Ten Ways to Know When Your Grandchild Should Have His Own Bed---
Posted: Wednesday, September 17, 2008
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
How many of you readers out there have grandchildren that spend the night-or entire weekends-with you? And how many of these grandchildren sleep in the grandparent's bed? Could I see a show of hands (that would be nice)? I would just like to verify that I am not in this alone. My children frown and do the ‘clucking' thing when I still allow my four-year old grandson to sleep between his papa and me. I know they have just weaned him from the couch in their living room to his own bed in his own room. Papa and I have a king-size bed and over-crowding is not an issue.
When my first granddaughter was born fifteen years ago, I read an article that said studies had shown that babies sleeping with their parents were less likely to die of SIDS. That's all it took for Papa and me to decide that our grandchildren would not sleep alone (at least in our house) until way past the age of SIDS incidence. It is so comforting to reach over many times during the night and place your hand on the warm back or side of a baby and feel its little heartbeat or rhythmic breathing.
There are hundreds of thousands of books out there that will guide the concerned grandparent-or again, you can do as I do, nodding and smiling sweetly at my children while I silently devise my own plans for dealing with my grandchildren while they are in my care. I will always be a firm advocate of "Grandparents Have Rights Too." As such I have listed below my ten ways to tell when it's time to move the grandchild out of your bed.
- When he kicks you off the bed if he sleeps cross-wise. (Remembering that this is a king-sized bed).
- When he is big enough to get up and get his own drink of water in the middle of the night.
- When he doesn't have to watch a cartoon to help him forget the scary movie he just watched.
- When he no longer carries a stuffed ‘Froggie' every where he goes. (The one that still has teething marks on the hard plastic eyeballs).
- When he doesn't need four different snacks before he can go to sleep.
- When he can fall asleep before you do.
- When he can take his immunization shots without crying.
- When he's not afraid of the ‘scary deer' hiding in the spare bedroom closet.
- When he doesn't cry in the night because he saw snakes in his room.
- When you get up during the night and painfully stump your toe on the metal leg of his toddler bed. (The one that he has now grown big enough to drag into your room).
My grandson just turned four and entered pre-school for the first time. I'm sure one day soon we will be shopping for another toddler bed that will sit at the foot of our bed for the first few months. Then, who knows? He is very proud of saying, "I'm a big boy now."
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Sandra E. Graham, author, AMOS JAKEY and NICOLINA published by American Book Publishing. I also write book reviews for authors through Book Pleasures. Do a Google or MSN search for Sandra E. Graham My Books and Articles Home Page for more info on my writings and book reviews.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)I loved this article Sandra! I can relate to all that you were saying and I too smile as I already know what my grandsons will do when they are with us. As for Dr. Spock?? I am not sure of the validity, but I believe that his son commited suicide unfortunately. I would much rather rely on that mother or grandmother instinct and God.Hugs and blessingsThank you, Michelle. That is a story about Dr. Spock that I haven't heard. But I have always put my faith in Mother Goose, The Cat in the Hat, and Thomas the Train.Sandra
I became a grandfather 1 year ago. It has been a great experience. While my granddaughter has never slept with us, I sure can relate to the constant checking for a heartbeat. Thanks.Thank you for reading and commenting, Bartolomo. I'm glad you enjoyed the article and congratulations on joining the 'grandparents club'--there is nothing like it!Sandra
hi sandra,i'm right behind ya.when my partner's grand daughters were 18 months to 4 years old, and i'd babysit, and we'd watch a disney movie up in my bed, all cuddly and warm, there was so much love. every once in a while they would say, "grandma, i love you", or touch my face, or play with my hair. there's nothing that beats it.great article,from a great grandma,my best to you,sueThanks for reading and commenting, Sue. I don't have any great-grandchildren yet, but I'm looking forward to those too.Good luck and best wishes, always.Sandra
My kids grandma comes over to stay sometimes and she sleeps in the boys room with him, well, on her own bed but he loves having her there in the room with him. Maybe not as good as sleeping with grandma but he loves it just the same.Thank you Ken, for reading and commenting. We love having our grandson sleep over. He just turned four and is still such a sweet baby to us. We just can't seem to get enough time with him.Sandra
Great article. I loved it. Keep up the good work.KimThanks again, Kim. I am so glad you are reading and commenting on my articles.Sandra
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