Do you let your toddler sleep with you?

My son and I live in a two story home.  The master bedroom is on the main floor with the rest of the rooms upstairs.  My son had yet to be born when my ex and I purchased the home and we didn’t think through the logistics very well.

Fast forward many years and I am still in the house with my 5 year old son.  He was 2 years old when my ex moved out.  During those early years, I didn’t think twice about having him sleep with me.

He is now 5 years old and I am torn whether I should make him sleep in his room upstairs.  The house has 3 bedrooms upstairs so, initially, I slept in one room and tried to get him to sleep in his own room, with the master bedroom downstairs left unused.  Every night, he would come into my room and crawl in bed with me.  So after awhile, we both made the move back downstairs and he has been sleeping with me in the master bedroom.

I know there’s two camps about letting your kids sleep with you.  Those against it cite things like teaching independence, self reliance, and privacy for the parents.

But is it a little different for single parents with one child?  My feeling is that a single parent has to provide double the affection and attention.   Even when my son wakes up during the night, I want him to feel secure in the fact that I am there for him.  And I don’t really subscribe to the idea that there’s a set age when a child should be made to sleep alone…at least within certain limits.  There are cultures where the whole family sleeps together in the same room.

I think a child will start to develop a sense of independence on their own as the child ages.  Even at 5 years of age, I see my son wanting less and less of my help.  I think the important thing is for the parent to encourage and praise this development rather than setting time or age limits.

What do you think?  Do you let your child sleep with you?