co-sleeping with a moses basket for the first month?

Question

Would this potentially make b-feeding easier for baby and me in the first four weeks, or would I have to get up frequently anyway for diaper changes (in which case, baby should just sleep in his/her crib)?

Does the closeness with baby while sleeping help with bonding, or will we get enough bonding throughout baby's waking hours? Should baby learn to sleep in his/her crib from the get go?

What are your opinions based on experience and what your doc's tell you?

We have a very small house and a very small room (our bed takes up 90% of our room). The crib is in the living room, which is just a couple of steps past our bed. I'm just wondering if it's worth the money to buy a moses basket or something along those lines for bonding, b-feeding, and baby's comfort. I have heard the two schools of thought, and I'm not set on either idea yet.

Answer 1

I had my baby sleeping on a bassinete for the first month right next to my bed, I was breasfeeding and let me tell you that plan on NOT getting much sleep at all at night, you have to get up to feed baby, burp him, change diaper like every 2 hours, my baby would wake up every two hours exactly and each feeding lasted about 40 minutes with burping and diaper change so I was getting like maybe 30minutes sleep at a time and it is hard at the beginning because you are so aware of the baby that every single little noise wakes you up, so you are just NOT going to get much sleep AT ALL whatever you do you will have a lot of sleepless nights. Breasfeeding though is easier than bottle feeding, because you don't have to go and make a bottle and warm it an all, you just put your baby in your boob and that's it. I love that part. After a month I started to put him to sleep in his crib and he was doing great but I am the one who got tired of getting up to feed him and get him out of the crib and all that so I started to feed him on my bed and let him fall asleep there with me so now I he is 3 months old and he sleeps really good at night, he wakes up between 2 to 3 times still eat but he doesn't even open his eyes, that's awesome, I am planning on starting him to sleep in his crib so what I did the other night and it worked great was, I fed him, he fell asleep so then I put him on his crib and he did fine, he slep what he usually sleeps at night and it was all fine. So bottom line, when you have your baby do what is easier for you, don't do what other tell you to do because what worked for them might not work for you, your baby will be different that ours and you will little by little find out what works best for you. I have been doing it like this because my husband is in Iraq and I really have lots of room in my bed now and having my baby near mkes me feel much better, and I know that one of the greatest things of all is that i can feel his hand touching my face in the morning like saying good morning mommy! Oh i love it and a big smile too. Good luck!

Answer 2

I am all for co-sleeping. I have two children and co-sleep with them both during the first year. Having the child closer to you, specially if you are going to bfeed will help so much! Feeding every 2-3 hours will start to wear on you so having the child close will make it alot easier. Perhaps put the changing table or diapers close by your bed so you don't have to get up and hunt for them in the middle of the night.

Most dr's unless you find a attachment parenting friendly doctor will be againest co-sleeping. For my family, co-sleeping was the only way to go. Between breastfeeding and co-sleeping I feel I have a closer bond with my children. Remember that you can always transition your child out of your bed at whatever age you want but those moments waking up next to your child smiling at you are the most cherishable. The child will feel more secure in your arms and perhaps even sleep better.

Answer 3

I bf and my son co-slept with my husband and i because he would not sleep in a bassinett or his crib. in the beginning you are up pretty frequently so having the baby sleep in the same room is ideal. I DO NOT recommend co-sleeping however (even though I did do it) it's dangerous and you get NO sleep because you are always worried about the baby being there. If the Moses basket does not work, Target sells a bedside sleeper that bumps up to your bed, so the baby is close, but you each have your own space. When your baby starts sleeping in longer intervals and you are ready to have them be in their own room, I strongly suggest a pre-made swaddle. I had one for my son and it was like a dream, I recommend it and buy it for every new mom and I have only heard outstanding things about it. I included the links to both the bedside sleeper and the swaddle for you.

Answer 4

We used a product called snuggle nest with all three of our children for the first three months of their lives. A moses basket should be similar tho I'd look at our product just for you comfort while sleeping. We thought co-sleeping this way was great and with this product never worried about their safety. As a first time mom in fact I felt much better with the baby there with me where I could hear her breathing and moving as most moms are apt to do in the beginning. With my first I breast-fed and this was the best. I could wake up feed her for ten minutes, change her diaper,put her back and go back to sleep w/o leaving my bed. With our twins it was absolutely necessary piece to our sanity, We just kept everything we needed for caring for them on a bedside table. We had no issues come up when they went to their cribs at around 4 months old when they we're waking up only once a night. We also kept a pack-n-play w/ bassinet feature so if my husband and I wanted our bed to ourselves we had a place for them to go for the night that was only a few steps away.

Answer 5

i loved co-sleeping, and it makes night time nursing a BREEZE....dont bother changing diapers at night unless a serious rash is going on or a mess you dont want to wait on...otherwise the diaper can wait until AM.
a moses basket doesnt seem like it would be the best choice though....have you consdered a 'side car' im not sure of whats a good make or anything but its essentially a bassinette that straps to the bed...this way, baby is arms reach, can snuggle with mom and dad or sleep alone in the side car...depending on what you feel like. The bottom line is sleep...if you are returning to work and NEED to sleep through the night, consider co-sleeping. Read Dr. Sears books about co-sleeping ...and remember, just because you start out out co-sleeping doesnt mean taht baby will still be in bed with you at 5 yrs. old.....my infant son slept with us and then in a crib by the time he slept through the night on his own.

Answer 6

My baby was actually happier in her own bed or crib than sleeping with me. Plus she was so restless when she slept- always twitching and kicking- it accomplished nothing (for me!) To this day she wants her own space when it's bedtime. So you never know. For bf'ing or bottle feeding in the middle of the night, it's handy to have them right next to you but how you describe your place, I would not find it terribly inconvenient to go to her crib when she wakes either. The sleep positioners can help make a big crib seem more cozy, with the support for the sides and head.

Answer 7

I never talked to my sons doctor about our sleep habits. Its none of his business.

You will have to get up frequently for diaper changes, but most infants will not readily be placed alone in a crib, or bassinet, or cradle... or whatever. They are so used to being close to you, that not being close to you is very scary.

I had a cradle that i fully intended on using. My son would just not tollerate it. By the third night i was falling asleep sitting up and desided it was safer for both of us to just lay down next to each other.

Afterward i found that my instinct was for a purpose. Heres some info on co-sleeping:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T071000.asp

Now, my son is 16 months old and we co-sleep part time. I wouldnt trade my cuddle time for anything in the world.

Answer 8

I started my son in a basket beside my bed, but I was up every two hours to feed him. I would end up falling asleep while nursing him. So we ended up co-sleeping after a few nights. Now he is eight months old and sleeping through the night in his own bed, in my room of course. So just do what works best for you.

Answer 9

With my first child I never dreamt of co-sleeping. With my now 12 month old, he has never slept in a crib. Many will tell you they need to learn to put themselves to sleep. But personally, I find it a shame that we expect our BABIES to be born half grown!! Seriously, how long have people been usign cribs and what did parents do before that sicne mankind began??? We sure arent any better off having them.

Here is a link on co-sleeping and SIDS, the rates you will see are indeed lower.

http://www.babyreference.com/Cosleeping&SIDSFactSheet.htm

Answer 10

It is a great idea and I am telling you you will be thanking yourself in the middle of the night when you are actually able to feed without running all over the house at night and then not being able to fall back asleep.