Did you or do you let your baby sleep in your bed with you?

Question

Ive been reading that there are apparent guidlines you must follow in order to minimise the risks

Im not sure how you are able to follow these 'guidlines' when you are asleep?

Is it not a huge risk to take just for a more settled nights sleep?

sorry guidelines before the spelling police jump down my throat!

Yeah I am a parent and I never once let my son fall asleep in bed with me
i just wouldnt take that risk

Answer 1

The studies that I have read state that co-sleeping actually decreases the incidences of SIDS... because the baby can hear your breathing and it helps the baby develop the pattern. I am going to co-sleep for at least 3 months so that I can breastfeed throughout the night without getting up. The things to watch out for are blankets, and any drugs or drinking...Everyone I've talked to says that rolling over on your baby is next to impossible because your instincts are so strong.

Answer 2

Yes, big risk really if you think about it properly.

But we did it once, as she was ill and we just wanted to get a few hours sleep!!!! She also slept better too, plus she was only two months old and really colicky. Have never done it since by the way. Train them right to go to sleep on their own, no lights, door shut etc and they will be happier too.

My advice, just don't do it if you've had a drink or you or your partner smoke. There was a case I read about three months ago mum had a couple of glasses of wine and fell asleep and rolled on top of her three month old, very sad.

I agree though about separation, if you start to do it then you have to do it all not all the time, but the odd exception won't hurt.

Answer 3

I have four children and breastfed them all in bed with me. If you bring an infant or very young child in your bed there is some risk and you should definately follow the guidlines.
I found I got my sleep and we were all much happier. Older children often come in their parents bed when they get nightmares, or feel cold, etc. You can be more relaxed about that. Besides, where would you want to be if you were a little one? Right beside the ones you love the most.

Answer 4

My oldest did, and we never rolled on her. Once you have a baby you have a sense that is awake even when you are not. I do not know how to explain it, I can always hear my kids even if I am asleep.

But I would not recommend it to people, it is a habit that is VERY hard to break, so we never did with our youngest (our oldest was out of our bed by then) and I tell everyone not to. But when my youngest was a newborn I did have a bassinet in our room for the first month or so.

I just read another answer and yes if alcohol is involved it could be dangerous. We may have had a beer or two but NEVER went to bed drunk or buzzed when she slept with us.

Answer 5

Despite the media hype and that friend of a friend of a friend who knew some couple...., co-sleeping is not a "huge risk". It is only really dangerous is the parents are drug users, drinking, have sleep disorders, or are severely obese.
My son has slept in our bed, right next to use snuggled up to mommy since birth and we will continue to do so unless one of us somehow falls into the above categories. It is best for our sleep, our bond, and our sons security.
Studies have also shown that co-sleeping reduces SIDS risk as baby's breathing synchronizes with mothers breathing as they sleep close to each other.

Answer 6

My baby used to sleep really well until she got ill then she would not settle in her cot and would cry until she got close to vomiting (would never let her get that far!) We would take her in with us and follow the safety guidelines to minimise any risks.
I don't drink but if my other half had one he would sleep on he sofa, we don';t smoke or take drugs. We have gradeually got her back into her cot althought it has taken months.
I would never recommend it however, at the end of the day it is what works for you and your family!

Answer 7

I was the sole caretaker for my daughter, recovering from a c-section, and was breastfeeding. Most nights she fell asleep by my side, because I wasn't very mobile at first. I didn't sleep well, but that was better than not at all. I actually became a different sleeper, much lighter, much more aware of everyone and everything in the room.

When she got older, and I left my ex, we had a much smaller place. We shared a room and yes she slept in my bed, because we had to. She was a toddler then.

She's 8 now, and sleeps alone, in a loft bed, at the other end of the house from me. And she's perfectly fine and well adjusted, with rarely a nightmare (thankfully!). That's our experience, for what it's worth.

Answer 8

i have a 15 month old son n when he was a newborn i would not let him sleep in bed with me and my partner as i was scared of rolling over onto him but from the age of about 3 months my son has been waking up at about 3.30am every morning so i get him in bed with us, he sleeps on my arm so i know that i can not roll ont him n that he can not roll outta bed, i only pull the covers to his waist level then put my arm over top so he can not pull them up too high or make his way down the bed, it also helps that im a very light sleeper n i know if he makes a noise or moves n i just check to make sure he ok n then i go back to sleep,
i find that my son sleeps better close to me n my partner n i sleep better knowing that he safe

i know a lot of ppl dont agree with this but it works best for all 3 of us

Answer 9

Yeah we started letting our baby sleep with us around 8 months old. I guess its when he starting teething and stop sleeping through the night again. I always say however I get the most sleep is good for me/us.
When he was a tiny baby we had him in a bassinet by our bed so when he woke up in the middle of the night I could feed him and lay him back down without much disruption.

Answer 10

I have an eleven month old and no she does not sleep in the bed with me all the time. If she is sick or wakes up in the middle of the night then yes I want her to be close to me. It is more for me then it is for her. When she was a baby baby I got a pack and play that had an attachments to put on the top and hide the side open. So she was close by and i could roll over and feed her in the night so neither one of us would have to get up.