attachment this formed.

My daughter learned to nurse on demand, my stress level was non existent and everyone around me said one thing or another but the common theme was "you'll never get her out of your bed". My response? "Fine by me."

Eventually she'd start looking for her own space on the bed, pushing me out! I grabbed the mattress off her bed, threw it on my floor, and she jumped right in. It had her favorite characters on the sheets, a couple colorful pillows and no limits to how many of her dollies she could bring onto it.

When we moved into our new home I took my time setting up her bed. We got a new canopy bed that had been sitting in the corner in pieces. One day I got her to help me put it together, we put all her toys on it and set up all her favorite things in her own private room.

That night not only did she go to bed in her private room, in her special bed, but she went down early, just went up there and passed out on her own. No requests, no pushing, no argument. She was just ready to sleep there! I kind of miss her sometimes but she still comes in to bounce on me in the morning.

Kids will go when they are ready, just take small steps, wait for the signs. When it looks like they are ready to move out, give them a special bed, special sheets, then it's like they're all grown up!

Learn more about this author, Rycharde Angel.
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