Are you for or against letting a baby sleep in the bed with their parents?

Question

Please note that I have no intention of doing so...

I just want a survey of personal opinion... I want to know your opinion and prefer no "do what you want" responses.

Answer 1

AGAINST!
They make cradles that you can put right next to your bed, and it keeps your baby safe and right next to you, so why take the chance?!

Answer 2

Against. If the parents want to have more children and not taint or affect a child's mind, the kid needs to sleep in its own bed. For the first few months of their lives, it's okay, because obviously the baby's up at all hours of the night and parents try to grab what little sleep they can. But they could roll over onto the baby if they're not careful.

Also, letting a child sleep in the parents bed will never get them used to sleeping in their own. The kid cannot sleep with its parents forever. The child NEEDS to be able to fall asleep and sleep in his/her own bed until morning. Period. I've known a number of parents who let their kids sleep with them in their beds. They often complain of how the parents never have alone time and they can't get Billy or Susie to sleep alone. Now who's fault was that?

Answer 3

It was sooooo easy to have the baby in bed with us. Easy for feeding, easy for comforting, and boy, you knew THE MINUTE that diaper was full! We never had a problem with anyone rolling on the baby or blankets being over her head.

So, I'd say for. But I REALLY think this is a decision each set of parents should make for themselves. Some people are more wild sleepers, and others believe the marital bed is the only place for sex. Sex in front of babies = squick! My solution: make the guest bedroom into a sexy budoir instead of a nursery.

BTW, we wound up bringing the crib next to the bed eventually. Once the baby slept through the night, that was close enough for comforting, but more comfy for the sleeping parents.

This really isn't a black/white, for/against issue. Many shades of gray here.

Answer 4

When they are real young I don't think it's a good idea. There is always the possibility of rolling over your baby. They are so fragile when they are younger. It isn't a good idea in the first place cause then when your child is older they will want to sleep in your bed all the time. My friends had that problem with their youngest. It's really up to the parent. If they can deal with a child in their bed every night, then go for it. I might, but don't really know until I have my own.

Answer 5

As long as it's a safe (no fluffy blankets or pillows, safe placement within the bed, no other children in the bed, not under influence of drugs/alcohol, etc) co-sleeping situation I am all for it. My daughter sleeps in between my husband and myself and we all get a great nights sleep and it hasn't caused us any problems at all. We started cosleeping in the bed (vs with a cosleeper on the side) when she was around 4 months old and able to pull the covers off of her.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

According to Dr Sears, Mothers have a more intense instinct when it comes to sleeping next to their child. Mother and child are more in tune with each other and tend to sleep in harmony. She will wake when the baby wakes and subconsciously knows not to roll on the child. She will feel sure in the fact that she will wake if the baby needs something.

Answer 6

I am for co-slepping.
Its easier to breastfeed at night and everyone has a more restful sleep because there is no gettting up and running around in the middle of the night.
It helps reduce the risk of SIDS, because the baby matches the mothers breathing pattern. As long as its done safely and the parents arent drunk or on drugs (legal and illegal) everything should be fine.

Answer 7

As long as both parent and child are happy, co-sleeping is an excellent practice for both.

Co-sleeping reduces the rate of SIDS and also helps everyone to sleep more while a child is still breastfeeding.

But when either parent or child starts to lose sleep for whatever reason, or is no longer comfortable with it, then co-sleeping should no longer continue.

I co-slept with my first child for about a year, and I am still co-sleeping with my son at 17 months (part-time -- he spends the first half of the night in his crib right next to my bed).

Answer 8

I am too scared to let my baby co-sleep. The thought that I might accidentally roll over onto him scares the heck out of me. I know in some cultures it is very common to place your baby in the same bed as you, but I see it as very dangerous. You increase the risk of suffocation when you allow your child to sleep in your bed. Plus, they might get really used to this and never sleep in their own bed. My sister lets her daughter,10 months sleep in her bed and she has fallen off the bed a couple of times when my sister has had to leave to go to the restroom in the middle of the night. I want to protect my son to the best of my ability and if that means he sleeps in his crib at night, then that's how it's going to be.

Answer 9

I think it's fine as long as the baby isn't really young. My daughter is a year old and has been sleeping with me every night since she's around 6 months and I haven't had any issues. If your a heavy sleeper though you might have problems because theyll wake up and roll/crawl right off the bed. Luckily I wake up the second she makes any kind of movement.

Answer 10

I don't think it's the best thing for the baby, and the parents always end up worrying that they're going to hurt the child during the night. Having the bassinet in the parents' bedroom is fine, as is letting an older child come into the bed when he or she has a nightmare, but babies and children need their own space in the house.

Answer 11

Very against it! There is absolutely no need for a baby to be sleeping in the bed with parents. You can put a bassinet in the bedroom with you. There is nothing wrong with letting a baby sleep in his/her crib. Babies become dependent on sleeping with their parents after a while and that will make it really hard for the parents to get the child to sleep in it's own bed later on. Not to mention, a lot of people roll over on their babies and smother them! It is unsafe! My daughter is 15 months old and has NEVER slept in the same bed as me. She has slept in her crib since day 1!