Co-sleeping advice?

samisshort · Apr 8th, 2012, 21:22 PM

I'm new to mommyhood and I really want to co-sleep. My doctor told me I shouldn't but it benefits mother and baby if done correctly, right?

I was going to use his crib, but he doesn't like it. And right now I'm using a bassinet thing and he does like it, but he wakes often and won't go to sleep unless I rock him to sleep and hold him for like an hour before I put him back in it.

I also breastfeed exclusively.

Is there anything I should know about co-sleeping? No added blankets, pillows, etc. Lay him on his back.. what else? I just feel me and Alex both would sleep more if we tried this. I'm also very aware of my surroundings when I sleep, I'm a light sleeper.

I'll take any advice I can get!

tooyoung · Apr 8th, 2012, 21:49 PM

hi there

I can only tell you about my personal experience. When my LO was first home from the hospital, I kept him in a bassinet next to my bed at night so I could grab him easily to feed him when he woke up. I also breastfed exclusively. The only time I had him sleep with me was when we'd both kinda fall asleep when he was feeding. Otherwise, I think it's a good idea for the babe to be in his/her own bed.
When he was bigger and in his own room in his crib, I would feed him while rocking him in my rocking chair and I'd always kinda be doing that with my eyes closed too lol. I love my sleep and I tried to sleep whenever possible!
good luck!

mommie2be · Apr 8th, 2012, 21:57 PM

Just you, your pillow, your blanket, and your little one. I co slept for a bit when corey was born. We used a cosleeper though. Called a snuggle nest.

veganmama · Apr 9th, 2012, 09:36 AM

looks like you know what youre doing. its so much easier then using a crib =]

brandonsgirl · Apr 9th, 2012, 11:10 AM

When Kent was first born he used to sleep in our bed. We would try him in the moses basket but he wasnt having any of it. Alot of people say dont do it because they become dependant on needing you there etc. But we never had any issues. We did it up until he was too big and taking up too much room. At that point we put him into his own bed.

Although now, i just got back from America and am staying with my family. Kent has a small airbed on the floor which he will sleep in untill about 2 or 3 in the morning. Then he will crawl in with me. Which to be honest, i dont mind. He will go back into his own bed in his own room once we move. And he knows this. But as of right now, im enjoying the cuddles.

LauraBee · Apr 9th, 2012, 12:06 PM

You seem to know your stuff and good for you! I've had so many comments about sharing a bed with Bethlouise, but until people try to exclusively breastfeed, they don't realise how much effort it is to not have baby in bed with you.

There are lots of benefits of co-sleeping, obviously you get more sleep as you can just pop your boob into his mouth and then doze back off yourself. And contrary to belief, it can help with confidence and independence because your child gets to choose when they're ready to sleep alone instead of being forced to.

I still have Bee sleeping with me now at almost fifteen months and she still wakes up to nurse but I practically don't do anything to help her with that now. She has to stay in my room until I move out, which won't be until she's four or five years old and she'll probably be in my bed for that long too.

I think that the most important thing is that you feel like you're doing the right thing for you and your child, so don't take too much criticism to heart.

BabyDuy · Apr 9th, 2012, 12:52 PM

I don't co- sleep anymore... my son slept in bed with me and my DH for a week in a thing called the snuggle nest, and then he was moved to his crib ( and TBH he seems to like it more then sleeping with us, lol) but you have to do what is right for your child and you!!!

X__Kimberly · Apr 9th, 2012, 14:56 PM

I co-sleep in my bed because as some of you remember my LO was only 4lbs and he was to small for anything! :/ now he's almost 9 lbs! and i'm slowly trying to get him use to the crib but he don't like it so we are still co-sleeping at night

co-sleeping isnt as bad you know your baby is there. you got everything right
you just need your pillow and your blanket.

samisshort · Apr 9th, 2012, 16:25 PM

Awh thanks all for the advice!

I think I'm gonna try tonight. I know me and Alex would sleep so much better

I just remember when I tried in the hospital, just a nap during the day and they freaked out on me saying I need to put him in the bed because it's dangerous to sleep with a baby..

But I know people who have done it so I know it has benefits if you do it safely

Amber4 · Apr 10th, 2012, 06:47 AM

I would never do it and haven't once since she was born. I could never live with myself if something bad happened but I hope it works for you

Apr 8th, 2012, 21:22 PM	#1
samisshort Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: US Posts: 1,850	Co-sleeping advice? I'm new to mommyhood and I really want to co-sleep. My doctor told me I shouldn't but it benefits mother and baby if done correctly, right? I was going to use his crib, but he doesn't like it. And right now I'm using a bassinet thing and he does like it, but he wakes often and won't go to sleep unless I rock him to sleep and hold him for like an hour before I put him back in it. I also breastfeed exclusively. Is there anything I should know about co-sleeping? No added blankets, pillows, etc. Lay him on his back.. what else? I just feel me and Alex both would sleep more if we tried this. I'm also very aware of my surroundings when I sleep, I'm a light sleeper. I'll take any advice I can get!

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Apr 8th, 2012, 21:49 PM	#2
tooyoung Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 72	hi there I can only tell you about my personal experience. When my LO was first home from the hospital, I kept him in a bassinet next to my bed at night so I could grab him easily to feed him when he woke up. I also breastfed exclusively. The only time I had him sleep with me was when we'd both kinda fall asleep when he was feeding. Otherwise, I think it's a good idea for the babe to be in his/her own bed. When he was bigger and in his own room in his crib, I would feed him while rocking him in my rocking chair and I'd always kinda be doing that with my eyes closed too lol. I love my sleep and I tried to sleep whenever possible! good luck!

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Apr 8th, 2012, 21:57 PM	#3
mommie2be Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: US, North Carolina Posts: 1,306	Just you, your pillow, your blanket, and your little one. I co slept for a bit when corey was born. We used a cosleeper though. Called a snuggle nest.

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Apr 9th, 2012, 09:36 AM	#4
veganmama Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,813	looks like you know what youre doing. its so much easier then using a crib =]

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Apr 9th, 2012, 11:10 AM	#5
brandonsgirl Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 4,077	When Kent was first born he used to sleep in our bed. We would try him in the moses basket but he wasnt having any of it. Alot of people say dont do it because they become dependant on needing you there etc. But we never had any issues. We did it up until he was too big and taking up too much room. At that point we put him into his own bed. Although now, i just got back from America and am staying with my family. Kent has a small airbed on the floor which he will sleep in untill about 2 or 3 in the morning. Then he will crawl in with me. Which to be honest, i dont mind. He will go back into his own bed in his own room once we move. And he knows this. But as of right now, im enjoying the cuddles.

Status: Offline

Apr 9th, 2012, 12:06 PM	#6
LauraBee Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Southampton, England Posts: 1,739	You seem to know your stuff and good for you! I've had so many comments about sharing a bed with Bethlouise, but until people try to exclusively breastfeed, they don't realise how much effort it is to not have baby in bed with you. There are lots of benefits of co-sleeping, obviously you get more sleep as you can just pop your boob into his mouth and then doze back off yourself. And contrary to belief, it can help with confidence and independence because your child gets to choose when they're ready to sleep alone instead of being forced to. I still have Bee sleeping with me now at almost fifteen months and she still wakes up to nurse but I practically don't do anything to help her with that now. She has to stay in my room until I move out, which won't be until she's four or five years old and she'll probably be in my bed for that long too. I think that the most important thing is that you feel like you're doing the right thing for you and your child, so don't take too much criticism to heart.

Status: Offline

Apr 9th, 2012, 12:52 PM	#7
BabyDuy Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 347	I don't co- sleep anymore... my son slept in bed with me and my DH for a week in a thing called the snuggle nest, and then he was moved to his crib ( and TBH he seems to like it more then sleeping with us, lol) but you have to do what is right for your child and you!!!

Status: Offline

Apr 9th, 2012, 14:56 PM	#8
X__Kimberly Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 679	I co-sleep in my bed because as some of you remember my LO was only 4lbs and he was to small for anything! :/ now he's almost 9 lbs! and i'm slowly trying to get him use to the crib but he don't like it so we are still co-sleeping at night co-sleeping isnt as bad you know your baby is there. you got everything right you just need your pillow and your blanket.

Status: Offline

Apr 9th, 2012, 16:25 PM	#9
samisshort Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: US Posts: 1,850	Awh thanks all for the advice! I think I'm gonna try tonight. I know me and Alex would sleep so much better I just remember when I tried in the hospital, just a nap during the day and they freaked out on me saying I need to put him in the bed because it's dangerous to sleep with a baby.. But I know people who have done it so I know it has benefits if you do it safely

Status: Offline

Apr 10th, 2012, 06:47 AM	#10
Amber4 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: UK Posts: 5,735	I would never do it and haven't once since she was born. I could never live with myself if something bad happened but I hope it works for you

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