Crowded Bed a Mood Killer for Many Couples

Feb. 13, 2007 — -- Bob and Bea Law from San Antonio are a full-time working couple who put in long hours at their demanding jobs.

At the end of the workday, Bob and Bea are still going full speed -- picking up their daughter from the baby sitter, shuttling the oldest boys to separate swimming and diving practices, and racing to tackle chores such as dinner.

By bedtime, they're exhausted and eager to get some rest, but this couple haven't slept alone in their own bed since the birth of their second child 10 years ago.

And at night when it gets crowded, Bob leaves his wife and retreats to his daughter's tiny bed just to get a few hours of sleep.

"Good Morning America" sent in the "Romance Brigade" of Matt Bean, editor of Men's Health, and Nicole Beland, deputy editor of Women's Health magazine.

Bob and Bea said the kids didn't have a problem going to sleep, as long as they were in bed with mom and dad.

"We're so tired. You can either fight with 'em or you can give in and go to bed. And we give in," Bob said.

When they try not to give in and make the kids sleep in their own beds, the loudest resistance comes from their 3-year-old, Bella. One screaming match lasted two hours, Bea said.

"I just couldn't handle it," Bea said. "Then I started crying 'cause she was crying. I'm crying and he's getting flustered because we're all crying and he just said, 'Forget it. Just come on in.'"

A Men's Health magazine survey found that kids were No. 3 on the list of romance-mood killers

To get the couple back on the romance track, Bean suggested moving the TV out of the bedroom.

"Italian researchers found that couples with TVs in the bedroom had about half as much fun, if you know what I mean," Bean said. "So there's one little solution here: Pull the plug on this thing."

Once the TV is gone, pump up the ambiance with LED child-safe candles, then make your kids' rooms more irresistible.

Beland suggested creating a "secret castle" tent for little Bella.