Parents build a 5.5 metre bed to share... with their four kids
Parents Ryan and Kim Constable adore their four children just like any other mother and father, however, co-sleeping with ALL four of them every night has them in the parenting minority.
Corey, 11, Kai, 9, Maya, 6, and Jack, 5, have been co-sleeping with their parents since they were tiny tots, with Kim revealing it was the best way to help her children settle at night time.
With her family growing in size and age, Kim and Ryan knew it was time for a bigger bed for all six family members to get a comfortable night's sleep.
The family had an 18-foot bed made for their home, which all six of them share at night time.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Kim explains: "It all started when Corey was a baby and he started sleeping in beside Ryan and I to help keep him settled at night."
"Then as more children came along, they wanted to sleep in with us too. When the older ones moved out and a younger one moved in, they would come back and say 'that's not fair'."
The yoga instructor mum-of-four finds co-sleeping quite convenient as instead of running from room to room during the night, she is right there for her children as they need her.
"I am there for my children 24 hours a day and night. […]. Before the big bed was created I spent my nights bed running about from room to room trying to get all the children to sleep."
Furthermore the mum has looked to science to back her up following a mountain of online backlash: "Research has shown that early dependence actually creates early independence."
"Children who are forced to grow up and be independent before they are ready can actually end up growing into scared individuals who essentially want to jump back into the safety of the womb all their lives."
The couple allow the children to choose when they would like to sleep in their own bedroom, as they also allow their children to choose their own bed-time, having an evolving regime rather than a regimented routine.
Kim and Ryan, made the decision to homeschool their kids, which is one of the reasons for not forcing a bedtime upon the children, allowing them to 'set their own pace'.
What do you think? Is co-sleeping something you would like to try out in your family, or is it not for you?