9 year old sleeps with mom

[potatokiwi10]

I have a friend and when she gave birth, the delivery was difficult and there were complications involved.  It was a few months before she was well enough to even hold her baby and bond with it.  She started out putting the child in bed with her.  After five years, it caused major problems in her marriage.  At that point she basically moved out of her and her husband's bedroom and started sleeping with her son in his room every night.  Needless to say, she and her husband divorced because he felt she had already emotionally divorced him.  The child is now 9 years old and still sleeps with his mom.  No, she has not remaried.  The child won't even spend the night hardly away from his mom.  The child says he needs her and she needs him.  Isn't this a little old to still be doing this?  What kind of emotional and developmental damage can this do?

[Jram]

I agree too, but at the same time, if your friend becomes involved with a boyfriend again then it could cause issues in their relationship.  I suppose at that time the issue can be addressed.

[Agiesmom]

I agree with everything that beanandpumpkin wrote.

[beanandpumpkin]

He will eventually not want to sleep with mom.  Honestly, I'd probably just keep my nose out of it... my own 7 year old sneaks into our bed almost every night. It's not very uncommon, nor is it a big deal.  In some cultures, it's normal for children to sleep with their parents.  Just because it's not in our culture does not mean that it's wrong or damaging.  :)