Crib or Your Bed....???

We love cosleeping. Mothering magazine just had an article on cosleeping in its past issue. It would be great to pick up and read if even just at the library.

If you want him in your bed and are comfortable with it and that's where he wants to be, there's nothing wrong with it. I never wanted anyone in our bed because neither one of us are very light sleepers and we would not get any sleep ourselves for fear of rolling on top of a baby and I also didn't want to deal with headache of a transition later on. If you are just putting him in your bed because he's not digging the crib, you can try having him sleep in his carseat or swing. My babies have always slept better for the first 3 months in a carseat or swing. They were miserable laying flat. In the carseat too you can keep them warmer if you have one of those cover things. They all moved over to the crib at around 3-4 months when they were happier being flat. But if you (and your husband) like him in your bed and he's happy there go for it. I say the (and your husband) because I know of quite a few people who had kicked the husbands out of the bed to make room for the kids in there which I just think is wrong on so many levels. Then they are surprised when they are asked for a divorce. So make sure you are both on board with that decision.
Good luck!

We have a co-sleeper - basically it's a crib side-carred to the bed, so the baby is separate but right there. Of course, she usually ends up with me in bed at some point (and nursing is much easier that way too) but that way you don't have to worry about rolling over, pillows in the way, etc. One thing you can do to help your baby get comfortable is to take a shirt that you've worn and lay it down on top of the sheets of the crib. Babies sleep so well in our beds because the smell is comforting - smells like mom!

My daughter, now 7 months old, STILL sleeps in the co-sleeper (this is partly b/c we only have a 2 bdroom place and my 3 year old son is in the other room - we don't want to disrupt him). And honestly, she usually comes into bed with me around 3 AM when she wakes up to nurse, and stays there for the rest of the night. I keep her on my side of the bed and the co-sleeper is attached to the bed on my side, so even if she rolled out she'd just end up in the co-sleeper. I like having her on my side vs between my husband and me because that way he doesn't have to worry about her.

As for breaking the habit... when you decide to sleep train (probably some time after 4 months and before 12 months, if you're most parents) you will have some fussing no matter how you do it. Might as well enjoy co-sleeping as much as you like, and stop when you're sick of it. It's easy to break the habit if you're consistent about where the baby sleeps and naps and don't give in (like we have been). Remember: babies don't begin to form any permanent sleep habits until they're around 12-15 weeks old anyway.

For our two sons, we had them in the bassinet for about a week and then we put them in their crib. I nursed when I was home and bottle-fed expressed milk for both until about 6-8 months.

It worked well for us and we never had any issues with them falling asleep on their own.

If you choose to co-sleep, just make sure you have the right equipment to avoid the risks.

Good luck - and whatever you choose, I hope it works for you and your son.

Only you can decide this really. I personally never allowed my kids to share our bed because I have heard too many stories from other moms who have done this and have older kids who they are still fighting to get to sleep in their own beds (and I'm talking 10+ years old). I think you need to teach your child how to sleep on their own from birth, just like teaching children how to do other things in life. If you wait, you will have a very hard time breaking them of the habit of sleeping with you. I know the first few months are very rough sleep wise when you have a newborn, but it's only a few months and it will save you years of hassle and stress down the road. Anyway, you will get many different responses (I haven't read the others, but I'm guessing) but you can search the internet on co sleeping and determine the advantages and disadvantages and determine if it's something you are willing to deal with. I have heard many parents who regret it, and a few who would not have it any other way. Good luck!

At 5 weeks he is pretty little to be in the bed. Maybe a bassinett next to the bed for easy access in the night? Once the co sleeping thing starts it is really let me unline and make this in capitals REALLY HARD TO STOP. I personally don't like kids in the bed with me and my husband. When they are sick or have a bad dream is one thing but the all night every night thing is a lot like letting kids sleep where they fall. just really not for me. are you wanting it cause you are afraid to leave him? do you or he just need some more cuddle time?

Bedsharing is actually the norm in many cultures in the world. Studies have shown it increases mother's milk supply, increases baby's weight gain, increases the amount of sleep baby and mother get, decreases baby crying time, increases number of total breastfeeds during the night, and decreases the risk of SIDS. Suffocation is a risk if there are unsafe sleeping habits in a crib or in the bed- no heavy blankets, avoid overheating the baby, avoid use of pillows, and baby should sleep next to mom only, not next to dad and not in the middle. Anytime either parent has had alcohol or other substances (some medications) the baby should not bedshare. My third baby is now 4.5 months old and has bedshared since day 1 and easily switches between our bed and her crib in our room (if I am really tired or sometimes work nights shifts she sleeps in her crib). I bedshared with my older two occasionally and they are healthy, happy sleepers. Actually most parents, especially breastfeeding ones, bedshare to some degree at some point in time even if they don't consider themselves bedsharers- almost everyone has slept with their baby at one point or another.

The only downside for me is that it has been a little more difficult to get the baby on a schedule since she is waiting for me to go to sleep for her to go to sleep. I enjoy my childfree time at night when everyone is asleep:)

Sorry for the book, I am an RN who is finishing up my masters in nursing- this week in one of my classes we are discussing how to teach patients about bedsharing safely with their infants so this was a timely question for me. Good luck and hope you get some sleep whatever you choose.

show me the moms who regret co-sleeping. Most mothers who cosleep love it and wouldn't have it any other way. I know personally I have my 3 yr old and my 1 yr old in our room and we LOVE IT. Its just what works for you. I cannot sleep without them, honestly and there is something so spectacular about sleeping with your babies. They grow so quickly -- what is the rush at shoving them out of your room??? The US is the only place where cosleeping is questioned and debated. There is a reason for that. Research only shows benefits. The negatives are based on minimal studies with controlled outcomes to serve the results they were seeking. Do your research and you'll see more of what I am talking about. Enjoy having your baby near you -- don't give in to people's opinions. If its right for you - go with it.

My first 3 did not sleep with us, they had their own beds. Of course with 3, we would have needed a really big bed. My daughter does currently sleep with me. I will be buying a crib in the next week to start getting her used to sleeping in her own bed more often but do not plan to totally transition immediately. I enjoy having her with me. It makes it easier to nurse, and we get some cuddle time. And I think she likes it as well. We have never had any problems rolling onto her. When she was first home, we had a bassinet and she did go to sleep in it but by morning she was in bed with us. She will be sleeping in our room for the next year or so until this real estate market improves so she will occasionally sleep with us. I really see nothing wrong with it. Most SIDS deaths are babies in their own beds--which is why it is such a mystery.