What do you think of cosleeping with your children?

Answer 1

I think that it's OK as long as neither of the adults has been drinking (which makes you less sensitive to their presence) & as long as you don't sleep in a waterbed or with a bunch of fluffy blankets or pillows around a baby's face.

Personally, we have done it because it helped me get more sleep. When the baby stirred I was able to just nurse him & go right back to sleep without having to walk down the hall to get him and then go take him back.

Dr. Sears is a big proponent of co-sleeping & this article tells a lot of the benefits:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T071000.asp

I forgot to mention that one night my baby was choking on spit up (I could sense that he was struggling to breathe ... not coughing which people sometimes call choking). I was able to turn him over off of his back & help him. I had trouble sleeping the rest of the night, because I know if he'd been down the hall I would have never heard him, and who knows what would have happened then.

I know some people say that if you start out co-sleeping that the children will never get out of your bed. We have 5 children who all have slept in our bed as babies, and now sleep in their own bed with no problem.

Answer 2

When you have a small newborn and are breastfeeding this can become common because you become so sleep deprived when nursing. Also, this becomes nice bonding time between you and the baby. However, this is not recommended as children can fall out of bed or suffocate on blankets or a pillow. You can buy a baby bed item (looks like a half playpen) that attaches to the side of your bed. Also, when your child becomes older they can have trouble learning to sleep in their crib or bed. They will have separation anxiety about this for a while.

Answer 3

I have three kids. All of them slept with me all night for about 12 months. Then they slept with me 3/4 of the night until about 18 months. At 18 months is was about 1/2 and 1/2 and at 2 they were in there own beds.

I think co-sleeping or sleep sharing is wonderful. Is is only frowned on in the US. Everywhere else in the world it is normal.

Answer 4

It creates a very bad habbit, and sometimes it isnt going to be convinient for you, You need that time to be yours, and they are going to be so use to it, that it is going to seem like they cant sleep with out you, and that leads to rough nights, when they turn 4-6, so nip it in the bud now, and get them to put them selves to sleep, you might have to start with little rewards and bribes, but in the long run you will beat it, and I am not saying dont tuck them in, still read a story, but dont lay down with them at all or maybe get a special stuffed animal from you and tell them when they want a snuggle at night just give the stuffed animal or toy one, and you will feel it, they really like that.
Good Luck

Answer 5

Both of my babies were breastfed and both slept with me until they could crawl. It worked for my family, helped me bond with the babies, and I didn't have to get up if I needed to nurse them. I had some inner "thing" that caused me to protect them in my sleep. I know that sounds weird, but my husband occasionally rolled towards the baby, and I would immediately wake up and push him away (he was asleep and unaware of what he was doing). I think if it works for your family, go for it, but for me, after they could crawl, it was time to move to their own beds. Do what feels right and what works for you. Good luck!

PS I also had an experience where my baby was choking and I was able to help him because he was with me. Just like the other person above, the baby was silently choking on spit up and I couldn't have known if he was down the hall. I just sensed it.

Answer 6

As much as I want to because she is so cuddly lol I dont. to much risk or suffocation etc, and I also only have a single bed so I would be worried about her rolling off. I had her in a bassinet in my room for 6 weeks or so, then bassinet in her room for a few nights, then I put the bassinet in her cot 1 night, then just put her in her cot.
Also I imagine it would be ahrd habit to wean baby off of, and what about daytime naps when they won't sleep on their own?

Also to Candice_B (below): Its frowned upon in most/all 1st world countries not just US

Answer 7

depends on the age. my son slept in my bed as a newborn (i breastfed and this made it easier). then he slept in a crib until he was 2. At two he slept on a futon (opened up) and i would have to lay with him until he fell asleep. at that time my husband was in iraq so i let him sleep in my bed on the weekends. by 3 we bought him his own bed, and he's almost 4 now and has only come into our room maybe twice!

Answer 8

My husband and i have been co-sleeping with our 2 year old son since he was born and we do not regret even one night of it. For co-sleeping to work, you must be aware of the risk factors and how to prevent them - they are easy to manage so I dont understand why so many people are so uptight about them. Also I found an extra safety factor one night when i woke up to my son trying to throw up while lying on his back. I was able to turn him over immediately which prevented him from choking.
It is important for both parents to agree on co-sleeping for it to work as well as to educate yourselves in both risks and benefits.

Answer 9

I think that your kids should sleep in their own beds or you will be asking the next question about why you can't get your kids to sleep in their own beds and wondering why!

Answer 10

I think that its perfectly fine. I'm expecting my first child and plan on co-sleeping with her. the only time she will sleep in her crib is when im awake.