Hitchin mum reveals how she got her bed back after 16 months of co-sleeping
By Felix Moore 23rd Feb 2026
Most mums dream of a full night's kip. For Rosie Begg, 34, bedtime meant constant wakeups and tiny toes in her face for more than a year.
Her little boy has always been a restless sleeper. As a parent who didn't believe in harsh sleep training, Rosie made the decision to co-sleep with her newborn for the first 16 months. But as he got more active, nights became more restless than restful.
"I used to worry about him getting too hot or cold, or waking up because he'd become wrapped and uncomfortable in his sleep sack," says Rosie. "Those nights were exhausting for both of us."
After months of sleepless nights, Rosie came across expert Sarah Ockwell Smith and the world of gentle parenting - a calm, empathy-led approach that instantly felt right for her.
Rosie wasn't on her own when it came to co-sleeping, with nine in ten UK parents having shared a bed with their baby, yet fewer than half were given advice on how to reduce risks¹.
Official guidance says keep babies on a firm, flat mattress, on their back, with no pillows or duvets, never leave them alone in an adult bed and avoid sharing the bed with other kids or pets2.
The Lullaby Trust also recommends keeping the room between 16 and 20 degrees and dressing little ones so they don't overheat - which sounds easy, until you're up at 3 a.m. trying to guess if they're too hot or too cold.
Rosie knew co-sleeping wasn't a long-term solution for her family. She wanted something gentle that worked in real life and didn't involve countless steps, extra stress or next-to-no sleep.
Then one of Sarah's practical tips caught her attention. "Sarah advises using a sleep suit with feet to stop children rolling into a burrito, which is exactly what mine did, and to also help regulate their temperature."
It made sense immediately. A footed sleepsuit could keep her son at a steady temperature, move with him as he wriggled or stood and save her from the endless changing between pyjamas, play clothes and outdoor layers. Having never heard of them before, Rosie started digging for options.
"I wanted to support a UK business that championed organically sourced products, while not sacrificing on style, and the only brand that met all these needs was Sleeping Stars."
Rosie has been using Sleeping Stars products on and off since her son was six months old, but as soon as she implemented the Sleeping Stars Toddler Sleeping Suit, it became a part of their new routine instantly.
Once little ones are mobile, a sleep suit with feet keeps warmth evenly spread without fabric bunching under their toes, so they can bend, roll and stand when they stir.
It's the kind of practical fix most parents don't think of, with swaddles and traditional sleeping bags normally at the top of their lists instead. But unlike those, these under-£50 organic-cotton suits are designed for little ones on the move - cosy, breathable and made to look good long after the newborn stage.
The impact for Rosie was immediate. For the first time in months, bedtime didn't mean chaos. Her son could move freely, stretch out and stay at a consistent, comfy temperature through the night.
"Since he started walking, it's made such a difference," Rosie explains. "He's so much safer waking up in the mornings, and we can get him ready for bed straight after his bath without worrying about any trips or him getting the chills. It's even made transferring him from the car to bed so much easier".
"The brand also provides a handy dressing guide, which makes deciding which TOG to use a breeze, especially in the temperamental winter weather."
While it's not fixed everything, the suit has helped bring unparalleled reassurance and calm back to bedtime for Rosie and her family - with her son sleeping soundly and safely in his own floor bed.
"Our sleep still isn't perfect, but we feel way more reassured about his temperature regulation and independence," she says.
"Even simple things like being able to have slow mornings in our PJs while he runs around warm and happy make such a difference - it's really changed our day-to-day for the better."
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