Parents Forum

Kaytee · 09-09-2007, 05:35 PM

right or wrong? or just parental choice?

fallon · 09-09-2007, 08:32 PM

I think is that's the choice the parents make and they take every possible precaution, like those things that keep you from rolling on to the baby, than who am I to say if it's right or wrong. I however don't feel it's the right choice for my family. My daughter is 4 and has slept with me only a handful of times in her life. I think it's just best for us if everyone sleeps in their own bed. There are to many things that can happen, and it's just not a risk I am willing to take. Crib mattresses are also made firmer to help prevent SIDS. In the end it all comes down to not wanting to share my bed. I keep the baby in my bedroom until they are about 8 wks (or out grow the bassinet) than they go to the crib. But for all the parents who feel that co-sleeping is what's best for their family, I say go for it, just be safe and smart.

Teresa · 09-10-2007, 04:19 AM

Parental choice, in my opinion. I co-slept with each of my children for the first three years of their lives. We enjoyed the bonding and the closeness that it brought to our family.

Kaytee · 09-10-2007, 07:54 AM

parental choice for me as well. I did not co-sleep, only because I just was not comfortable with it.
About the SIDS thing, yes cribs are designed to help with SIDS, but more babies die of it in a crib then from smothering while co-sleeping. Its still a crib death thing.

The only time I am against it is, wehn the parent does not think before starting. Don;t co-sleep if y ou are not willing to do it for as long as the child is comfortable. You know the parents that complain that their 1 year old will not sleep alone. Well they are used to people. Don't most adults like to sleep with people to?

Tom · 09-10-2007, 08:03 AM

We're having a hard time doing anything but co-sleeping right now. We often find ourselves in "do whatever we can" mode. When it's 4am and we're unable to keep our eyes open and the only the baby will rest is to be with us it is hard to see other choices. She won't typically even stay down in the bassonet which is pushed right up against our bed. We're on our 2nd sleep positioner right now and still haven't found the right solution. We're uncomfortable with letting her cry it out yet as well so we're just not seeing a ton of options.

Kaytee · 09-10-2007, 08:43 AM

All I can really say is.. if it works, go with it! As long as you both are comfortable dealing with it for however long it takes. Most children who co-sleep will do so till they are 3-4 years old on average. If you are not, tehn maybe you need to find another solution to her crying.

I would suggest a slow transition to her own bed NOW!!!! The sooner the better. Go get the book called "No cry sleep solutions." It is a great book and helped many parents. It is against letting a baby CIO alone, there may be tears but not alone. The sooner you do the better. The older your baby girl gets the harder it is to change.
However if you like co-sleeping, many parents do (my best friend loves sleepig with her 7 month old so much. She has since the day she brought her home. However due to her parents and society in general, she started to put her baby in the crib for a few weeks. She felt so lonely without her daughter with her that she stopped and put the baby back in bed with her.

Tom · 09-10-2007, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaytee

Go get the book called "No cry sleep solutions."

Thanks Kaytee - Amazon even has a downloadable version for under $6.

fallon · 09-10-2007, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaytee

The only time I am against it is, wehn the parent does not think before starting. Don;t co-sleep if y ou are not willing to do it for as long as the child is comfortable. You know the parents that complain that their 1 year old will not sleep alone. Well they are used to people. Don't most adults like to sleep with people to?

I know this a little to well, not long after my son was born this girl I know (she is actually the mother of my great nephew) lost her son who was just 2 wks older than my boy. Her husband was sleeping with the baby while the girl was at the store, when she came home the baby was in the bed with him, he was sound asleep and the baby was dead. She lost all of kids because of this. Keep in mind though, these parents were not co-sleepers... the were irresponsible parents. This is the kind of thing that can happen when you don't think before you act

Kaytee · 09-10-2007, 03:26 PM

How sad. ican't imagine the guilt that parent must have felt.

fallon · 09-10-2007, 03:37 PM

Well the thing is, she didn't feel much guilt, she is the only person in my life I have ever considered to be truely evil. She had 4 children in 4 yrs and started at 18, she has never cared for her boys and walked out on my nephew when their son was 3 months old because she was having another baby with a different guy. It was only a matter of time before something like this happen, which is the truely sad part. The point of sharing this story was mainly to show how things can go wrong when co-sleeping is done out of laziness rather then for the right reasons

Parents Forum

Parenting Community

Pregnancy Forums

Parenting Resources