It is not the ideal scenario – catching a little nookie while the little one sleeps (if they sleep) But maintaining intimacy after having a child is also hugely important for most couples.
Behavioural psychologists believe, in general, that it can be harmful to a child to witness their parents engaging in sexual acts but more out of fear of the unknown than anything else. The impact differs depending on the age of a child and the different parental styles. Many parents feel a baby is oblivious enough in a crib nearby to warrant a quickie.
But one mother sparked a very heated debate by asking whether it is ‘normal’ to have sex with your partner while your children sleep in the same room.
The anonymous user posed the question on the Netmums forum after finding out that her friend and her husband are having sex in the room while their 10-year-old and eight-year-old sleep.
The user said she was “disturbed” by the revelation before asking the Internet if she should say something to her friend.
The post read: “Have been increasingly disturbed since a friend told me about a week ago that she and her husband are having sex in the room with their 10-year-old and 8-year-old asleep.
“For various reasons, they need to share the same room for a few months and so this situation won’t change for a while yet.
“They do have a living room so I can’t understand why they don’t have sex there before they go to bed.
“My friend says it’s fine – they make sure the children are asleep but I am not certain that you can be sure or that they won’t wake up and lie there wondering what is happening.
“She says it is no different to the third world countries where families all share one room which I guess is true.
“However I feel really uncomfortable since I found this out because of the age of the kids (but I am someone who could never even relax to do it with a baby in the room!!).
“Part of me feels I should say something but I am a pretty chilled out person and never really get involved in judging what other people do so the other part of me thinks that it is none of my business, and maybe something that is okay for some people.
“Is it normal in the circumstances (that they are having to share a room) and what should I say, if anything??”
There has been a mixed response to the query with some admitting to doing the same and others saying that it’s “not right” with older kids. Quite a few said that it was nobody else’s business but the couple’s while one argued that “social services would not be pleased.”
You can see all of the responses in full here. If you have a strong opinion on this, let us know what you think in the Facebook comments.
