Is this a regular occurrence, or an isolated incident? If a fluke, I wouldn't worry.

As I have always said to my friends on many issues - it is what YOU are comfortable with. I know parents that have shared beds until their kids are 5 (and they are fine) and I know parents like myself that have never allowed it unless they are sick. What you need to know is that one night does not translate into every night. Sometimes, they just need you. If you see it becoming a pattern, then fix it before it carries on too long. In a few years, this will seem very small compared to the things you will be dealing with later. I don't believe this will put her on the psych's couch in twenty years. Good luck!

A toddler sleeping in her parents’ bed? I don’t think so. When each of our two children was four months old, my husband and I made a decision that at this stage they would start sleeping alone – in their own room. A monitor, thank God for these gadgets, helped us keep tabs on our children and we responded to them as needed. We showered them with love and attention but never allowed them to sleep in our bed. When they got sick, we went to their room. We knew that it is a habit that is difficult to break and we did not want to fall in this trap. As our kids got older, past the toddler stage, they occasionally would ask to sleep in our beds. A few times we allowed them and it was like a treat for them. They knew they weren’t moving in. My husband and I believed in having our children develop a sense of independence at a very early age. In addition, they also learned to respect one’s privacy. They learned early on that mommy and daddy needed their privacy. It worked for us. The key is to take charge early and be sure to provide ample assurance to your child. He or she may cry or fuss at first but, they eventually get past that. It’s not one size fits all, but we can make it easier on ourselves!

Every parent has their own stance on that. Personally, as soon as my kids were able to sleep through the night without a feeding (usually at about 3 months), I ship them off to their room. Other than an occasional illness that would keep them up at night, they do not sleep in our bed. Mommy and daddy's bed is "special" for mommy and daddy, just as their beds are "special" for them. We have a queen size bed and three kids - can you imagine what would happen if everyone got sick at the same time?!?! I'm just not comfortable when the kids are in bed with us, physically comfortable. I don't sleep as well when they're in the bed with us, which is why they don't do it often. It's a nice treat though, especially when they're not feeling well. And since it rarely happens, it's a special treat for them and an extra comfort when they're sick. Everybody has an opinion on it, I'm sure. This was our "two cents" worth...Don't sweat it. I know I've mentioned it before, but enjoy the ride!

Our daughter is 3 and she still sleeps with us. At first, we were admittedly just lazy to get up in the middle of the night when she'd start to cry for us in her room. Now, we've got our own good night story, song, prayer and cuddle routine and it's one of the highlights of my day! It's a PERSONAL choice, like breastfeeding. You do it if you want to, it's nobody's business but your own. Your child won't be better or worse for it in the long run. As for us, we can't believe another year's almost over! Letting her sleep with us is just our way of keeping her close and young as long as we can; before you know it, it'll be time to pack her off to college!