Opinions needed...... please :o)

[pinkbelle]

So Aubree is almost a month old now! ( i know where does the time go?) And when I first brought her home we had to monitor her like a hawk because she would stop breathing during the night so I found it easier to keep her in bed with us... well me and dh were at his gram & paps and somehow it came in convo that Aubree sleeps with us and his gram had a fit... saying how thats not right and how she will never be able to sleep in her own crib/ room and that we will have our hands full with her wanting attention all the time... I of course blew up on her saying how she almost died at delivery and if I want to have my eyes on her 24/7 then I damn well will.... but what are your opinions on having her sleep with us? and when should we stop? and how do we stop?

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I don't think I can add much else.  You do what is best for YOU and YOUR BABY.

I have co-slept with 4 out of 5 of my kids.  And the only reason I didn't with one is just because she just wouldn't.  Don't know why honestly.....Strange.....But she wouldn't.  I always had to rock her to sleep.

When you are worried about your kids, you do what you feel is best.  When exhaustion kicks in, you will do darn near anything to get a few winks of sleep, so that you can feel somewhat human and not like a zombie.

GA just cracks me up!!!  Yes grandma.....Put a sock in it!!!!

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I agree with what you said...Grama needs to keep her opinions to herself.  My youngest two slept with us becuase of MY exhaustion...I was so exhausted i was physically ILL most days and it allowed for me to get more sleep.  Had I really put effort into it sooner I'm sure they would have transitioned to their own beds a long time ago....but they are now about to turn 4 and 5 and have been sleepin in their own beds for a couple months.  It was the "right" time becuase they took to it very well, with little problems... occasionally one of both of them will crawl in with us in the wee hours of the morning but most times they stay put til it's wake up time.  

If having your baby where you can consistently monitor her all the time is what makes you comfortable...then tell grama to stuff a sock in it.  Nowadays MANY parents co-sleep with NO ill effects...the children easily transition to their own beds when the timing is right...they are NOT teenages with sleep issues and still crawling in bed with mommy and daddy.  I've actually read some studies that say it helps with confidence and other developmental things ... do what you feel is best for your child and just chalk gramas fit up to her old fashioned (and stubborn) ways.

[mami1323]

Co-sleeping is perfectly fine.  Actually both baby and mommy sleep better.  It may be hard to transition her but like anything it will take time.  Do it little by little and do it when you feel comfortable doing it.  I sleep with my son once in a while but when he was a newborn sometimes that was the only way to actually get some sleep.  When he's sick or teething he won't sleep unless he's right next to mommy and daddy.  Who cares what someone else thinks...she's probably very old school.  You know your baby best.

[JoyRenee]

You are making a choice that is right for you situation and your family. People have opinions, often strong ones, and they can't get their mind around the fact that there are DIFFERENT ways of doing things.

There are parents who deliberately co-sleep. People in 2nd and 3rd world countries co-sleep as it is part of their culture. There's nothing wrong with it. You just have to take precautions to prevent suffocation (via your body, the blankets, etc.).

My firstborn slept in bed with us for almost a year. Then I started putting her down for naps in her own room, in her own crib. Then we tried at night. Voila! She slept through the night, in her room, in her crib when she was ready. She started sleeping in a twin bed at 20 months old (they say wait until they're 3), in her own room. She's now 3 and still sleeps in her own bed.

DO WHAT WORKS! Forget what your grandma says. She can judge you all she wants but in the end your baby's safety and health is what matters. Be your baby girl's voice until she has her own. ;-)

[GoingOnFiveKids]

I'm surprised your baby wasnt put on  apnea monitor, you can request this from your dr if it helps you sleep at night. The doc didnt say when your baby would come out of this milestone? Mine was on it for a few months and was then taken off. what about having your baby sleep in a bassinet near you until this is no longer a safety matter?   Look, you're not doing anything bad by having the baby sleep with you but you must be careful about rolling over on the baby too. beyond the obvious, you will have a tougher time getting the baby to sleep alone in their crib. It is a little inconvienant but if it's ok with you then go for it.  

[BTS1022]

In my opinion, in your situation I think it is completely fine. I would very rarely have my newborns in bed with me, I only did it when I absolutely had to get some sleep, and they tend to sleep better next to mom.

I on the other hand will never sleep with my children for a long period of time. My mother in law did it for 2 months with my 2 yr old and here it is almost a year later and im still having issues with him sleeping on his own.

I was always told by my doc, that babies and children need to learn to comfort themselves, it helps with their security and self esteem as they get older.

[Atlantisea]

If you think there is any possibility that her breathing may be irregular, then keep her in with you.

A fussy baby is a problem WORTH having...

Having said that, the longer you keep her in there the harder it will be to make the transition to having her in a cot.

Only you can determine when you can safely do that.