The other end, just off the parental bed-chamber, has been converted into an out-door sleeping-room for John C. Percival.

A Whether to let young children share the parental bed is a controversial subject with lots of parents having strong feelings on the matter.

One of the less agreeable facts about the modern-day breastfed baby is that, given the chance, it will replace its father in the parental bed.

The wisdom of allowing children to share the parental bed has been debated for as long as there have been child-rearing manuals, writes Frank McNally.