Co-Sleeping When You Have Psoriasis

Co-sleep or not. I am strong in the opinion that each parent should decide this for themselves. We are all different and we deal with things differently. Our children are all different too and while many of their needs are the same, their personality will dictate what they need or don’t.

I certainly do not believe in bashing parent's choices. Do what works for you. We do not have to agree in order to get along and share advice. This is something that I think often gets forgotten in our current day and age. 

Making the decision to co-sleep

Personally, I chose to co-sleep with my little girl. She was colic and needy and for the first 6 months of her life. She did not sleep for longer than 30 minutes at a time.

It was exhausting beyond compare, and I did what worked for me. It worked well. We got tons of bonding time and as a working mom, this was something I could not get enough of. By age two, she was happily sleeping in her own bed and for longer stretches.

I was deeply grateful when at age three, she finally started sleeping through the night. Who would have thought you could survive on so little sleep for so long. I sure did not. Getting time to sleep again was an adaptation all over again.

Tips for co-sleeping

As my little girl started growing, she started taking up way more space in my bed that I could imagine. She still likes to crawl in with me some nights, particularly when it's cold. However, now she brings the cat, a teddy and her hereditary long legs that kick like a donkey.

She also loves to tuck her ice-cold feet against my toasty warm legs when it’s chilly. Here are a few tips and tricks to co-sleeping when you have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Have a big enough bed

The more space you have to roll around and move when you are sore, the better. Also when the kids pull their starfish moves, you are not as easily pummeled in the process. This can often be deeply painful if you are in a flare. This being said, when they are out of your bed, the comfort of more space is priceless.

Extra pillows can help

If you are really sore then put a body pillow, or a row of pillows between you and the small one, so that there is minimal body contact. This makes a really big difference. You can still lie close and hold hands over the pillow.

Pick the right fabric

Equally important is a cotton sheet, one person under and one on top, I find that the direct skin contact is way more painful that when there is a sheet between. The body heat is still there, without the pain.

Position, position, position

I have found letting my daughter sleep with her back to me, gets me all the snuggles and lets me get less of a pounding from thrashing arms and legs.

Enjoy it for what it is

All of this being said, kids can be really understanding when it comes to these things. They will often surprise us with how much they “get it” when the sleeping situation is discussed. They just grow up so quickly, most nights now I cuddle in her bed and I get into mine once she has fallen asleep.

I know the time left with her in my bed is getting less and less. So I will continue to enjoy it for what it is. Treasure these moments and find a way for them to work for you. Soon they will pass, and leave us wondering where did the time go?