I'm in a slightly different situation to other people in that my partner works shifts so often when our DD wakes up at 6am, he's only been asleep for 3 hours.

For a few months, DD slept in the main bedroom with me and DP slept in the spare room - and that worked well. Then, because we're renovating, DP had to move back into the main bedroom and that started giving me the irrits. My usual routine when she woke (usually around 6am) had been to go and get her a bottle, hop back into bed with her, feed her then play while listening to the news. Basically, delaying getting out of bed and up and at em for as long as possible! But it was my favourite part of the day.

But when DP shifted back into the main bedroom, I felt like I shouldn't wake him and felt like I should be as quiet as a mouse, not talk to DD and not listen to the news. So I of course ended up getting up with DD and going down to the lounge room so as not to wake him.

I should say that all this was self-imposed and DP always said not to worry about waking him, but I guess I'm just too considerate!

Anyhow, we have now reached a happy compromise and have a rule that if he comes to bed after midnight then he sleeps in the spare room (which now has a bed again) and if he decides to sleep in the main bedroom then it's on the understanding that me and DD will be playing/chatting/laughing.

But all this made me wonder about what other people do and how they handle wake-ups during the night and that first morning wake-up. Do you try not to wake your partner, does he sleep in a separate room or does your DD/DS sleep in a separate room and you go to them?