Why do people think that's it's bad for a baby to sleep?

Question

in their own crib from day 1? How is it detremental to a babies development?
Just curious!!

I just ask because I breastfeed my son, he has slept in his crib since his first night home. I'd get up feed him, he'd go right back to sleep. He sleeps so wonderfully, and has since he came home! He was sleeping through the night, at 2 months, and sometimes even before then. I don't know if I had a really good baby, or what? Personally, I'd be afraid of rolling over on my son in bed. And also I didn't want to end up with a baby that wouldn't leave my bed like my sister did. Her son is 9, and is still in bed with her.

Even though my son sleeps in his own crib, he was never left to cry it out! I don't believe in that at all at such a young age.

I'm not ranting, I'm just curious because I have heard things from both ends, and if it really does make a difference, I don't care what others do, that's their perogative, I've just read from other users that they'd never would put their baby in a crib by themselves, and was wondering why? That's it.

Answer 1

GOOD FOR YOU!! if he sleeps better in his own bed than why not let him sleep there. RIGHT. my oldest son slept with me FOREVER and it took awhile for him to get back into his own bed. with my second son he didn't sleep with me while he was a baby. every now and then i would wake up to find them both in bed with me!! then my daughter she slept with me for about a week or two that was it! ever since she has been in her own bed and sleeps fine. i think it all depends on the mom and on the kids. i never feared i was going to roll over on any of them. some woman want there babies with them. thats fine for awhile then it starts meeing with your sleep. how are you going to take care of a baby when you can't focus because you have not slept, worrying about rolling over on them.

Answer 2

This is actually the first I've heard of someone saying is it bad for a newborn baby to sleep in their own crib. I of course had everyone telling me NOT to sleep with my baby because I did. A 'bad habit', so they said. Yeah, well, if they would have been willing to sleep in my house and bring me my baby at 3 in the morning I would have been just fine with that. Once she started sleeping longer periods at night at about 2 mths she was in her bassinet without any problem. She's now 11 mths and is a great sleeper, no issues at all except for when we travel but I think that is normal.

If there is one thing I've learned since being a mommy, is that everyone has an opinion but rarely do two people have the same one. And while at first I would get offended by all the unwanted 'advice' I was getting from strangers, relatives, etc I now try to laugh it off. Doesnt always work, but hey what can I do? I just dont understand why someone would think I would NEED or WANT their unsolicited advice. Is there an assumption somewhere out there that new mothers are incompetent? Arent we pretty much all the same and read like 1,001 baby books while pregnant and are online asking the questions WE want answered?

PS If anyone has heard of a good response (not too snide of course) to 'Dont you think your baby is cold?' let me know. Ooh, that might be my next question...

Answer 3

It is safer for a baby to sleep in his/her own crib, and it teaches them to fall asleep on their own. You should put your baby into the crib while he is drowsy, but still awake, to make sure his last memory before he falls asleep is the one of the crib, and not you holding him. This way, he won't be scared when he wakes up.
My baby has been sleeping in his crib since day one, but I sleep in the same room. When he was still a newborn, sometimes I put him in the Snuggle Nest, and took him to my bed (I did that when he was fussing a lot).
Currently, he is four months old, and I make sure he always falls asleep in his crib. However, if he wakes up at night and cries, I take him to my bed. Maybe it is not the right thing to do, but I just can't help it!! I LOVE to watch him sleep, listen to his breath, and feel his little hands on my face (he loves to touch my face). I want to enjoy it while I still can; one day it will be over - children grow so fast!

Answer 4

To each their own I say... I tried to keep him in his own room in the begening... the whole time I was pregnant I would say "oh I will NEVER sleep with my baby" but after he was born I was so tired that at first I would get him a start to nurse him and we'd both fall asleep I noticed that both he and I sleeped better this way so I began sleeping with him every night (but I was so freaked by SIDS that we would sleep on the floor with a light blanket only on me... I was a HUGELY over protective mother) but my husband wouldn't stand for me doing this everynight, seeing as he now slept alone ( I was scared he'd roll over on him) I understood. So when he was about a month old I started putting him in his crib again. So I don't think it's bad. What ever works for the parent. Obvously you guys felt strongly about it and more power to you.

Answer 5

My first son refused to sleep in the bassinet, so after the 3rd night he went in his crib. Our second son slept in the bassinet until he was almost 3 months old. Every child is different and there is no right or wrong answer. You are doing the right thing as long as his basic needs and safety requirements are met.

Answer 6

Babies like the closeness of being in a bassinet. Newborns were all cramped up before birth so they need a little weening from that. As in start with the bassinet and then to the crib. I don't think it is detrimental to the development, just sleep development of good sleep habits.

Answer 7

I have never heard that it is detrimental at all, and believe me I read my share of parenting books and have many people around me spewing there expertise...I have heard however that its very unlikely they will be comfortable in a crib until around three months...I wouldnt know though because after that was the case with all of my friends I got a bassinette before my baby arrived

Answer 8

You are on the correct track. All people need to learn to sleep alone. There is an added benefit when another is added much later. It is NOT good to have a child sleeping with the parents.
Rolling over on them is just one aspect. It is the dependence of needing someone in bed at an early age which causes anxiety later.
Keep it up.

Answer 9

It is very important to a baby to be close to his/her mother, skin to skin, at the breast. Baby sleeping away from mother is a biological shock to the baby. Many babies will startle as soon as you put them down, even if they are in a deep sleep. It is an ingrained need to be with the mother - who is the only source of nourishment, comfort, and warmth that the baby has ever known. If a baby was left to sleep alone in less civilized times and places than these that baby would be at a huge risk of death - freezing, not being heard when its crying, being eaten by animals, etc etc. Imagine how hard it is to begin with, to be in such an amazing comforting environment, to being taken out into a cold, sterile environment, and then on top of that, being separated from the mother. It's traumatizing. There are studies showing up now that babies who were left to cry it out are more frequently being found to have post traumatic stress disorders as adults (just released in the last month or so).

Food for thought...

Answer 10

my baby slept in her crib in her room from day 1. she is now 11 months. if she cried (depending on the type of cry of course) we never jumped right up and ran to her side.

now at night if she is tired and cranky, she likes being put to bed, she instantly satisfied and will roll over and go to sleep. she can play independently as well, when she wants company or companionship she will let us know.

I would love to sit and hold and play with my baby all day, but we know that would only make it more difficult later.

i love the fact that at 11 months old she shows signs of independence (in happiness and playtime)