Co-Sleeping

I say go for it! it makes breastfeeding so much easier in the middle of the night, even more so when the feedings get longer. my 9 month old still sleeps with me and my husband. i like having her right there.

Co-sleeping, when does safely and correctly, can be a wonderful thing -- especially for the breastfeeding mom. I had supply issues so both my OB and LC recommended it and it did help. My son and I (and husband too) also slept much better too.

I know this is a hot button issue for some people, but my feeling is -- do what works! This is not going to ruin or spoil your kid (there will be other parenting opportunities for that). Realize too that the bias against co-sleeping is largely a cultural one. Many societies keep thier kiddos in the same bed (and for years) and it is considered normal.

If co-sleeping helps you better nurse and sleep -- then do it -- just make sure you are doing it correctly. There are lots of online resources on this. My son was a great co-sleeper until about 2 1/2 and then he started moving around too much, kicking, etc so we transitioned him to his big boy bed. The transition really wasn't bad and all that it required was a good set of Thomas sheets to keep him in his room. He now goes to bed in his own room and has no more waking issues than his non-cosleeping friends. Even crib raised kids have sleep issues. Elizabeth Pantley's books have information on transitioning to big beds (and sleep info in general), so check them out when the time comes.

Good luck and congratulations on the baby!

Well my daughter slept in our room in her bassinet and didn't have a problem when we moved her to her own room and her crib. My son is currently in our room in the bassinet right now and I don't think he will have a problem either. I agree with you that it is defiently easier to have the baby in the room with you but I have heard that the co-sleeping makes it harder for them to want to be in their own bed later so I didn't do that but they both slept in our room and we haven't had any problems yet.

I couldn't sleep without my DS in the bed with us after we brought him home. I nursed him also and this was very convenient for me. Once he started daycare at 12 weeks he was petrified of the crib for naps. He would only nap in a swing. I have ONE picture I took of him when I was on maternity leave of him sleeping in his crib. He woke up not 2 minutes later.

I did get him transitioned to his bed, which was in our room, at almost 12 months. That was hard on me. I couldn't stand to let him cry it out either. What worked for me was leaving him for five minutes, then return, etc. Gotta love Super Nanny. After 4 days of that, no issues at all. Just keep the night time routine the same.

DS is 3 now and I can't sleep with him in my bed now. LOL!!! (DH and especially DS HOG the bed!)

Good luck and congratulations!!

the only time I would co-sleep is when I was breastfeeding and my son was going through some wild growth spurt and wanted to eat every 2 hours. co-sleeping helped me get enough sleep which kept me sane, especially since I had to return to work at 7 weeks.

however, my son always started out in his own crib and we never co-slept past the first couple of months.

co-sleeping can be good, but it can also be bad. I know one friend who started co-sleeping with her 4 year old daughter when she was going through a divorce. It wasn't for the child's comfort, it was for the mom's comfort. That's when co-sleeping is bad because all it did was satisfy mom's comfort need and make it harder on her daughter to have a positive overnight visit with her dad, who didn't believe in co-sleeping at all, especially for a 4 year old who had spent the last 4 years sleeping in her own bed.

Do it for the first couple of months, but after that, I would stop. JMO.

I co-slept with my son since he was born. I nursed him until he was 18 months and sleeping together does make it so much easier to feed. Do what feels right for you. I work full time so this was a way for me to feel closer to him. Now that he's bigger we have his crib in our bedroom so he naps in his crib during the day but still sleeps in our bed at night. Do what feels right for you. They grow fast and will want his own bed whether you are ready or not.

While breast feeding it is great, and as the child gets older it is good and bad. If my daughter awakens from a bad dream I am there to comfort her. If she wakes in the night needing to potty I am there to help her. But as far as getting good quality sleep, I haven’t gotten any in over five years now! I plan on having her start to sleep in her bed this fall.

Hi K.,

Congratulations on your new little bundle of joy! I did the co-sleeping thing and I agree; it is so convenient for nursing. Each of my boys slept in a bassinet in my room for about 2-3 months and then moved to a crib in their own room. I got more sleep then because I didn't hear every single snort and whimper that the babies make while sleeping.

Dr. William Sears has some info on safety while you have the baby in your bed on his website: www.AskDrSears.com. You might want to check it out to make sure you're covering the basics.

BTW, I market a product that is phenomenal for giving nursing moms the nutrition they need for making optimum breast milk. When you put good stuff in, good stuff is bound to come out, right? You can check out my coupon here on Mamasource and my website is www.GoodHealthMadeSimple.com.

God bless,

M.

I nursed both of my children - the oldest for 10 1/2 months and my youngest for 14 months. They absolutely co-slept with us and slept in our room because it was easier for me. I would nurse them and I would fall asleep while he nursed! I slept them in a pack-n-play nest to our bed for a long time and when it was time to transition it was quite easy. I started putting them in the crib for naps and then at night. It is so much easier when you are getting up every 2 1/2 - 3 hours to nurse. I am pregnant with #3 and I we are planning on doing the same thing again! Good luck!

Heya K.,

I did co-sleeping with both my girls. It was very convenient for night time nursing and, in my opinion, helped me bond with them. There is nothing more enjoyable than waking up next to this adorable bundle nestled beside you.

Weaning them wasn't difficult either. Both of my girls have their own rooms and sleep very well in them. The only times they really ever crawl into bed with me is during a storm or after having had a bad dream.

Hope this helps.