What do you think about baby sleeping in bed with parents?

Question

My daughter is four weeks old. She had been sleeping in her crib until a few nights ago...I brought her in my room because the weather was really bad. My husband and I both enjoyed having her sleeping in with us, and we all got a better night's sleep. I would like to do that more often, but I'm afraid if I start it now, she won't sleep in her crib later. Does anyone have any experience with this? I always swore I would never have an infant in bed with me...funny how your opinions change once you have one!! But like I said, I don't want to get into something it will be hard to get out of later. Any advice? Thanks!!

Answer 1

My baby sleeps with me usually around the 4 am wake up. I don't put her between my husband and I because he is more likely to roll on her. Actually I usually kick him out of bed and onto the couch so I can sleep better. I move all the pillows and blankets away from her except for a little blanket to keep her warm. When my baby was 2 months and under I had her on my arm next to me but as she grew I put her head away from my body and kept her feet against me. That way she can still feel me but isn't tempted to turn toward me. Also she turned into a little furnace and it became too warm to have her on my arm. I always start the night with her in her bed after she turned 2 months because I do want her to associate night time sleep with her bed, before 2months old she was just too colicky and I was too tired. As long as you're safe with the arrangement then she'll be OK. Never have her sleep in bed with you if you or dad has taken any medications that'll make you drowsy or have had any alcohol, just use common sense.

Answer 2

My girls are 2 and 4 yrs old. They eached slept with my husband and I when they were born until they were a month old. After that, they went into the crib and were fine. I always think about it like do lions and bears have their babies sleep somewhere AWAY from them? No they don't. Their babies sleep on top of them or right next to their Mama. My kids slept better that way. They like the smell of you and it's very comforting to them. The only draw back and safety hazard is worrying about rolling on them but I was a light sleeper and propped my arm around her to protect her. They sell little beds that fit between you and your hubby in the stores to be more safe.

As for how long to keep her in your room? That's up to you but I wouldn't do it for too long because she'll get used to it and that wouldn't be good. I wouldn't go another month. Enjoy this time. I miss those days now that I'm thinking about it. I loved waking up to my beauties.

Be Careful! :)

Answer 3

With my first son who was really colicky I had him sleep in bed with us, he would not sleep in the crib or the bassinet. It was the only way I could get any sleep. However, it took a long time to get him to go into his crib. He was a little over one once we got him to sleep in there and it was rough for a few nights, but you have to stick with it. It was harder for me to let him go than him I think. It is dangerous, but I never rolled over. I sleep really lightly and woke frequently to check on breathing and what not. It really is a matter of choice. There are pros and cons to doing this. I just had my second child less than two weeks ago and didn't want to have her in bed with us. However, there were several nights she laid in bed with us. This time though I took the boppy and placed it in between my husband and I and used that as a protective boundary. That way you would have to roll over the boppy and then onto the baby, which isn't likely to happen. That also worked and eased my concerns some. The past couple of nights though I have been enforcing the baby to sleep in the bassinet, she is better than my son was though. Do what you feel comfortable with. You have to keep your family sane afterall. Good luck!

Answer 4

We always let our newborns sleep with us. There is actually a doctor to the Stars in LA who is Recommending it - because everyone DOES sleep better, babies are more secure, it's easier for nursing, etc... I was NEVER afraid of injuring my child either - I didn't sleep soundly when there was a baby in the house anyway. Neither did my husband! The baby was never at risk, in my opinion.
I never had a hard time when we put the baby in her/his own crib later either - it was no big deal for our babies to adjust. They were so content all the time anyway - I think that's the biggest part of it. They did sleep in their crib for naps, so it wasn't as if it was a foreign place for them. I laid them down once they fell asleep and they were fine.
With our daughters, they slept with us for 1-3 mos. My son was our last and he actually slept with us for 6 mos. Not every night, but pretty consistantly. It was partially because we knew he was our last baby, partially because he always needed more cuddle time - he was my cuddliest kid and still is. Everyone was happier for it, so no big deal.
Do what is right for you and your baby and don't worry about what everyone else thinks. My sisters in law did the same thing with their babies too - all were breastfed and it was just easier. All our kids have turned out great, no one ever rolled over on a baby, all these children range from 16 to 4 yrs old! Best Wishes!

Answer 5

Been there, done that . . . several times.

Baby sleeping in bed with mom is the ONLY way for mom to get a decent night's sleep. If you nap during the day in a crib, and starting 4 months, try to disassociate feeding with falling asleep, it's really not a hard transition to the crib, around 6 months of age.

But little babies NEED that warmth and comfort, and with frequent feedings in the night, mama needs every extra five minutes of sleep she can get.

Answer 6

If these articles don't scare the crap out of you...I don't know what would. I understand where you're coming from, but it's so unsafe, and also a horrible habit to get into. Do you really want you're daughter to be a toddler insisting on sleeping with her parents??? Eek.

Baby Sleeping With Parents Dies
February 23rd, 2006 @ 8:17am
LAYTON, Utah (AP) -- A three-month-old Layton baby has apparently suffocated to death while sleeping in a bed with her parents.

The incident happened yesterday at the family's home.

Authorities say the baby girl's mother fed the infant around midnight. The woman then told officers when she woke up several hours later, she found her daughter unconscious.

The baby was taken to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Police believe one of the parents rolled onto the child, or a pillow covered the baby's face.

So far, no criminal charges have been filed.


http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=167726

Is Cosleeping Safe?
Despite the possible pros, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns parents not to place their infants to sleep in adult beds, stating that the practice puts babies at risk of suffocation and strangulation. And the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is in agreement with the CPSC.

Cosleeping is a widespread practice in many non-Western cultures. However, differences in mattresses, bedding, and other cultural practices may account for the lower risk in these countries as compared with the United States.

According to the CPSC, at least 515 deaths were linked to infants and toddlers sleeping in adult beds from January 1990 to December 1997. More than 75% of those deaths involved infants who were under 3 months old. Between January 1999 and December 2001, the CPSC reported that more than 100 children under the age of 2 years (98% were less than 1 year old) died after being placed to sleep on an adult bed.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/cosleeping.html

Answer 7

I also swore I would never co sleep but I actually really enjoy it. Our daughter sleeps both in her cradle and with me at times (but not both of us cause my partners 6'6 and takes up way to much room for 3 to fit. hahaa)
She slept with me for the first 2 months and then we had to try to get her into a bassinet so my partner could stop always sleeping on the couch. The transition was a little tough but not to bad. It took about a week for her to get used to it. My sister in law co slept with her daughter till 10 months. Now I really do believe in co sleeping but she had a wee bit of a difficult time getting her DD not to sleep in her bed. Now most nights her daughter and her sleep in her daughters room (shes 18 months old). But saying that my sister in law said she wouldn't change it for the world. I think as long as your safe ( no drinking, drug or smoking. Keep pillows, blankets away from baby. Make sure there isn't a space between head boards) then its great. The thing is they are only little once. A child wont sleep in your bed forever and when they are old enough they will move to their own bed. My best friends sister also co slept and when their little guy was around a year and half they said "hey look at Max's big boy bed!" and that was about it. He loved it and doesn't want to sleep with them anymore. I guess it can depend on the baby's personality.

Answer 8

My baby is 2 months old now and has slept with us in the bed since day one. He never would do the crib thing so we bought a "Snuggle Nest." It's a great little mini bed for the baby and as long as you limit the amount of pillows both you and your man use to one pillow it's very safe. You should look it up online and invest in one. I love sleeping with my baby, but yes, it is a habit that is hard to break. The Snuggle Nest is about 50$ but worth it if you want the baby to sleep with you and want to sleep safely with her. However, it does take up quite a bit of room on the bed. We have a Queen sized bed and our little boy has more room on it than we do LOL! Good luck!

Answer 9

Personally I have no problem with the idea of a child sleeping with the parents, but I would rethink it if I were you. I have a son almost a year old now, who started cutting upper teeth at about 6 months old. He was very fussy and wanted to be cuddled all night. We brought him to bed with us "just until he was done teething". Well like I said, he is almost a year old and he is still in bed with us. It was very nice at first, having him close and cuddled up with me, but it really takes its toll on other bed time activities... There are times that you might want to "cuddle" with your husband and you will have a baby between you. No bigger turn off for us. And believe me, once your gets accustomed to the bed they won't go in their cribs. Thats just my advice! Good luck!

Answer 10

You should do whatever feels right to you. Of course there are risks with infants sleeping in bed with the parents, but there are also risks of babies sleeping in their own cribs. Yes, it will be difficult later to switch her to her crib but you can do it, might have a few sleepless nights when you try it. I would make sure you are laying her in her crib during naps still, so that she is still used to it. Good Luck!!!