Excellent job on the Family Bed article. I can attest that neither one of my sons has suffered from the Family Bed concept. My oldest is now at a Military Academy going to college on a full ROTC scholarship. My youngest is in the other room practicing his piano. Both are healthy and functioning.

Aw, thanks, Paula!

I wish I could find my original 1998 article, though! It had a lot more "meat" to it..LOL!

My motto has always been: "He won't go to college still nursing, in pull-ups or in my bed!" And, sure enough, at the ripe old age of four, he is weaned, trained, and sleeping in his own bed at night. *AND* because I am a strong proponent of these activities being child-led, I'm pleased to say that he initiated all of them!

Thanks so much for stopping by! So many at the site ask about "seasoned" AP-ers, like what to do to continue AP-ing after 3 years of age. We'd love to hear what worked for you now that you have a successful adult raised!

I like to think that I am doing a good job with my kids. Both of my kids sleep in their own beds, in their own rooms. We do not tolerate temper tantrums, so they generally go to bed without a fuss. (fussing means they loose their movie time the next day) I really don't understand the need to have your children not grow up... like that woman who is still nursing her child (I think he's around 8 years old)
It is our job, as parents, to do our best to raise a heathly, well adjusted, adult. That means avoiding things that will cause emotional scarring! (I did like your article by the way <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> )

Hmmmm, I don't know that I could completely agree that having your child sleep in your bed is "not allowing them to grow up". My son didn't start sleeping in his own bed until he was 3.5. And he seems pretty well adjusted. Each child's development and temperament have to be considered as well...

.....and, whereas, *I* might not nurse until my son was 8 (and I didn't!), did you know that the *world* average age to wean is *7*...and if 7 is the *average*, it must mean that in many sectors nursing goes on longer. For some countries this is cultural, as well as economic, in addition to sanitary reasons.

Not really debating the issue with you, but presenting another view, since much of what we do in the Western world is dictated by Western "norms" (and while I'm at it, not everyone conforms to, or agrees with, those norms!)....and those very same things that *seem* strange here, in other cultures/countries are quite normal and accepted.

Just another viewpoint <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Don't worry Marie, I see your point. In my family we have a blend of cultures, but both of the cultures require parents to do everything in their power to make sure that the child grows up healthy and happy. In our culture we just happen to believe that the kids need to be in their own beds. I'm not saying it's better than another cultures beliefs, it's just worked for us. We have not had to deal with night terrors, monsters under the bed, or other things that scare kids. But then again, we are also a weird bunch <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> .

The woman that is nursing her 8 year old, is not doing it for nutrition, she just lets him "nurse" whenever he seems to need comfort. It gives me the willies! eww! Anyway, that one would be a hard one to convince me of. I can handle the bed thing, after all, sometimes when one of our babies is sick, we have them sleep in our bed, but I just can't see the nursing thing as being healthy, sorry <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />