How to share a full size bed with a toddler without sacrificing your sanity

For all the parents out there, I am sure that each one of you have been in the position that I currently find myself in.

Close to two years ago my wife and I had our first child. The joy we had when we held her in our arms the first time is indescribable. The amount of love you can have for someone so tiny and with a future so bright, is an incredible feeling. Those first few months are bliss, even without being able to sleep much. Soothing your baby at night is sometimes cathartic and gives you in return that same soothing aura. It is no wonder why parents often have that sense of longing for another tiny baby, especially when your baby grows closer to 2 yrs of age. You all know that stage in life when that same idyllic baby turns into what can only be described as a demon.

All the work you put into getting them into a sleep cycle, actually eating normal food (not something that has been pureed), and starting to learn and speak words, goes out the door at some unidentified time between 20 months- 2yrs of age. Don’t get me wrong, your child is still someone that can show great depths of love and kindness, but in turn can make you second guess why you got into the parenting business in the first place.

My current job has me living away from home most of the week. You see, I am a singer/actor, which has me up most of night working until I get home. Gratefully, while away from the comfort of my house, my employer houses me in a relatively comfortable studio apartment. It is situated only about 2 hours away from my hometown, which gives me the luxury of going home on the weekends when I get time off. When I do not journey home, my family usually comes to stay with me. Yes, all three of us stay in that same relatively comfortable studio. I actually love it when they come here because living the bachelor life can be very lonesome. This beautifully renovated studio though only come with a full size bed. Which is not a big deal to share with my beautiful wife, mind you. I enjoy waking up with her, and even though I am lazy and don’t deserve such a hardworking partner like her, she still finds little things to stay with me. 

Now remember how I said things change with you child at an unidentified time in their early years? Yeah, that is where our cute little daughter is living life to its fullest right now. One of the many habits she has thrown out the door is the ability to sleep on her own. Now at my own house this would not be much of a problem because I invested in a large King size bed. But alas, I do not have that luxury here in this studio. Our daughter, with my crazy work schedule, gets to bed usually very late. I am talking between 12am-1am or later sometimes. When she does fall asleep, mom and I are like quiet vampires that try to float softly into our full size bed to fall asleep ourselves. Oh the joy we have in those first few hours of uninterrupted sleep we have. Until...you guessed it. The demon wakes and nothing will sooth her than to lay snug between her mom and dada (as she calls me). Our daughter, possibly similar to yours, does not just sleep still like other heaven sent children. Instead she tosses, turns, kicks, and sometimes wakes up with tears because she cannot seem to get comfortable. I mean we are sharing a full size bed child. What did you think it was going to be like? I am a grown-ass man, with large shoulders and rippling muscles that need to spread out and get the well deserved rest it needs. But because I love you, I will confine this beast of a man in less than a foot of bed because you and mom are the loves of my life. Sigh.

Rather than tell you how to cope with a restless toddler tucked between you and your spouse (that is in another article you can read), I am going to tell you what to focus on instead when facing a similar situation. I love my daughter so much, you must understand. Albeit, my wife has sacrificed so much more in rearing this tiny human than I have, but the love I have in my heart for her is enormous. Nothing can put a bigger smile on my face and sooth my soul than when your little one turns towards you and snuggles herself up against your bosom. And for me I have a lot of bosom here for one to cuddle with. Yet, somehow this little demon becomes the tiniest of angels tucked between my massive pectorals. Did I mention I work out? Ok good.

Amidst all the turmoil, the desperate screams, and dramatic moments with this child, it all vanishes the moment I realize that I would not trade this for anything in the world. How do you share a full size bed with a toddler without sacrificing your sanity you ask? With a lot of love in your heart...and possibly a lot of Diet Coke, with delicious coconut cream mixed in.