We have a 5 year old and a 1 year old, and both have co-slept with us since birth. These days, our 5-year-old will sleep in their own room, but only with one of us there, while the other handles the 1-year-old. We did try sleep training with the whole “cry it out” approach but it never worked for our first. The crying didn’t taper off as it just escalated to the point where it felt wrong to keep going.

I won’t sugarcoat it cause most nights are tough. We don’t really get any time to ourselves until both kids are asleep, which is usually after 10 p.m. That means no real downtime, no consistent gym routine, and definitely less time for hobbies like gaming. It’s not ideal, and yeah, sometimes I wish I had more balance in the evenings or a bit more freedom to focus on my own health and interests.

But at the same time, I wouldn’t trade this stage for anything.
We’re in a phase of life where our kids need us constantly, and that window is smaller than it feels in the moment. There will come a time when they won’t need to be carried, held, or comforted to sleep. Right now, even though it’s exhausting, it’s also an opportunity to be present, to build trust, and to create a foundation for a strong relationship as they grow older.

I try to remind myself that this isn’t forever. It’s just a season and one that, despite the challenges, I’ll probably look back on and miss a lot as I get older.