Co-sleepers..did you have a hard time getting your child into his/her own bed? What are the pro's?

Answer 1

I never had trouble getting my kids to sleep in their own beds. I just waited until they were ready.

The pros of co-sleeping are many. Baby is safer (assuming you have a safe sleep environment--see sources section below). She/he is at lower risk of SIDS, and, in case of fire, would be much more likely to be gotten out safely. Baby is also less likely to fall out of a safe bed that be dropped by a mother who falls asleep from sheer exhaustion on a couch nursing in the middle of the night. Both baby and mother get more sleep because baby doesn't have to wake up all the way to get mother's attention to nurse. And mother's sleep is interrupted less because she and baby sleep "in sync"--when baby wakes, mother is in a lighter sleep stage. Then mother can safely fall back asleep while nursing. And there's nothing to beat the smile you get first thing in the morning as baby wakes up and sees the people she/he loves the most!!

Answer 2

I am a single parent so the situation is a little different.. I feel that moms and dads need private/alone time and sometimes at night that is the only time they get it. If they co-sleep, then they give up all their "couple" time and are in "parent" mode all of the time.. that can cause a LOT of problems.

That being said, my daughter has slept with me since she was a few months old. She is now almost 5 and within the past couple of months just started sleeping in her own bed. My other daughter is almost 1 1/2 and she just started in her own bed at the same time. I had a queen size bed and we all slept in it, but I moved and now just have a twin so they each have their own toddler bed - one is on one side of my bed, the other is on the other side. I don't make them sleep in their own rooms .. I remember how scared I was as a child having to sleep in my own room. I always crawled in bed with my mom and dad. So I'd rather them sleep in their own beds in MY room than be scared and end up in my BED, ya know? But that's just me.

Getting them into their own beds wasn't hard.. just start out with a bed by yours and slowly move it towards the door, eventually putting it in their room if that's something you're trying to accomplish.

Good luck!

Answer 3

The biggest pro to co-sleeping is for mothers that are breastfeeding. Also reflux babies do well wwhen co-sleeping with a responsible parent who will wake up if they have trouble. Also young infants tend to sync with mom (or dad) when sleeping and reduce the risk of SIDS.

My first started sleeping the first part of the night on her own about 6 months and slowly progressed to sleeping through the night and then into her own bed and in her own room by the time she was two.

My second - due to living arraignments at the time wasn't moved out of our bed until he was 3, but could sleep by himself though the night at 2.5years old. By the time he got his own bed he was excited to be "big" like his older sister, and stayed! He also had reflux as a small baby a often threw up enough to the point to where he choked on the milk.

My third is now 21 months old and sleeps the first half of the night in his tot bed which is next to mine, and then usually wakes only to be cuddled and tucked back into his bed for the rest of the night. In the nest year or so I'm sure he will also learn to sleep through the night and in his own bed. (Although will probably be in the tot bed for another couple of years.)

I think weaning out of the parents bed is akin to weaning from nursing. Either you can progress at the child's rate or you can encourage moving out on the parent's wishes. But each little step must be meet with postive consistency.

Answer 4

We never thought we'd be co-sleepers, but now it's a way of life for our family! As for transitioning children into their own beds, we've had an easy transition (our oldest son) and a more drawn-out transition (our daughter). With our son, just before he was two we put a toddler bed in our room and he was thrilled to sleep there...once he got comfortable we moved it into his room, and it only took about a week for him to get comfortable there. Our daughter would start off in her own bed, but every night around 2 AM she would creep back into bed with us. After about 5 weeks of very persistant attempts to have her sleep solo, she finally did... but she was a lot harder than our son.

The pros are many. If you are a breastfeeding mother, of course it's great for nighttime feedings. I think that it is also nice for my husband, as he enjoys snuggling with the little ones (sometimes he doesn't get home until they are already asleep so it's a special time for him). Our children have learned to associate sleep with safe, happy feelings, which is great.. no problems leaving them with their grandparents overnight now. I just think that, in general, it's a great bonding opportunity.
As for WHEN to transition them to a bed, I don't believe there is a perfect time, just whenever you are ready. Anytime they get to have with you regarding sleep sharing is positive, even if it's not for long.

I know lots of parents are aghast at the idea of letting children cosleep, but we enjoyed it and are doing it now with our third baby. Of course, a great many babies who never cosleep feel safe and secure at night because their parents have helped them get there... I think it's all about honoring those nurturing instincts.

Answer 5

I think it is ok to sleep with your children while they are little but when they get a little bigger put them in their own bed or you'll never get them out of yours. I used to let my son sleep with us as a newborn because I breastfed and it was very convenient but at about three months he moved to a crib beside our bed and at eight months he moved into his own bed in his own room. He is now 14 months and sleeps by himself every night. The only exception is if he's sick or I think he is actually scared and he won't calm down.

Answer 6

We let our daughter sleep with us when she was really little, but have been working on getting her to not need it to fall asleep anymore... My step son had to be weaned off- he and his mom co-slept alot to get him to go to sleep- but it was more of the jealousy that had to be overcome at first (new b/f) and after that it became easier when he went up in bed size- he got a loft type bed, but it was a "big boy bed" so he was almost tricked into sleeping in it to be a "big boy".

Answer 7

My oldest is now nine and a half. He slept with us from birth until probably five. Even then he would crawl in our bed in the middle of the night. Now he waits till his daddy leaves for work and then he and his brother come crawl in bed with me. They just don't fit with me and my husband both anymore. lol

Answer 8

my roomates had a baby and didnt get a crib till she was a few months old and they couldnt get her to sleep in it. She is almost 2 and still sleeping in their bed. So when i had my daughter everytime id put her to bed and she wouldnt sleep id just do it over and over again till she finally gave up and slept in her crib.

Answer 9

i sleep on the floor extra gentle yet whilst i pass to sleep i basically have been given back from working and lifting weights for 5 hours then after that i tied a rope to a motor vehicle and ran beside it for 2 blocks yet then it slowed down.

Answer 10

i have good advise. do not let them ever sleep in your bed, they will never get out. my husband work 4 on and 4 off when he worked nights i let my children sleep in the bed, since they were litle. they get bigger and my sleep really wild. i could not get them to sleep in there toddler beds. i tryed everything. i bought the beds they wanted. it did not work. so we bought a bigger bed. tryed getting them to sleep without us. it did not work, but i eventually put them on the couch and that work till early in the morning. they would get in the bed with us. so i went out and bought a bunk bed for them and pumped them up to it. i spent 200 dollars for the special sheet they wanted. they were 3 and 4 and it has been snce march that the had been sleeping in their own bed. i sleep really hard at nght so i dont hear them. everytime the got into bed wth us, my husband put them back in their bed. but now they have no problem. it took a long time to get them out of our bed. it feels really good to have them out of our bed