Co-sleeping? Thoughts and opinions?

[Nai]

I co-slept with DD2 from birth until about 6 weeks as she wouldn't settle at night any other way. She slowly graduated to her cradle (wooden with spaced bars so she could see us) and then to the room she shares with DD1 at 10m. She would also co-sleep when unsettled travelling or unwell.

I loved it and think it was really beneficial to all of us. I always slept with DD2 to the outside of the bed tucked into the crook of my arm so that I was in the middle. That way I didn't worry about DP pulling up the doona or rolling onto her. I did get a sore arm at times but I got used to it.

[Snowy Love]

I co-slept with DS1 from about 8mths, before that I'd get up during the night to feed him & find myself falling asleep sitting up - definitely not safe! With DS2 from when we got home, he'd come into our bed from first wake-up & I'm getting so much more sleep this time.

There are safe co-sleeping guidelines - mustn't be affected by drugs, alcohol or exhaustion, must be non-smokers, use blankets rather than doonas (I wear a cardigan to bed to stop me getting too cold)

[melbel]

We are part time co sleepers as well....he has his hammock and usually starts out his night in there and if he is unsettled after any feed during the night he comes into bed with us....we also have the first years safe sleeper but have only used it a handful of times...bubs did not like it as if he was unsettled he wanted/needed body contact with one of us to reassure hin that we were there...we should probably retry it now he is a it bigger...he would probably be okay in there now. He is usually just in between us but occasionally has the grizzles and needs the cuddles comfort to help him drop off again...it is not unusual for me to wake up 3 hours with a dead arm......lol....
I see nothing wrong with it...it is ressuring for bubba and means we get more sleep rather than spending 2-3hours trying to resettle a bub in the wee hours (we learnt this the hard way after hubby tried this tactic when bubs first came home....wasn't long before he realised he would get more sleep if he just brought him into bed with us)....