We have never co-slept with Baby. It wasn’t at all that we thought it was the wrong thing to do, it was more that in those early days both Mr Hubby and I were so scared of hurting her. So we were happy when she was beside us in the safety of her little wooden crib.
This all changes when we go on holiday. For the first few family holidays that we went on, we stuck to our usual routine, popping a bed guard on her bed before we put her to bed for the night. Then we went to Barcelona and obviously we couldn’t take the bed guard with us. We were worried that she could fall out of bed, so we decided I would sleep with Baby in the double and Mr Hubby would sleep in the other bed. A few trips away later and this has become how we always sleep on holiday. I love laying beside her stroking her head or holding her hand as she drifts off to sleep. Sometimes she strokes my hair or gives me a kiss, telling me she loves me. I totally get why people co-sleep; there is nothing so tender than these moments before sleep and I love sharing them with her.
When we get home it is straight back to our normal routine, but it always makes me miss the evenings that I watch her breathing regulate, becoming steadier as she falls asleep, often she is still holding my hand. These moments are only experienced when we are away and I know it won’t be too long before they are not experienced at all. In a few years she won’t need to hold my hand, she wont want to stroke my hair and look into my eyes with her soul stripped bare. Those thoughts make my heart break a little; mourn even for the things I will lose as she grows. Nothing lasts forever and I am so grateful that I have experienced these wonderful moments with her, however fleeting they end up being.
As things change and I find myself yearning to replay these moments, I must remind myself to look ahead to her future. Excited by all the things I can teach her and by the things I know I will learn from her. To see the girl, then young woman she turns out to be. I hope she stays kind, I hope she stays loving, but above all else I hope she stays happy.
Linking up to Katie with #OrdinaryMoments
Comments 8
Awh this is gorgeous! I love that holiday sleepovers have become a little tradition for you two. Beautiful photos as always
Ahh I know just what you mean Aby. Those little midnight cuddles are really something to treasure aren’t they. We don’t co-sleep either but like you say, on holiday sometimes there is no choice. She is such a cutie 🙂 x
We did co-sleep with Alex with the help of a Sleepyhead until he was 8 months old and I do miss having him for cuddles when the hubby is away with work. Alex will occasionally come into bed with me when he’s ill but it her than that he is in his own bed. So nice that you can have those special times on holuday x
Such a lovely post – we have never co-slept but that is because we have 2 children that starfish at night!
Aw this is such a lovely post Aby and what a lovely little holiday tradition. I like you never slept with Mads, but I did a little with LL and I do every night with our new baby boy- but only from about 5am onwards. I know that I will miss the snuggles so much! xx
Such a lovely tradition to keep up. In with my eldest being 17 I know to well how quickly these moments pass and really must be savoured X
Aww it’s lovely that this has sort of become your holiday ‘tradition’. I did co-sleep with both my little ones when they were babies. It made it harder when they moved into their own beds, but I cherished every moment. It was worth it. They do occasionally wake up and come and get in my bed, and I don’t mind in the least. Sarah xxx
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I love this post, so beautifully written. I just don’t think you can beat bed time sunggles xxxx