6 month old...?

Question

Ok my six month old is starting to drive me batty. He wakes up and wont sleep anywhere but in my bed with me. I have heard conflicting theories on this... Sears says it's fine, actually good for babies others say it's bad and is harmful for baby... I'm looking for peoples experience with this. Did they allow their baby to sleep with them? Did they regret it? He's so independent in other ways... And I LIKE sleeping with him, but i don't wont to if I'm harming him... Respectful input PLEASE!

Answer 1

Million of babies throughout time slept with mom and dad, and then were moved into a bed with their siblings and they all turned out fine. You do not need to force your baby to do anything, they all develop in their own way, at their own pace and they all get to the same point eventually. No one ever went to college co-sleeping, nursing to sleep or using a bottle or pacifier. There was also a study that said children who co-sleep until I think 5 had far fewer psychological problems than average. (I'll try to find it, but I have to cook dinner first)

Please stop stressing about it. If it feels right for you and your baby it is. Every baby and every family is different. Do what works for you. I have always co-slept with my baby and he is slowly moving into his crib all by himself.

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Edited to add:

Seriously people do you really think kids do not learn independence on their own. Of course they do! Particularly if you do not force it on them too early. North Americans are far to focused on forcing their kids to do things, and you know what IT'S NOT WORKING! for most kids. We have more behavioural problems than ever and even psychiatric problems at a younger and younger age.

If you put food in front of you child (big pieces) every day from the day they are born they would eventually put it in their mouth, and then they would spit it out. Then they would chew it, and probably spit it up. Then eventually, around 6 months they would start to swallow it. Why? Because around 6 months they learn to move food towards the back of their mouths AND they digestive track switches from "open" to "closed". Open is to get all the immunological factors from mom, closed is ready for food, startling how if you leave them alone they figure it out at the right time in their own personal development, no? Of course not! Humans are not dumber than animals. Scientists are of course, just now proving that starting solids around 6 months is optimal for babies, but babies knew it all along.

Monkeys sleep on mom, then with mom until they reach a certain age, then they move out all on their own. So do almost all animals. Certain den animals wait until the pack kicks them out, but they go. Works for kids too.

Kids who are allowed to be attached to mom, and not some "mommy replacement" (I mean thing like a blanket, toy or pacifier, not other family that care for baby or adoptive moms ok. Adoptive parents and families are amazing.) learn to be independent and have FEWER not more separation issues (on average). People are always surprised when they meet toddlers with no fear of strangers, and yet for those of us who do AP or baby-led parenting find most kids don't "make strange"

Now am I saying you have to co-sleep until your kids move out of your bed on their own. No because that can be anywhere up to 8ish years old, and that wouldn't work for most families. But you can co-sleep until it stops working for you. And you can buy larger beds for your kids and encourage them to sleep together if they want company and you don't want them in your bed (assuming you have two or more kids.) Your grandparents probably grew up sharing a bed; some of your parents did too. They turned out just fine didn't they?

Answer 2

My first child did the same thing. She slept in our bed most of the time, much of the time on my chest. I got very little sleep, worrying about rolling on her or her rolling off, etc. I realize now I was extremely sleep deprived. With our second, I followed the advice in Baby Whisperer and put him to sleep in his own bed from day one and *taught* him to stay there (gently soothe him back to sleep each time). He also had a "mommy substitute"- a plush elephant since day one. Since I have two small children, I couldn't afford to be so tired all the time. I miss the snuggling, but the sleep is worth it.

Answer 3

yea i went to babycenter.com and read up on sleeping tips for my 10 week old today and sears definitely seemed the most lax. i just recently got into the habit of letting my son sleep with us primarily because i felt guilty because we moved and took him on a trip. it's been almost 2 weeks now and i really think i need to break him of this. i think that you should do the same. he needs to learn this independence now or else he will have sleep/separation issues forever. he needs to know that you're there but that he is going to be okay if you're not. i know it's hard. good luck!!

Answer 4

Yes, but what are you going to do when he gets older and wants to sleep with you.

Try getting him a bed if he is in a crib and laying with him until he falls asleep. Then work it to sitting by his bed until he falls asleep. Read to him and this makes them sleepy. At 6 months you can read whatever you want in a motherly voice and you can be reading stuff you are wanting to read.

You should not sleep in your bed with him and you sleeping too because you can suffocate him and get him used to your bed instead of his. That is not good for him.

If he is waking up, just stay in there with him until he goes back to sleep and do those things stated above.

Answer 5

Well I slept with my parents until I was probably 6. My sister's kids slept with her until they were around the age of 5. My fiancee slept with his parents until he was 8. Now my son who is 6 months old sleeps with us. My sister's kids are fine. I'm fine. My fiancee is fine. I dont think its harmful to a kid at all. I love having my son in bed with me. I dont plan on changing it until he gets a bit older either. Yes when they get older it becomes difficult for a parent to get their child to sleep by themselves but I think its worth it for now. Do what you want to do and what is best for your family. As long as you aren't being harmful to your son then it doesn't matter. Good luck.

Answer 6

I never had my son in my bed unless he was sick and otherwise unconsolable, even then I placed him back in his crib as soon as he was asleep again. And he is just fine. I don't regret my decision at all. If he wakes up at night i hold him for a few minutes just to comfort him then place him in his crib and rub his back until he's back to sleep.

Answer 7

yeah no i dont think its a good idea for him to sllep in your bed only for his safety...as in suffercation, falling doing damage, so no a friend of mine actuallly let his 4month old in their bed and woke up to find him well dead and yes it was suffercation not on purpose ...accidently