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Milla Jovovich on why she and her husband co-sleep with their seven-year-old daughter

She adds that she is inspired by mothers in poorer countries

Helen Nianias
Thursday 07 May 2015 16:43 BST
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Milla Jovivich and husband Paul WS Anderson
Milla Jovivich and husband Paul WS Anderson (MediaPunch/REX)

Milla Jovovich has revealed that her success as a parent lies in the fact that she shares a bed with her children.

Jovovitch, who is married to director and producer Paul WS Anderson, have two daughters and says that sleeping in the same bed as her children helps them to bond.

She is mother to Dashiel, seven, and one-month-old Ever.

"We have been co-sleeping for years with our [elder] daughter and I feel that it’s helped us so much to stay connected as a family," Jovovich said in mothering blog Romy & The Bunnies.

"Especially as my husband and I can have such tough work schedules making films, where we’re on set for at least 12 and sometimes 14 hours a day! Because we share sleep at night, our daughter naturally feels very connected to us and that in turn makes her want to please us!"

Jovovich also expressed dissatisfaction with conventional Western parenting, and said that mothers in poorer countries inspired her.

"I’ve always been inspired by mothers in third-world countries. I feel that the connection with children and mothers is so strong in places where there are not so many 'things' to get in the way," she said.

"No electronic distraction devices, no high tech baby equipment, just a mother carrying her little one everywhere, sharing a family bed and having the help of all the other women around to raise the baby.

"I always thought that the Western way of raising kids was so disconnected. Everyone has their cubicle at home, babies go into nurseries, little kids have their own rooms. You are so separated from one another!"

Jovovich has previously spoken of her lack of interest in having a hectic social life, preferring to read or make dolls for her daughter.

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