Can someone explain to me the reasons why you Co-Sleep?
Ok, well we never intended on co-sleeping with DD. We always planned on having her in our room with us for a few months then moving her to her own room. We did do this at 4mths and DD slept fine in her own cot, own room for 4mths (she would only wake once or twice for a feed and happily feed back to sleep) but once she turned 8mths and separation anxiety kicked in and she realised Mummy was leaving her all alone in a big bed in a big room she would call out and wake constantly so we started bringing her into bed with us! It was either that, OR wake up sometimes up to 10 times a night and walk the halls... no thanks! I was a zombie.... you have to do what works for you and your family. And what gets you the most amount of rest/sleep.
Now, we co-sleep full time. And have since DD was about 9mths. Yes she still goes in her cot now and then but most of the time she falls asleep in our bed and stays there. Day and night. We just moved the cot next to our bed in a side car arrangement meaning the cot side has been taken off and pushed up against our bed so we are all in together but now i can sleep next to DH again!!! AH BLISS!!!!! I've missed him
And yes you can still DTD when you co-sleep!! we also co-sleep as its been proven it helps reduce risk of SIDS and so many other benefits for Mum and bub!!!

How long you plan on doing it for?
As long as we need to. Until DD feels ready to sleep on her own again in her own cot. And until we feel that she is ready to move to her own room (one day). She is only 1 and sometimes babies and kids are 'forced' to become independent too quickly in this day and age, the way society feels they should be. I feel its important to let kids do things when they are ready. Plus DD has always been a very needy bub, clingy, needing mummy with her alot, and thats her. That is how she is growing and she loves being around ppl. She would not cope well being in her own room on her own at this age..... whereas some babies it doesnt bother them.

And if u only have one bub and another one comes along are you planning on having them both share your bed? yes if we need to to get sleep then yes we will. Whatever works! Whatever gives us all the most amount of rest and sleep. We would have it like Amber has her bedroom set up no doubt. One in the bed and one in the cot next to the bed.

If not and you plan on moving the older one in their own bed, isn't it cruel to just than "kick" them out?
Nope because we wouldnt just kick her out.... we'd do it slowly and gradually with love (as Pinky McKay says in her books ) everything should be done gradually. Not forced.

I know that if you are a Mum that breastfeeds and has a baby/toddler who will wake up frequently of a night time (ie our DD does!!!) if left on her own in her own cot even if she's in the room with us.... then you know you don't really have a choice other than to Co-sleep!!! Unless you want to be up ALL night every night and listening to their crying is awful. Especially when they just want to be close to Mummy Co-sleeping is safe, natural and has been done for thousands of years..... its totally normal. And I honestly believe it has also helped strengthen the bond DD and I have created together and also made her even closer to DH too!!

HJ, if you have been able to have your DD in her own cot in her own room since she was real little and she wasn't bothered by it then you haven't had the 'need' to have to co-sleep either! If you have had a baby that has been frequently waking every single night and you feel you are going to die if you don't sleep lol then you probably would have started co-sleeping too!!!