The doctor advised me not to give him rice cereal until 6 months..I know that breastmilk is easily digested so they are hungry more often than a formula fed baby. Also, I know that this is considered bad, but I don't put him in his crib, he sleeps next to me in my bed free of sheets and blankets, or pilllows..but I don't feel comfortable putting him in his crib, because I can't see him and I can't make sure he's okay like I can when he is in my bed. I'm single and I don't share my bed with anyone else. People always give me crap about it..but I feel more comfortable with him next to me. Plus I breastfeed, so it's a lot easier for me too.
2007-02-09 03:18:02 · 10 answers · asked by Lolly07 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
First, it is not inherently "bad" to share your bed with your baby. It is a matter of personal preference. Many lay people are insufficiently informed. Your own pediatrician would recommend a crib/bassinet or co-sleeper (bedside attachment) but will not judge you for your choice.
Dr. Sears (Author of "The Baby Book") actually tested his own child's blood oxygen level when they shared a bed and when the child was in a crib. He found that oxygen level increased when they shared a bed. It seems babies breathe more regularly when they have their parents' breaths to synchronize with.
Your primary concern for sharing a bed are: loose or heavy covers and headboards. Your baby probably doesn't yet have the skill to pull a blanket off himself. You may need to leave the furnace up overnight and pay a higher heating bill. Headboards can be a danger if he slips between the board and mattress.
2007-02-09 04:02:42 · answer #1 · answered by John K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe there is a right or wrong answer to your baby's sleep routine- whether in bed with you or not.
My baby is 4 months old exactly and she wakes up 1-3 times per night to nurse. She was waking up 4-5 times per night and I was told that she was "snacking" not eating a "meal." So the other times she woke up, when I knew she nursed withing the last couple hours, I would just give her her paci instead. It took 5-10 min to get her back to sleep, but she has adjusted to this new schedule very well now. I also asked my doctor about this and she did tell me to start her on rice cereal only at night. Sofia loves her cereal and this also helps her sleep better too.
Every doctor and mother has their own philosophy. I know moms who started their newborn on cereal right away and others that waited till 6 months. Do what you feel is the best for your baby.
2007-02-09 13:32:38 · answer #2 · answered by ♥Humble Proclaimer♥ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing wrong with sleeping with your baby, what ever you can do to get sleep. He should be eating every 2/3 hours. This worked for me, we took the side rail off the crib, the one that moves up and down, and had the crib right up against the bed. I would start my baby out in the crib and then move him into bed with us when he would wake up to nurse, the next time he woke up I would move him back to the crib and nurse him there and that worked well. It might help with an easier transition to sleeping in a crib when he is a little bigger. Good Luck, just get your sleep.
2007-02-09 11:39:54 · answer #3 · answered by applecrisp 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My son got up every 2 1/2 hours at this age still. If you are co sleeping with him. You can nurse him as often as possible because you are both pretty much still sleeping through the feeding. So if if wakes up it's fine to continue to nurse him as often as possible. Mothers are much lighter sleepers and our instincts are very good so co-sleeping is fine as long as the baby is not sleeping on a pillow or you have alot of blankets. It is a wonderful thing to have that close bond with your child. Wait until he is 6 months for the cereal. My doctor started my son on cereal at 4 months but it didn't really make him sleep that much better.
momof4
2007-02-09 11:46:12 · answer #4 · answered by mary3127 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing wrong to sleep with your baby. As you say you took all the precautions, so what? Enjoy absolutely every moment with him and do NOT pay attention for what people say. Mother knows best!
My son is almost 5 months and I started giving him cereal. But you know what...no difference :-))).
He eats the cereal at about 9pm, than I breastfeed him also, and at 2 a.m. he is hungry. It might change with the time, I don't know.
Good luck to you!
2007-02-09 11:29:40 · answer #5 · answered by Just_Me 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't let anyone make you feel wrong for co-sleeping with your child. Babies need to be near their mothers, and assuming you're not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will remain aware of your baby even while sleeping.
A lot more babies die of SIDS in their cribs each year than die while sleeping with a parent.
One study has found that a breastfed baby co-sleeping with it's mother cuts the risk of SIDS in half!
2007-02-09 13:18:58 · answer #6 · answered by Maggie E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You really shouldn't have him sleep in bed with you. I've always found that scarier than letting a baby sleep in a crib! I'd be afraid of rolling onto him or of him falling out of the bed! In addition, it will be a hard habit for you to break him of when he gets older. If you are concerned about being to far from him, either get a baby monitor and put it near his crib or move the crib into your room. Sleeping with you might be contributing to his sleeping issues - every time you move it might be waking him up. And, yes, breastfed babies don't sleep as well as formula babies do, so that is contributing to his sleep issues, too, I bet.
2007-02-09 11:33:53 · answer #7 · answered by Shelley L 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I think everyone will have an opinion with something or another. If it works for you...it is ok. It sounds like you make it safe. In the book," What to expect the first years" ,they have a chapter on co-sleeping. They basically say if it is ok with you, it is ok. People will give you crap about everything.... Do what works for you and your baby.
2007-02-09 11:45:12 · answer #8 · answered by Brandy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Girl I do the same thing. My baby is 2 months and she sleeps in the bed with me and daddy. when she wakes up i put the breast in her mouth and we both go back to sleep. nothing is wrong with that. They say not to give your baby cereal but i tried and it didnt make her sleep longer. keep him or her up all day..that will knock her out!!
2007-02-09 13:30:35 · answer #9 · answered by NaVy WiFeY 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
at least but him in a bassinet or soemthing bigger next to you and ween him into the crib. i understand that you feel more secure with him right there thats understandable but NOW is the prime time to ween him into his crib. have him take his naps there first and the transition should be easy. there are monitors with tvs so you could see him get those AND regular monitors if you want. but the only thing is its not too late for you to start weening him into a crib or like i said AT LEAST a bassinet. its gonna be hard but you'll be greatful in the long run. and mine started sleeping through the night at 4 months but unlike drs orders i gave him a couple teaspoons of watery rice cereal before bed with his bottle so that might have helped. but i always tried putting him in his crib for his naps with a small fan blowing for a nice soothing noise to rock him to sleep. try these SIDS is horribly common and you dont have to accidentally sleep on your baby for them to suffer from SIDS they need to be in there own space with no covers, pillows or stuffed animals and breathable sheets. its safer and lowers the risk dramatically jsut by moving him into his own safe crib!! good luck your not a bad mom so dotn feel guilty about sleepign with your baby but it is unsafe and the benefits of moving your 4mo old now out weighs the security you feel with him sleeping in the bed with you. congrats and try these techniques!!
2007-02-09 11:26:46 · answer #10 · answered by toolate 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋