I have recently decided that I really like sleeping in my own bed. I also enjoy sleeping in my own bed by myself. Most of all, I enjoy sleeping in my own bed with my husband.
After Baby Girl was born, my husband and I decided that it was time to get a new bed (an upgrade from the college queen that was at least 10 years old). We weighed the pros and cons of getting spring or foam and varying levels of firmness. The biggest decision, however, was the purchase of a King Size bed. Those of you who have experience will know, we were planning ahead. Baby Girl is still too small to climb out of her crib/bed (thank goodness). When she does decide to make that leap, we are prepared. There is plenty of room in our King Size foam mattress for a third body, especially if it’s miniature sized.
A couple weeks ago, my husband and I ventured to the city and spent a couple nights in a hotel. Apparently, hotels are not very baby-friendly. I find the main reason for this is that the playpen is in the SAME ROOM as the bed I am sleeping in. We rearranged the furniture in the room (I don’t suggest doing this unless you are okay with what you find hiding under heavy furniture) to provide a semi-barrier between the playpen and our own sleeping bodies. All of this effort for something that just doesn’t work the same as a separate room.
Baby Girl still wakes up at night. She usually only gets up once a night really needing something. However, Baby Girl is tosser and a moaner. She will have multiple groans or “sleep-cries” where she is just working through some gas or a temporary wake up. When she is in her room at home, this is no big deal. In fact, I think my mommy-senses barely tingle when she has one of those moments. In a hotel room, it’s different. You hear EVERYTHING! Every time she turns, you hear it. Every little peep, you hear it. So what was supposed to be a relaxing trip has turned into no-sleep-zombie-parenting. Ugh!
So my point…
I don’t know what I’m going to do when Baby Girl decides that she sometimes wants to sleep with mommy and daddy.
I really really like sleeping my own bed. My OWN bed. I think that I have decided to strongly encourage Baby Girl that sleeping in HER own bed is best for her. But, as parents know, you do what you feel is right. When she wakes up from a bad dream and can’t sleep, will I comfort and cuddle her so that I can get some rest too? Probably. Will I allow her crawl into bed with us in the morning for an extra half hour of sleep? Most likely. After all, I do love watching Baby Girl sleep. Where I will watch her sleep is going to be the question.
Our Life Well Lived - Leanne Hintz 