Co-sleeping

[Messybrownhair 251]

I know Americans (in general) do not culturally co-sleep with their babies, whereas other countries find it the norm. However, I do find it interesting that here it is culturally accepted to sleep with pets, but not with babies. How does it work in your family?

My son (now 15 months) is only starting to transition to his own bed (but still in our room). Co-sleeping was easy the 1st 6 months because my husband was deployed. Then when he came home it was a way for him to bond with the son he never met. But now he is getting too big. I know many here will discuss the risk of SIDS, but risk is low if mother is nursing and both parents are not smokers and alcoholics or using drugs.

Curious to see what others think

[Ontarkie 13,883]

We actually still cosleep/bedshare with my daughter she will be 3 in June and I have a 2 month old that we cosleep with also. We have our daughter in the middle of my husband and I (king size bed). Then I side car the crib for baby to keep him from sister.

here's a link for those who don't know what side car is http://www.freewebs.com/sidecarcrib/

[christeen 966]

My brothers x-wife refused to let my niece cry, so,she would always insist on sleeping with the baby (my brother refused to sleep in the bed as he was scared) one night, she accidentally rolled over and pushed off the covers and suffocated the baby... And there are many cases like this... I would be too scared... But generally it is a cultural thing I think...

[JohnR! 5,495]

Everyone was welcome on our bed: babies, cat, dog, etc...

I think people are scared they will hurt their babies if they accidentally roll over them while sleeping and such... All our kids survived, or so I believe...

[christeen 966]

My niece died...

[Ontarkie 13,883]

My brothers x-wife refused to let my niece cry, so,she would always insist on sleeping with the baby (my brother refused to sleep in the bed as he was scared) one night, she accidentally rolled over and pushed off the covers and suffocated the baby... And there are many cases like this... I would be too scared... But generally it is a cultural thing I think...

That is terrible I'm so sorry

Cosleeping needs to be done safely. Blankets are a big no no, just like baby should not sleep in the middle until bigger, no drinking or sleep meds the list goes on.

[*Snowdrop* 603]

Actually the risk of SIDS is lower when a baby is sleeping in the same room as the mother. But there are some suffocation risks for small babies in adult beds if the adults are either very deep sleepers or use alcohol or drugs before bedtime.

The solution if you want to co-sleep and are worried about suffocation is to arrange something like the sidecar crib above or if you have room in the bed make a small 'wall' with a rolled up towel between infant and adult.

Co-sleeping is great if you are breast-feeding.

Once they are a little bigger the discomfort is usually to the adults who get kicked in the back or heads through the night. We still share a room with our little girl but she spends most of the night in her own bed now.

[Ontarkie 13,883]

Some moms become exhausted and lose their ability to cosleep safely they fall a sleep with baby on their chest or fall asleep on the couch both of these are big no no's.

Edited May 6, 2014 by Ontarkie

[NikLR 13,220]

There are also special co-sleepers that can help if you're scared. I did co-sleep with my daughter and her father once rolled onto her but I was able to wake up quickly. After that I put her on the outside of the bed with her playpen/bassinette on my side in case she managed to roll in the night. She went to her own bed at about 7 months because she was sleeping through the night. I like the co-sleepers that are either in the bed or at the same level as the bed. I didn't use her bassinette as much as I thought I would because it was about a 8" drop down into it. But they make pack n plays/play pens with co-sleepers now too.

Examples of co-sleepers:

In the bed Beside the bed using a crib

[Morningmist 76]

It's because of the covers and the beds in general are NOT designed to for "bed sharing" here in the States. I'm struggling so much with this. My baby wont sleep in her crib most of the night, so she sleeps next to me in my arms. I'm tired because of it. I worry so much that I might hurt her that I sleep lightly most of the night. The crib next to the bed looks like a good idea. She'll sleep ANYWHERE but her crib as long as she can sense I am nearby. So I'll just adjust her crib next to my bed.

[christeen 966]

It's because of the covers and the beds in general are NOT designed to for "bed sharing" here in the States. I'm struggling so much with this. My baby wont sleep in her crib most of the night, so she sleeps next to me in my arms. I'm tired because of it. I worry so much that I might hurt her that I sleep lightly most of the night. The crib next to the bed looks like a good idea. She'll sleep ANYWHERE but her crib as long as she can sense I am nearby. So I'll just adjust her crib next to my bed.

Yes, please be careful... Tragedy only takes moments and it happens when we are most vulnerable ... And an exhausted parent from not sleeping is not a good situation for the child or family.

[Messybrownhair 251]

I agree that pillows, covers, blankets are a huge no-no when it comes to co-sleeping!

I love the pictures you guys shared.. I need to turn his crib that way asap!!

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

I for the first 2 months or so, would put my daughter into her baby bjorn and she'd sleep on my chest in the bed, but share a bed with a child? No. Personal opinion, but I wouldn't want a child past 3 months in my bedroom and my daughter is never allowed to sleep in my bed. I couldn't think of much worse than our already cramped bed getting one more person in it, no matter how small. I also feel the same way about pets.

To me, a master bedroom is the sacred domain of the couple or the single parent. It is a zen like place where toys and the noise of children do not exist.

Not to be crude, but how the heck do you have a sex life when you are cosleeping, especially with an older child? Prime parent sexy time is definitely after kiddo is put to bed in their own room.

[Messybrownhair 251]

I for the first 2 months or so, would put my daughter into her baby bjorn and she'd sleep on my chest in the bed, but share a bed with a child? No. Personal opinion, but I wouldn't want a child past 3 months in my bedroom and my daughter is never allowed to sleep in my bed. I couldn't think of much worse than our already cramped bed getting one more person in it, no matter how small. I also feel the same way about pets.

To me, a master bedroom is the sacred domain of the couple or the single parent. It is a zen like place where toys and the noise of children do not exist.

Not to be crude, but how the heck do you have a sex life when you are cosleeping, especially with an older child? Prime parent sexy time is definitely after kiddo is put to bed in their own room.

We get creative. No such thing as prime parent sexy time for us, its really wherever and whenever we feel like it. But, I respect your opinion and know that all families do it differently.

[Kajikit 65]

We don't have any children, just cats... but one of the cats likes to sleep jammed in between us on the Queen sized bed so that she gets maximum warmth. Unlike a baby, if we start to roll onto her, she has the ability to a)protest and b)get up and move away, which she does... there wouldn't be any room for anyone larger than a cat to share our bed (when we stay at our brother-in-laws, his kingsized guest bed would be big enough for an army!). But if you did have a baby, the sidecar crib sounds like a much safer way to keep baby close at hand during the night.