A mum who cuddles up in bed with her kids every night insists that it's ‘not weird at all’.
Bernie Watkins says she has co-slept with her two children since they were born – now aged 10 and 12.
And the 39-year-old says their sleeping arrangements are the reason they’re so close.
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The family share two mattresses pushed together on a kingsized bed frame.
Single mum Bernie shares a double duvet with 10-year-old Frankie, while Caden, 12 has a single duvet since the pre-teen tosses and turns at night.
Although both kids have their own rooms and bed, Bernie says that they chose to hit the hay with her every night.
According to Birmingham Live, she said described the unusual arrangement as "totally natural" and she "never want to give it up".
Bernie, who lives in Grenada, Spain, but is originally from Childwall, Liverpool, said: "We have always been in a bed together – right from when they were newborns and I didn't want to leave them in a different room on their own.
“They can stop when they want and have their own rooms but have always preferred to sleep with me.
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"We're a very close cuddly family so it's perfect for us – and getting into bed at night is a lovely part of our days.
“We don't normally share mealtimes so bedtime is our time to all be together and have a cuddle and talk about anything.
“People told me they would grow up to be clingy and dependent if we kept sharing but they're the total opposite.
"I am a light sleeper so I always knew where they were in the bed – as soon as they stirred I would wake up. For me, it felt wrong to take a tiny baby and leave them in another room alone. I was always set on co-sleeping from birth."
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Bernie says the family have cuddles and discussions in bed together, as well as lighting candles and playing relaxing music.
"I believe it's important to have that contact. It's really understated but it means a lot to us," she said.
"I can understand why people say it's weird because in England it's not the norm. I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
"For us, it's the most normal thing in the world and none of us wants to stop. I wish other people wouldn't make comments or put barriers up around co-sleeping – people make an automatic judgement. It's the reason we have such a close bond."
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