Bedtime – to every parent it’s the best time of the day. Baths are done, teeth are brushed, bedtime stories read and our little angels are all tucked up in their beds. Their OWN beds. Time for us adults to maybe have an early night, read a book and generally chill out in the peace and quiet. And then it happens…the bedroom door slowly opens and there in the bedroom stands your tear stained chubby cheeked little girl who has woken from a nightmare and utters the dreaded words ‘mummy can I sleep with you tonight please?’

And now you’re faced with a dilemma – do you stand your ground and firmly put her back in her own bed at the risk of a tantrum and screaming fit that will undoubtedly wake the other child, or do you give in just this once and let her in to your sanctuary? About five weeks ago I was faced with this question and I am sorry to say I caved in to the demands of my four year old and allowed her to sleep in my bed for the night and now I’m paying the price…

What harm could it do? It was just one night, and look at her – she’s so cute with her big brown eyes and her onesie on. It’s a king sized bed – I wont even know she’s there…how wrong I was!

She climbed into bed and immediately positioned herself on the left side of my body and clung like a limpet as if her life depended on it. Her head tucked carefully under my chin forcing my own head into an abnormal position. But it was okay – because I would wait for her to fall asleep and then slide her across to the other side of the bed. Within ten minutes she was asleep, her breathing had deepened and she was snoring ever so slightly…it was time to make my move. And then it hit me – I couldn’t move because she had suddenly turned into a lead weight and I was powerless to shift her. Every time I tried to slide out from under her she shifted position and followed me across the bed. There was no escape – I was stuck there for the night.

I woke up to the happy sound of my little girl singing The Wheels on The Bus and decided it was time to get up. And that was when I felt a thousand knives stabbing me in the neck all at the same time!!! To say I was in agony is an understatement – this was pain like nothing I had ever felt before in my life. I couldn’t sit up, couldn’t turn my head, and couldn’t even drink a glass of water because the pain was so intense.

Somehow I managed to load the kids into the car and drove to the chiropractors with the children checking junctions for me before I pulled out gingerly into the road. I couldn’t even lie down on the treatment couch – such was the extent of my pain in my neck. I was a blubbering mess. I looked across at my lovely little girl sat on the chair, happily swinging her legs and humming a tune to herself – and all I could hear was the theme tune to The Omen running through my head.

Neck Sprain. That was the official diagnosis from the Chiropractor. But to me it was so much more – those two words didn’t even begin to explain just how much pain I was in. I couldn’t even brush my own hair – I was expecting something much more severe sounding like ‘dislocated neck’ or ‘ruptured disc’...neck sprain sounded so lame!! And here I am five weeks on and I still have discomfort when I lie down or try to carry out certain tasks. I cant swim or go to the gym and I’m still receiving treatment and using ice packs on a regular basis.

So the next time you are faced with the same dilemma – think of my story and treat it as a cautionary tale. Your little cherub could turn out to be your nemesis – a lovely nighttime cuddle could turn out to be your undoing. My advice to you next time your little one is having trouble sleeping – march them back to bed, tuck them in, kiss them goodnight and run. Don’t turn around, don’t hesitate – just leave them to fall back to sleep. It’s not worth it!!!