Is it wrong to let my 4MTH old sleep in my bed?

Question

im undecided on this
she doesnt sleep well in her cot but sleeps almost all night with me.
is it harmful or destructive for her to sleep in my bed until she can sleep by herself?

Answer 1

As long as you are a light sleeper, make sure you'd be able to wake up if your baby is crying, and also a calm sleeper. Adults who roll around in bed tend to put their young babies in danger, risk of smothering, etc. But I have a two year old, he's been sleeping in my bed with me since the day he was born. I'm a light sleeper and I don't roll around much either. It calms them down being that they spend the first nine months of life inside your body listening to your heartbeat. Same goes for outside the womb, they feel your body heat and the sound of your heart beating comforting.

Answer 2

There are a lot of people who still believe that cosleeping with an infant is bad for one reason or another. Jason S highlighted a common reason that is given (smothering or SIDS). I agree that those people were not sleeping safely with their babies. Babies should only sleep with their parents (mother), NOT their grandparents or anyone else. The woman whose baby was stuck between the bed and the wall was also sleeping unsafely. Babies should never be put on a waterbed. You should NEVER sleep with a baby if you have been drinking, taking illegal drugs or if you are using medicine that makes you sleepy.

If you want to cosleep, you need to follow certain safety guidelines. I found it easier to just put my mattress on the floor in the middle of the room. It worked really well for us. Experts are divided about whether or not baby should sleep in between the parents or if baby should be between mom and the edge of the bed. My husband is very aware of the children, so they have always slept between us.

No matter how you choose to sleep, here are some safety guidelines:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070600.asp

I truly believe that sleeping safely with your baby will help protect your baby against SIDS, not cause it. Try this experiment: Let your baby fall asleep on your chest. When your baby is in a deep sleep, take a deep breath. Baby will do the same. Play around with it. It's funny and amazing.

Answer 3

No, it's not wrong at all. Your baby sleeps well with you because that is where she is safe, warm, and secure. Parents have been co-sleeping with babies for thousands of years - we'd be extinct if it was so dangerous! Sleeping alone in a crib down the hall is far more dangerous. Here's some good information on co-sleeping:

http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/familybed.html
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T071000.asp
http://www.continuum-concept.org/cc_defined.html

Edit: It's not necessarily hard to get a co-sleeping child out of your bed. Like anything else, though, if you push a child to do something before he or she is ready, it will likely be harder and take longer...

Answer 4

I agree 100% with Laura. In countries where cosleeping is practiced regularly, SIDS is practically nonexistent. As long as the proper precautions are taken, it is perfectly safe.
My son coslept with us for the first 6 months of his life. He was sleeping through the night at less than a week old, and transitioned smoothly to his own crib at 6 months old. We never had a need for the horrific and rather negligent "cry it out" method. I credit the easy transition to the nurturing he got from birth.
At three years old, he knows that he is free to climb into bed with us whenever he wants. As a result, he rarely does. Knowing that he has the option is enough to make him feel secure.

Answer 5

Don't listen to these people.

Do a little research. People have been co-sleeping with their babies for centuries. In many countries (including the US), people still do today.

You're not going to roll over on your baby. Adults have a sense about their surroundings when they sleep. When's the last time you rolled out of bed?

Answer 6

definite, there is not any harm in letting your little woman sleep interior a similar mattress as you. If she gets scared at evening, then on your project, she is obviously going to tutor to her daddy for convenience and reassurance. the only element i may be careful approximately is that she would not place self belief in this for too long. it could make issues for you the two interior the destiny if she sees this because of the fact the only thank you to get to sleep at evening. At 3, i assume she is the right age to appreciate what you tell her, so consistent with danger attempt to describe to her that now she is getting a brilliant woman, consistent with danger she might prefer to attempt to sleep in her own mattress. Reassure her that daddy is in simple terms interior the subsequent room and he or she would be in a position to constantly are available if she gets scared. consistent with danger yet another thought may be to furnish her a splash evening mild so as that she isn't thoroughly at evening.

Answer 7

I put my first 2 children in the bed with me since birth. there are pros and cons of it.
Here are the pros:
-sleeping with your baby on your chest "teaches" them how to breath, if that makes sense. It sort of gets them into rythm with you.
-Baby is easier to tend to, especially if u are breast feeding.
- I feel it tends to bring a stronger bond.

Cons:
-You will eventually have to kick the child out of the nest. This can be really HARD. Trust me I know! lol. I JUST got my kids out of my bed. They are 5 and 4. I actually moved to the couch for a YEAR after a while of getting booted to the floor for the lack of space.
-There are the little things like...leaking diaper, spit up, drool. Are you prepared to deal with this in your hair and on your bed??
-No sex ...need I say more?

Over all I would not do it again. I let my 1yr old sleep on his own. Although we do not have the bond that my oldest and I do (he slept with me the most), I know I can just put him to bed and be done with it! Then have free time to do whatever.
If you do sleep with her just make sure your subconsious knows she is there! Even though I was asleep (and Im a tosser) I would know he was there and lay in one position all night. Make sure you remove the pillows from where baby will be sleeping and no thick comforters. If she lays on your actual bed (I used to sleep with mine on my chest until they were a year old or so) make sure she lays on his back.
But it is ultimately your choice. Just be safe about it if you do! Congrats on the new little one!

Answer 8

it can be harmful if you roll over on her or pull up the blanket over her while you are in a deep sleep. also for the long run if you let her start now--she wont go by herself for years to come. take it from me i still am fighting my 4 year old on this subject nightly

Answer 9

omg dont start this habit. i have 4 kids and my 4 year old still wont get out of my bed. if we put him in his i wake up and there he is. put your baby in a playpen or something beside you if u want but really their own bed is best. as a mom i understand u wanting your baby right there and the other people are right...u could roll over on the baby. could u live with that?

Answer 10

There has been 3 incidents in the small town (pop. 7000) where I live in recent years where children have died because of this. A three week old girl was sleeping with her Grandparents and her Grandfather rolled over on her and crushed her to death. A six week old boy was sleeping in his mother's bed and was smothered between the bed and the wall. One mother put her 16 week old daughter in a water bed and she was also smothered. Please don't do it.