Celeb power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds just got real about the reality of their surprising sleeping arrangement and chances are many of the parents out there can relate.
As I’m sure many parents have experienced, Blake and Ryan’s bed is often crashed by some unwanted guests: their kids.
While the celeb parents admit that raising four kids can be overwhelming sometimes, they’re trying to soak in those shared bedtime moments before their kids leave the nest.
Ryan recently chatted about their co-sleeping situation with kids while appearing on Amanda Hirsch’s celebrity podcast, “Not Skinny But Not Fat.”
Ryan Reynolds Talks Fatherhood and Sleep
Ryan and Blake are no first-time parents, they have four kids together ranging from the ages of 1 to 9 years old. Though the couple are notoriously under wraps about their private life, Ryan recently got real about his sleep experience as a father.
While chatting with Hirsch, Ryan admitted that his kids “can’t even go to sleep unless they’re in our bed.” Even though he “would love to spread out and fall asleep normally again.” (1) I’m sure many parents out there can relate.
Despite the occasional inconvenience of sharing their bed, Blake and Ryan say that they’re trying to remember that someday they’ll miss those together moments as a family.
“Think about what you would give in 40 years or 30 years to come back and enjoy this one moment,” said Ryan about sharing a bed with his children. (1)
This isn’t the first time that celebs have gone viral for admitting that they share a bed with their children, but how safe is it? When should your child sleep in their bed? We talked to child sleep experts to find out.
Should Your Toddler Sleep in Bed With You? Experts Weigh in
Co-sleeping with your 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 is often thought of as a controversial topic, but what about sharing a bed with your toddler?
In Blake and Ryan’s case, most of their kids are in the toddler age range or older and experts say that bed-sharing at this age can be safe and usually appropriate for some families depending on the family’s (and child’s) needs.
When Should Kids Sleep in Their Room or Bed?
Though I know we all want clear answers, doctors and sleep experts say there’s no set cut-off age for when kids should sleep in their own bed. Every child and family situation is different.
“Really this depends on the parents and the child. Some parents and children sleep very well co-sleeping,” adds Dr. Sarah Mitchell, 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 sleep expert and owner of Helping Babies Sleep.
As long as both kids and parents are sleeping well, experts say there’s no set cut-off age.
“Here’s the key question: Is everyone sleeping well? If the answer is “yes,” there’s no problem and no deadline for making changes,” says Macall Gordon, certified pediatric sleep expert. It’s also important to consider your family’s needs.
“There’s not a certain age to stop sharing a room with your child, and every child is different. The right age to move your child to their own room or bed will change based on your family’s needs and your child’s capabilities,” says Dr. Shelby Harris, Sleepopolis’s Director of Sleep Health.
This may come as a comfort to those who enjoy sharing a bed with their children, however, there are still some situations where bed-sharing can be risky.
When Bed-Sharing With Your Child Can Become Unsafe
While bed-sharing is often a family choice based on family needs, there are some instances where sharing a bed with your child might be unsafe, especially when it comes to babies.
“Bed-sharing before the age of 1 can be dangerous for babies, and increase their risk of SIDS and accidental suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend bedsharing,” says Dr. Harris.
There is much ongoing controversy about whether babies should sleep in bed with their parents due to the risk of injury, but others say that it can help strengthen the bond between parent and child. As always, it’s best to consult your doctor when it comes to making health decisions for you and your child.
Expert Tips for Training Your Kids to Sleep in Their Beds
Looking to get your child to sleep in their room? We chatted with Dr. Mitchell about her best advice as a child sleep expert for helping parents sleep train their toddler in their own space.
- Time bedtime Well: putting your child to sleep too early or too late can make it even harder for them to adjust to a new sleep environment
- Sleep in your child’s room: try sleeping in your child’s room with them to get them used to the new environment, slowly distance yourself in the room
- Consistent communication: tell your child clearly what’s going to happen and how you will respond and follow through with them
- Practice helps: self-soothing sleep s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s take time to develop, practice the same routine each night
There are so many parent tips out there when it comes to getting your child to sleep each night and it can be hard to put tips into practice when in the heat of the moment (i.e. your toddler has been screaming for the past hour.) Just like Ryan and Blake, sometimes you have to cut yourself some slack.
