is it okay for my newborn to sleep in the bed with me? if so, until what age?

Answer 1

I am on my third baby. On know that they say not to let the babies sleep with you because you could roll over onto them, but I have let all of my babies sleep with me. Don't use lots of pillows or blankets and comforters. They say if you are a drinker or a smoker or use drugs or sleep aids or anything else that might make you sleep heavy, you shouldn't let your baby sleep with you. At www.babycenter.com they have a bunch of pointers for you if you want to do the family bed thing. I always kick them out of my bed when they are able to sleep those long periods at night and are able to start learning how to self soothe themselves better. I know some say that I have just gotten lucky and have never rolled over onto my babies. Luckily for me and my babies I wake up when I have to move while sleeping. I am not for sure why, but that is how I am.
I think it is okay to have your newborn in bed with you, but you have to follow safety guidelines. Look on www.babycenter.com. They can give you the pros and cons of all of the different sleep arrangements. But I think ultimately, it all comes down to what you feel is right for you and your family.

Answer 2

That's always a personal decision- some say it's okay, some don't. If you want my opinion, it's not safe for a newborn to sleep right there in bed with you. As a new Mom, you're overtired, and even though you might think you won't, you can roll onto your baby or accidentally squish them, and not realize it. There's also a risk you could pull blankets over your baby and not realize it, and newborn babies can't fight getting suffocated like slightly older babies can, especially once they can roll over on their own. I used a Pack & Play that my daughter slept in until she was 5-6 months old, and since then she has slept with us. There are also co-sleepers that are similar to a 3-sided Pack & Play that hook onto your bed, I think this would be great, but we just didn't have the money for one (they cost a few hundred dollars). There are also small co-sleepers that your baby lays in on the bed. Some even have lights on them. I haven't tried these, but I think it would be safer than nothing. As far as your question of until what age, I think it's just however long it works for your family. My daughter is 14 months old, and while we've talked about whether or not to move her to her own bed, we still like being together as a family this way, and don't any have plans yet to move her. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Whoa!

This is a highly controversial issue. "Co-sleeping" is discouraged by a huge number of pediatricians in America, the American Pediatrics Association and the Consumer Products Safety Commission of the US government.

Not only does a newborn need a firmer mattress and less sheets/blankets/comforters than an adult, but there is a much higher SIDS risk being in your bed than being in a crib with a good firm mattress.

In addition, 'roll over deaths' do happen, when a very tired adult rolls over and crushes the baby, or pushes over a pillow or a comforter that covers the baby's mouth such that he cannot breathe.

Please--I know it is 'family bonding and all that' but please please talk to your doctor and get his point of view on this. It is not as cut and dry as some people like to make it out.

Answer 4

As long as you babyproof your bed including using safe bedding. As long as you and any other people in the bed meet the requirement (not morbidly obese, not overweight, not on medications or drugs/alcohol, not suffering from a sleep disorder that interferes with arousal from sleep, etc). Then cosleeping is safe and may be protective against SIDS.

As to until what age that is up to you, your child, and perhaps your partener. There are studies either way at each age regarding whether cosleeping or the family bed is a problem or not. I would point out it is the norm in many places.

Answer 5

No, doctors used to recommend sleeping with your baby, but now they are advising against it. There are more and more infant deaths due to sleeping with the parent. A baby could fall, suffocate, even accidentally get rolled onto. I would seriously advise against it...anything can happen. Just put your baby next to your bed in a crib or bassonette.

Answer 6

It's fine for you to have in your bed with you. I personally wouldn't do it just because I would be sooo scared of hurting my baby. But there is nothing wrong with it.

Usually the age is around 3-5 months they need to learn to sleep in a crib without having to be right next to Mom, because you might find it much harder 'weaning' her from sleeping in your bed. But it's all a matter of opinion really.

Answer 7

my nearly 6 month old son co sleeps with us and has done since birth. I breastfeed and he does not sleep for more than a few hours at a time so we are happy to have him in with us and this way we all get as much sleep as possible.We try to do this as safely as possible with light bedding and few pillows but I am a very light sleeper anyhow.I would think of weaning him into his cot if he started to fidget at night as im not to sure how safe that would be .Still my daughter slept in with me until she was around 2 and that suited us just fine as she didnt move around at all.

Answer 8

My baby is 4 months old and has been sleeping with me in the bed since we were IN the hospital. I don't know when I'm going to kick him out, I guess when he needs his space and I'm ready for him to go. For now, though, he sleeps in his crib for naptimes and until I come to bed. When he wakes up to eat the first time after going to his bed, I bring him in my bed, feed him then put him to sleep next to me. I think it's perfectly safe, you won't roll over on him unless you are drunk or drugged up, and i'm sure you won't be silly enough to bring your baby in bed under those circumstances.

Answer 9

Oh if you ever heard of a horror story of a mother rolling over on their baby you would never ever do it (I know i wanted to so so bad) of course you want to sleep with yoru baby how could you not they are so adorable, and I have even napped next to them, but do whats best for the baby, and thats to sleep in the same room for at least the first 3 months, no doubt about that, but first of all, its safer for the baby to be seperate from you, dangerous blankets and pillows (and Im not one of those scary cat moms who fear everything, but this all made sense) and second, the baby will be a better sleeper if you just let him/her learn to be alone, but secure that you are never far. when they sleep good alone and all night long, you will be so happy you listened to me. The gift of independence with confidence and security is invaluable to our children!

Answer 10

Put the infant in a crib next to your bed. You will just have to wean the kid off of that expectation. In the crib, none of the adults will roll over it or push it onto the floor.
Also, Dad can care for the infant without waking you up.