woohoo co-sleeping!

[Nickster]

I just had to share with everybody my latest journey along the parenting highway.

For the past week or so, I have had Libby sleeping in our bed. Some nights she starts off in her portacot, which is pushed up alongside our bed, some nights she starts off in our bed.

As only our big bedroom is airconditioned, we decided long ago we would all "bunk in" together for the summer. DH is now on a mattress on the floor, which he says suits him fine - he gets a better night's sleep anyway. We figure one day we will both be back in the same bed, when our child(ren?) are a little older and can appreciate their own beds, so we're not too stressed about it.

I don't know why it took me so long to do this - I guess I just fought against it, thinking it was best that Libby had her own cot/space etc - it's amazing how your own upbringing can influence you. And I also have to admit, I love snuggling up to DH in our own bed.

But I love sleep and knowing this is easiest much more at the moment.

Since we have been co-sleeping, she only wakes about once in the night, checks I am there, somtimes wants a feed, and then goes straight back to sleep. I don't have to get up, pick her up out of her cot, sit in the rocking chair and get her back to sleep - it's just SO much easier.

I've bought a safety rail for the other side of the bed - I think that safety is so important.

So, there you go, I have been converted......hallelujah!:)

[Goosie22]

Well done, welcome to the not so tired:)

[moonblossom]

For me, co sleeping is the only way to go. Just made things SO much easier for everyone. I was the same, a bassinette by my bed when tiny, then portacot next.

Everybody gets a good nights sleep, everyone is happy and honestly I wouldnt do it any other way :)

[SugarBlossom]

Yay for co sleeping! I've done it since the first night in hospital! And woulden't have it any other way!:D

[cosmic]

yay Nickster. Good for you! :D

[tickle]

Good on you Nicole!:)
Glad you are getting a good nights rest, makes all the difference.;)

[Funkychicken]

I had a terrible time with DS#1 because I listened to my mothers ( and others) advice about not "making a rod for your back" and all that c#@p. He cried at night, I cried at night and in the end even DH was crying. We blunderred through, somehow. When DD arrived two years later I put her straight into bed with us. Sheer bliss! We co-slept for a long time, not exactly sure how long. Even last year, at 5 yo she would creep in between 3 am and 5 am and snuggle into my armpit.
When we found out we were expecting again, we worked on having her stay in her bed which she did. Now our beautiful Hamish (3 wks old today) sleeps with us every night and feeds as needed whilst I get much needed sleep and rest. DH generally turns around and sleeps the other way giving us all a bit more space.
Yesterday was a tough day and I started to wonder if I should look into a settling program as I was starting to doubt myself (tired, grumpy). Last night I read a post (have now forgotten who posted it and where) with a link to ABA and I once again was reinforced with the idea of co-sleeping and holding our baby as necassary. I took him to bed and snuggled extra deeply to take in the smell of him.
Having read this thread this morning, I once again feel strong about our decisions, so thank-you for your posts.

[rebeccamum]

We do co-sleeping sometimes. DD has her own hammock next to our bed but these past 2 weeks she's been a bit restless at night. She usually is a great night sleeper (a bit crappy during the day ;) ) now she wakes up more often (3-4 times instead of the usual 2). Everytime she's unsettled I'll put her in our bed, I admit that I'm not sleeping comforably with her in our bed because she's a bed hogger! DH is a big guy and our bed is just queen size. We don't have a spare mattress so I can't sleep on the floor. Sometimes I put portacot mattress on the floor and have DD slept on it. It's not convenient to get down and feed her on the floor so I don't really enjoy this.

DH suggested using a portacot at night but I heard from some people that it's not good for babies to sleep in there exclusively. But a few people here have their babies slept in it at night so I guess it's ok?

I love co-sleeping too - it's easier, convenient, and does put my mind at ease when I know she's just by my side.

[Nickster]

Hi rebeccamum,
Don't worry too much about the "exclusive portacot sleeping" issue, especially if your baby isn't really spending the whole night there. I think the mattresses are a little thin, so I have mine lined with a lambswool throw for Libby. It's just fine and really cosy for her.

Thanks for all your support ladies - I feel like I've discovered a whole secret new world now we're co-sleeping!

[Foxymoron]

:D Co-sleeping is wonderful isn't it! I couldn't imagine getting up to go and sooth a crying child. They may get a bit fussy when they wake but they are soon reassured when you are right there for them :) and it's so nice to lay there and watch them sleep!

[Nickster]

Yes Keara -

There's no going back for me now!:)

[Rainbowbrite]

I LOVE CO-SLEEPING :D Its the only way to get a good nights sleep.

MJ does the cutest things too, like looking for my breast in her sleep :p Last night i woke up & she was asleep on my pillow with her head against mine :rolleyes:

Also great if she wakes up early & i'm too tired to get up & need to wake up as she crawls around the bed & her cot playing & coming back for cuddles ;)

RB

[lovemybub]

I am so glad there are other parents out there who are cosleeping. We don't do it all the time - our DD is quite happy to sleep in her bed a lot of the time (which is in our room anyway), but I totally agree that it's one of the loveliest things.

In fact, this afternoon I was lying with her on the bed and she looked straight into my eyes, and it was like I could see her eyes saying to me "I love you Mummy". She's only three months old, and has just started 'talking', making those gorgeous baby sounds, and will often meet my eyes and just quietly 'talk' to me and smile. I would not trade those precious moments for anything.

[Heidi]

While I don't encourage my older two to get into bed with me now, they are nearly 4 and 2 1/2, mostly cos they hog the bed and it gets pretty hot with 4 in the bed!!!! (queen size) I don't discourage it either. If they come into our bed and fall asleep with us, that's fine, I want my babies to know that they can come and find Mum and Dad anytime day or night and have a big warm snuggle. Pretty soon they will be all grown up and won't want to be caught dead near the 'olds' so I am lapping up the snuggles each and every one till then!!! I think they do sleep more soundly (even though we don't necessarily) and don't seem to wake as early in the morning!! I am worried about putting my littlest one in bed in case she wakes before me and crawls off the bed, she is nearly 1, but when I know she can slide down unassisted there will be 5 in the bed, squishy.........

[our little treasures]

We have always co slept, we put dd in her bed then she comes in early in the morning. DS comes in as soon as he stirs.. When DD is sick I let her in anytime even at the start of the night.. I still put her to sleep by laying with her and talking or singing.

[elissas]

I'm with you guys. We don't usually start the night that way (he starts in the bassinette next to my side of the bed), but after DS' early morning feed (usually about 4am), he comes into bed with us, laying between us (he's only 6wks).

I love waking up and seeing him lying there. I feel sorry for all those parents who are denying themselves the experience - just because of the fearmongering out there.

Will much prefers it too. He sleeps easy and is so much more settled when he's with us. This world must be so scary at times to our little bubs, everything is so new. And all they ask is that we be there when they need us. How comforting it must be when he wakes, to see mummy and daddy there :p

I've had the "rod for your back" cr@p served up at me, but I just ask people if they know any 13 year olds still sleeping in their parents' bed... ;)

[rylea's mum]

:) my bub is 4.5 months old and up untill 3 weeks ago she slept with me and my partner,everyone disagreed but for me personally it was for selfish reasons, i felt like if she was with me she would be safer(im am soooo paranoid of something happening in her sleep,and yes i know co sleeping is one no no for that)i was paranoid she would roll over and lye face down and not wake up, you name it i thought it would happen,but strangly enough i wasnt scared of rolling on her.
and aswell the practicality of breastfeeding and just having boob right there for her and not having to get up.
at the moment she sleeps in the portacot next to us( i still wake every 30min to see if shes still breathing)and the only reason is because she can roll back on her back now so she doesnt get stuck on her tummy.
did anyone else co sleep for these reasons or am i just extra strange:eek:

[Goosie22]

no rylea's mum your not strange I still like to sleep with my 2yo because of those exact reasons.

[JanetF]

Those reasons are why cosleeping is safer for little humans than making them sleep alone. Stick your baby in the bed near you and pffft to all the people who don't have to get up in the night to a crying baby. Read up on safe cosleeping, you'll do beautifully :) I cosleep with my 2.4yr old for all those reasons too :)

[Mum2Lucas]

I have co-slept with DS since we got home from hospital. He usually started in his cot and then half way through the night ended up in my bed and now he just sleeps in the bed with me right from when he goes to sleep.

[ThomasMum]

We tried once not to co-sleep with Thomas, and we were soooooo miserable! Esp DH, he was the one who gave in first at the end! lol
Life's good thanks to co-sleeping. We don't have any grumpy people in the house because we always had plenty rest and sleep :) Hey I was a co-sleeping bub, look at me now I am a normal and successful person so I don't see anything wrong with co-sleeping :D :)

[Funkychicken]

I adore stirring in the night to a little face snuffling around for a feed. His eyes jammed shut but awake enough to latch on and fill his little belly. I also love to wake in the morning to that same face but with his eyes open and his newest version of a smile-one side of his mouth lifted way up-and his cooing.

This is a great thread and everyone has beautiful stories on their cosleeping but I wanted to ask other mums how they begin their night. Do you go to bed with baby at baby's bedtime or do you put them in your bed without you until your bedtime or do you lay with them or feed them in your bed until they are asleep and then sneak away? How do all you other co-sleepers start the night?:D

[Rainbowbrite]

We tried to NOT co-sleep last night & it was not pretty. DH & I were miserable & couldn't settle.

Just thought we'd see how we went as we have 2 cots so left one as a side car just in case & put MJ in her future room in the other cot. I still had to cuddle her to sleep then transfered her after she went off. DH was so upset when he realised what i did. MJ slept in there from 8.30pm to 2am. She was so upset when she woke up :( But luckily went straight back off when i brought her into bed with me :D After a while DH realised she was back in with us (he never wakes when she cries) he cuddled both of us. When she woke for her 6.30 feed & realised I was there I got the biggest kiss & cuddle :)

I think its safe to say that we'll be doing it for a while yet, which is fine by us :D

RB

[kiwibird27]

Just a question - cause to be honest I would and have never consider co-sleeping and don't know anyone who does - when do u move them out of your bed???? Is it a struggle to move them out???? - How do u and your DH get private alone time??? Do you think it sets up a dependancy on you 4 your child to go to sleep?? Are there any negatives??? Do Dh and DP really slepp on the floor, or in another room????

Just curious - please don't bite my head off - My first baby isn't due till June and I just wanted to know!!!!

[Goosie22]

I can only answer for myself but I am sure others will add to what I have to say.

Co-sleeping is only one part of a way of parenting that has been labled Attachment Parenting. It is a way of parenting that is Child centred. Meaning the parenting decisions take into account the child, they are considered a miniture person and as such are treated with respect and nutured at all times. I can't see any disadvantages of co-sleeping and we have done it for 8 years with our 2 sons. It inhances the breastfeeding relationship which for me is very important. My husband sleeps sometimes with me and sometimes in the spare room. He likes it as he is not confined to bed IYKWIM. The boys have their rooms and move to their beds in their own time, I would always laydown with my boys if they asked me to so I don't see that as a dependancy they grow out of it about 4years old. And they are only little for such a short time I take as many cuddles as I can get because they wont want to do it for ever.
G:)

[Rahmi'sMum]

Our bubba is 7 1/2 weeks now and is sleeping on me from the moment I get into bed, he did start in a bassinette, but that idea got canned a few weeks back.

SalOO8 - we don't ever put him into bed without us, he is held by my hubby or me until I go to bed. At night we mostly sit on the couch with the wireless lap top or watch a movie or tv, or just talk or have dinner on the couch. That way he can sleep in our arms while we do any of the above.

He is a very happy boy, never out of one of our arms. On the occasion when people come over for dinner we put the bassinette next to the table and he stays asleep as long as he can hear our voices (he has only started doing that recently, which I put down to the fact that he knows if he makes even the slightest murmur one of us scoops him up into our arms). Everyone that meets him comments on how content, quiet and happy he is.

During the day if carrying him around gets inconvenient - I put him into the sling.

I can't imagine not cosleeping, I hate not having him near me!

[ThomasMum]

Just a question - cause to be honest I would and have never consider co-sleeping and don't know anyone who does - when do u move them out of your bed???? Is it a struggle to move them out???? - How do u and your DH get private alone time??? Do you think it sets up a dependancy on you 4 your child to go to sleep?? Are there any negatives??? Do Dh and DP really slepp on the floor, or in another room????

Just curious - please don't bite my head off - My first baby isn't due till June and I just wanted to know!!!!

Hello, KB27. We werent planning to co-sleep either, but as soon as we did, life's just soooo much easier! My DH is also helpful tho, to make it easier. And no DH is not sleeping on the floor, hell no :p , he's sleep with us, I wouldnt be able to sleep without him for sure!

Because Thomas is an easy going and healthy happy bub (I think because he's a co-cleeping bub) he goes to bed at 730pm till 6am since he was only wee baby. So DH and I have plenty private alone time! Puhlenty! :D

So far, from my personal experience, there's no negative impacts. Those stories about baby being "squashed" are rare incidents if not none and only happened or "might" happen if parents drinking/drug/on medication users etc (my dad & my older brother both OB/GYN and they have never heard of stories about bubs being harmed by healthy parents IYKWIM)

[Mum2Lucas]

I tried to ut my son in his cot when he was first born but we ended up on the couch most nights with him sleeping on my chest. Now he goes straight to sleep in my arms or the sling and then i put him in the bed while i do my thing and then i go to bed too. Now he refuses to sleep unless he knows/ thinks someones in the bed with him so i have to put pillows beside him during the day while hes asleep.