Sleeping with your baby

chen75 · #1 April 12th, 2009, 07:01 PM

I've been told I am nuts, and I KNOW it's totally my fault......I put Aidan to sleep beside me on the bed.

I've been doing for months now. I don't know, I just like having him close to me. I still have his bassinet beside my bed, but for some odd reason I can't sleep if he's not on the bed with me. I've been told I'm gonna regret this!

Aidan does have his own room down the hall with a crib. But I still can't seem to put him there. I don't think I'm ready yet..

And I think at this point now, Aidan has gotten used to sleeping beside me too.

Any of you also sleep with your baby?

Mod-quietsong · #2 April 12th, 2009, 07:11 PM

Oh hon... I see nothing wrong with this! There are so many different ideas out there - but I can tell you that a lot more people sleep with their babies than you'd think for all the ones that will speak out against it. I promise he won't be sleeping in your bed when he's a teenager!! I never brought Eric into bed with me when he was tiny, because he was a very light sleeper and I kept waking him up, but Danny spent many nights, or at least parts of nights, in bed with us when he was smaller and still breastfeeding. Plus around 18 months old, Eric decided he wanted to sleep with us, and had become a much heavier sleeper! He still crawls into our bed many nights at 2 and a half.

The way I see it is this: everyone is much happier and better all around if they have a good night's sleep. Does it really matter where they're sleeping, as long as they are sleeping and are safe? Sooner than you think, he will be more than ready for his own bed and his own room... enjoy it while it lasts!

hurricaneranch · #3 April 12th, 2009, 07:13 PM

I co-slept with both Ibis (now 6) and Coral for about the first 6 months each. With Ibis it was necessary - she had horrible colic and would have screamed nonstop had she not slept in my arms. With Coral we tried having her in the crib next to our bed for 2 nights and she aspirated reflux and stooped breathing that second night home so she wound up sleeping with us. We slowly transitioned her to the crib - I'd place her there for naps and then at night I'd put her to bed there when she fell asleep. Whenever she woke up, she'd come into bed with us. In just a few weeks she started getting restless in our bed and wanted in her crib. She liked having the room to move and not getting all sweaty at night. Now at 2 she has zero problems falling asleep or staying asleep in her crib.

The Dr. Sears books have some great info on co-sleeping!

daisy616 · #4 April 12th, 2009, 07:15 PM

I felt that way myself. I needed her to be near me. I know part of it was because Madison was still in the hospital and than after we lost Madison. We let her sleep in her bed, but when she wakes up we cosleep until she falls back to sleep. I than lay her in the crib in our room. She always falls asleep on us. I just need her sometimes. She makes me feel better. Cosleeping is a very personal decision.

Bluebayou · #5 April 13th, 2009, 04:53 AM

I don't think it's wrong, I put Hughie to sleep in the bed with me until he falls asleep. The only reason he even gets moved to his crib (which is in our room anyways) is because his dad goes to sleep later than us and he moves him to the crib when he comes to bed as our bed is too small to fit three. I don't think anythings wrong with it and don't listen to people who tell you that it's horrible or bad. You arent doing anything bad at all!!!

Seattlite · #6 April 13th, 2009, 06:46 AM

I have a coworker who still cosleeps with his 2-year-old. It's not a bad thing at all, it's just what works best for you and your child. Now, if you didn't want to cosleep and you still were, then I'd say it's time to get a book about how to transition, but if you're cool with it, there's no reason not to do it.

lmarie13 · #7 April 13th, 2009, 08:16 AM

We co-sleep with both of our kids. Ava transitioned on her own very early, by 5 months or so she wanted her own space. But the last couple of months she has been battling a cold, then the flu and now molars so she still ends up in bed with us. Last night she kicked my poor husband out. He went and slept on her bed. lol

Noah just moved out of our room last night. :-( I cried the whole time we set up his crib. He is 7 months today and was getting hot/restless sleeping with us. He did great, only woke up once. Me? Not so much. I kept waking up "hearing" him crying...only he wasn't.

Its okay that you have Aiden in your bed. If that is what makes your family happy and content, then that's what works for you. Everyone has their own way to do things and parent. As long as your baby is happy, healthy (like not in danger or something) and you are okay with it--then do it!

I'm all about listening to your child's cues and what they need. When my kids need me, I'm there; when they need space that's okay too. (I'll just cry in the bathroom later. LOL!)

Lisa

SarahBethsMommy · #8 April 13th, 2009, 10:00 AM

I slept with Sarah Beth beside our bed for quite a while. Then she moved into our bed for a while after that (I'd put her down in her crib and when she'd wake up I'd just bring her to bed with us). She got so wiggly and kicked so much I finally moved her out. She was around 2 when we moved her to her "big girl bed" which was a twin sized mattress on the floor. A few months later we set up the real twin bed and moved her there. It took a while to get her to stay in bed and stop wanting to sleep with us, but it wasn't too bad at all. Now we all sleep very soundly.

~~*Missi*~~ · #9 April 13th, 2009, 10:34 AM

closest mine get to my bed is next to it. i would die if dh or i rolled on them (3preemies) or if they got smoothered by my blankets. so all have slept right next to us in swings, bassinett etc arms reach away. that way dh and i can remain "couple" without moving adjusting etc also...