Co-sleep - do you still do it?

[~Belinda~]

I just wanted to post a bit OT but about something you mentioned in your OP.

If you are able to co-cleep (ie, not on medications, or a smoker etc etc the usual stuff) then I think It's really important to co-cleep especially if your babe is unwell.

"This sleeping arrangement permits mothers (and fathers) to respond quickly to the infant if it cries, chokes, or needs its nasal passages cleared, its body cooled, warmed, caressed, rocked or held. This arrangement thus helps to regulate the infant's breathing, sleep state, arousal patterns, heart rates and body temperature. The mother's proximity also stimulates the infant to feed more frequently, thus receiving more antibodies to fight disease. The increased nipple contact also causes changes in the mother's hormone levels that help to prevent a new pregnancy before the infant is ready to be weaned. In this way, the infant regulates its mother's biology, too; increased breast-feeding blocks ovulation, which helps to ensure that pregnancies will not ordinarily occur until the mother's body is able to restore the fat and iron reserves needed for optimal maternal health." from Babies Need Their Mothers Beside Them
by James J. McKenna, Ph.D.

Also, Isn't 7 months like really young to be CC'ing?!? (though in my opinion CC'ing is never a good idea)

Great post! Yes I won't be doing cc'ing again although I never ever let her scream her lungs out. I feel good it never got to that, love her sleeping with me, love the snuggles!

[Bathsheba]

Great post Laura Can I also add to that list of co-sleeping benefits? from another thread I read that co-sleeping boosts your child's immunity as the extended close contact promotes the tranferance of germs between parents and child. This is a GOOD thing. it is much better for a childs' body to have regular contact with germs (the body gets good at fighting them) rather than keeping them germ-free and them suddenly getting a big dose of germs such as when a cold virus is brought home from school by another child. It was also said that uncircumsized baby boys benefit from this regular germ exposure and have significantly less urinary tract infections if they have co-slept.

MrsMac: i agree... 13 years ago co-sleeping was more frowned upon and I did so with guilt. I'm glad i have an arrogant streak LOL I guess basically my theory is that if you do things the way nature intended than you can't really go wrong. It seems to me that more and more frequently this is the message from the 'experts'... 'go back to how nature does things... we stuffed up when we interferred'.

[mrsmac]

I used to wake up in a blind panic that I had forgotten to put her back in her cradle after a feed and that she was still in bed with me thats how paranoid I was Bath! This was 16 years ago though!

[Haydies]

If you do things the way nature intended than you can't really go wrong.

When I was copping the most about co-sleeping, and starting to doubt myself, a girlfriend told me the following:

The three of you (meaning me, my hubby and DD) get stranded on a deserted island, only us three there. What do we do? Do we put DD down on one part of the island, then go curl up together somewhere else? Or do all three of us sleep snuggled up together.

That there gave me my answers and I have 110% embraced co-sleeping AND talked about it ever since.

Plus, who can resist a raspberry to the cheek if you're not the first awake.

[sunshine_sieben]

Haydies, I love the island analogy. You have a great friend there!
and awwwwww about the raspberry! I know what you mean, I just love waking up to a smiling face and kisses and cuddles.
Saša

[Janie]

15 months and still going here We didn't plan it, but that's the way it's panned out. DS starts off in his cot, and then comes into our bed at varying times. Last night was midnight, but sometimes it's as late as 5 or 6am. Whilst I love getting a good nights sleep while he's in his cot, I also really love having him in our bed. DH would prefer that it wasn't happening all the time, as he's a very restless sleeper and gets disturbed a lot by DS, but he admits that he loves having him in the bed.

Whatever works I say! And yes, I totally agree with cosleeping while they're sick - anything that helps a sick bubba get some rest.

[mako]

We co sleep here too. Much to many peoples disgrace. I didn't plan it to be this way but I don't mind too much. DS used to start out in his cot and then come into our bed at various times too but back in May he got the chicken pox and refused to go in his cot so he was in with us when we went to bed and he hasn't gone back to his cot since. I'm planning on trying to have him start out in his cot during the next school hols though and he can come in to us when he wakes for a feed. We'll have to see how this plan works

[Ginger]

yep, still co-sleeping here
i love it and find now that i actually find it harder to sleep when he's not in there. we love cuddling up together and he's turning into such an affection, snuggly little boy. my girlfriends all love getting a big cuddle and a smooch from him when they see him

[Janie]

Ditto, Rainforest, I sometimes find it difficult to go to sleep without DS!

[Jennifer13]

Our almost 2 and a half yr old still comes into our bed every night (usually around 4-5am, but occasionally from midnight onwards). We love waking up with her and she's a great still little sleeper. It's still a bit cramped! Funnily enough we didn't really co-sleep with her all the time when she was a baby, she was perfectly happy in her cot unless she was sick.

[Hoody]

I'm the same at Jen13. Havent done it from birth as DD1 was so happy in her cot etc but now she is in a big bed its not uncommon for her to come in in the wee hrs. Generally about 3am. I dont mind as we all sleep well and its lovely to wake up to her smiling face. I might need a bigger bed though if and when DD2 decides to join us.

[Janie]

We didn't do it from birth either, probably started around 7 months.

[Melly01]

My DS is 3 in December and he still co-sleeps. It didn't really start out that way, but after I left his father and was studying at uni and still breastfeeding him at night it just seemed easier to have him in my queen bed with me. He's gone through stints of sleeping in a cot or wanting to sleep in his bed, but it doesn't last, and I don't want to force him at the moment. I too find it harder to get to sleep when he isn't with me, although it's nice to have my bed back, but it's like I worry more and check on him more when he's in his own bed.