Is it safer to have a "fake" bed for you kids? (A CPS type question) - Page 2

[AlpineMama]

Originally Posted by jrose_lee

During the visit (she DID let them in the house), the woman commented that it was a good thing that they weren't sleeping with the baby.

What an odd comment...

We have an extra toddler bed but a toddler-sized teddy bear sleeps in it.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by alegna

Is there documentation somewhere of this law?

I've heard of it for rental units but I can't see how it's a legal law for owned homes.

-Angela

Well a quick phone call indicates you are right. (The local CPS supervisor's brother went to a church we used to attend...so I called HIM and he knew right away.) This is true for rental units INSIDE city limits. So even for renters who live outside the city - no worries. I assume (and hope) it is similar elsewhere. Good to know!

Also, yeah...a crib is a major waste of $ IMO. If I wanted a seperate sleeping space for a newborn I'd still just invest in a real bed. I'm not even bothering with Zoe, I figure it'll be eons before it's needed. I am assuming the girls will likely sleep in a bed together in their room when leaving our bed, which won't be for another decade anyhow!

[sapphire_chan]

I don't think my state has laws like that since there was a big fuss about the *city* putting in laws about no more than X unrelated persons. And that was just for rental properties.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

But sometimes you just need a safe place to put the baby down for a few minutes. If you've got an appropriate crib set up, you can plop the baby in there when you have to go wash poop out of the 2yo's hair, or deal with the 5yo's possible broken bone from a fall off the furniture, or even to go switch the laundry or pee in peace!

That's what my 10 yr. old is for! : MANY a time already I've flung her on him with a quick "take her!" while running off to help someone.

[nolonger]

As a renter, I have never had any problems with CPS or the landlord threatening to evict me for having too many people and not enough beds, although I did get this house when I was looking at a smaller apartment owned and the owner suggested I wait until it came on the market because it was more suitable.

I had a small one bedroom apartment when I was married and had two kids and have lived in two-bedroom houses as a single mama to two and then three kids.

I had cribs/bassinets with the older kids that were great for storing the laundry I hadn't had time to fold, but no one ever slept in them. I didn't bother for Terran. Crap, I'm 43 years old; I neesd that space for letters friom my dead sister, half-finished Great American Niovels and quilts, dd's outgrown dolls and other "middle aged person" clutter!

I wouldn't have opened this thread if I wasn't concerned, of course, but as it stands, I live in a two bedroom house with a full sized bed in one room and two twin beds (one a trundle that fits under the other when not in use) so i'm not overly worried. The lease allows me to have dd and ds1 living there and was not changed when ds2 was born.

dd is sleeping in the nursery tonight because she had a fight with her boyfriend and doesn't want to go home right now.. ds1 is sleeping on the couch because even though he lives with his father now, most noncustodial parents get weekend visitation.

ds2 is eleven months old and the trundle bed is very low to the ground, so even though he has literally never slept in *his* bed, i don't think it is a safety hazard and for all anyone knows, i put it in *my* bedroom at night and then return it to the nursery after we wake up so the house doesn't look any worse than it does.

I think i'm okay....

i'm lying through my teeth. you know it. i know it. my landlord knows it. but i think i'm okay....

[alegna]

Originally Posted by mysticmomma

It's in my county's code as maximum occupancy.

But where is that as it applies to owned buildings? I've only seen that in public building codes and rental codes.

I don't mean to be dense, honest I've just never seen that and can't imagine it's constitutional.

-Angela

[Aubergine68]

Threads like this really make me sad....does anyone know if the number of beds is an issue for our Canadian equivalent of CPS?

I've NEVER heard of anyone being reported for co-sleeping or not having the right number of beds or not having a crib....

We do have 5 people living in our house and four beds, but only two of them are ever used as we cosleep with our toddler and our older two children prefer to cosleep as well...

[alegna]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

Well a quick phone call indicates you are right. (The local CPS supervisor's brother went to a church we used to attend...so I called HIM and he knew right away.) This is true for rental units INSIDE city limits. So even for renters who live outside the city - no worries. I assume (and hope) it is similar elsewhere. Good to know!

Also, yeah...a crib is a major waste of $ IMO. If I wanted a seperate sleeping space for a newborn I'd still just invest in a real bed. I'm not even bothering with Zoe, I figure it'll be eons before it's needed. I am assuming the girls will likely sleep in a bed together in their room when leaving our bed, which won't be for another decade anyhow!

Glad to know I'm not entirely batty (well I *am*, but... )

I don't think that such laws are really out there for owned property. Rental, yes.

-Angela

[alegna]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

That's what my 10 yr. old is for! : MANY a time already I've flung her on him with a quick "take her!" while running off to help someone.

Can't wait until dd is big enough for that.

-Angela

[roxyrox]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

We have beds for each child. (Except the baby.) IT has nothing to do with CPS though. I think it's really important for them to have 'em - to have it available should they choose to use it, to have thier own space to read, play, etc. They have always had their rooms set up even though they don't sleep there. That said our 3 girls all sleep with us, and until 9 months ago so did the older 2! And, yeah, fire codes here too dictate no more than 2 per bedroom. I just don't care.

:
I voted other. I think it's important to have beds available because the child may want it. And even if they they don't want to sleep there, they may want a room of their own to put their stuff and hang out. I think children should have a room "available" to them to sleep in from when they are about two. They can chose to use it or not. My ds is 4 and still sleeps with us most nights. Some nights he starts in his own room and comes into us about 2am. I think it's important for children to have the choice.

[nolonger]

Originally Posted by alegna

Can't wait until dd is big enough for that.

-Angela

My 19 year old just barely is. ds2 sleeps on my back in a wrap when i can't lie down with him. i think i just used the floor when the teens were infants.

[nolonger]

Originally Posted by roxyrox

:
I voted other. I think it's important to have beds available because the child may want it. And even if they they don't want to sleep there, they may want a room of their own to put their stuff and hang out. I think children should have a room "available" to them to sleep in from when they are about two. They can chose to use it or not. My ds is 4 and still sleeps with us most nights. Some nights he starts in his own room and comes into us about 2am. I think it's important for children to have the choice.

ds1 had his own room for about a year before he slept in it. he was six. i do agree with you in principle, but lots of things are important and i think we have the right to prioritize, i.e., i hate renting with a passion but homeschooling was more important than home ownership for my family. That does not give me the right to enforce my priorities on a homeowner whose child is doing well in public school, kwim?

[alegna]

Originally Posted by roxyrox

:
I voted other. I think it's important to have beds available because the child may want it. And even if they they don't want to sleep there, they may want a room of their own to put their stuff and hang out. I think children should have a room "available" to them to sleep in from when they are about two. They can chose to use it or not. My ds is 4 and still sleeps with us most nights. Some nights he starts in his own room and comes into us about 2am. I think it's important for children to have the choice.

I agree that a sleeping space should be available (or available to be made available ) for older kids. But I think it's worth mentioning that that space may certainly be in a room with a sibling or even in a bed with a sibling. The whole idea of every child having a bed or especially room to themselves is a very new one.

-Angela

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by noordinaryspider

ds1 had his own room for about a year before he slept in it. he was six. i do agree with you in principle, but lots of things are important and i think we have the right to prioritize, i.e., i hate renting with a passion but homeschooling was more important than home ownership for my family. That does not give me the right to enforce my priorities on a homeowner whose child is doing well in public school, kwim?

I MUST be missing something here...

Why would you have to choose homeschooling or owning a home?

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by alegna

I agree that a sleeping space should be available (or available to be made available ) for older kids. But I think it's worth mentioning that that space may certainly be in a room with a sibling or even in a bed with a sibling. The whole idea of every child having a bed or especially room to themselves is a very new one.

-Angela

: My boys share a room that has a bunk bed in it. The girls, who sleep with us, have their own room - one room to share. It has 2 twin beds in it.

The idea of having a seperate room for EVERYONE seems lonely - and I could never afford a house that big!

[alegna]

Originally Posted by noordinaryspider

My 19 year old just barely is. ds2 sleeps on my back in a wrap when i can't lie down with him. i think i just used the floor when the teens were infants.

Yep. I use the floor. Ds is a mouther though- dd never was. Pulled cat food out of his mouth today... and a bit of paper.

-Angela

[alegna]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

I MUST be missing something here...

Why would you have to choose homeschooling or owning a home?

Money, I would expect

-Angela

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

I MUST be missing something here...

Why would you have to choose homeschooling or owning a home?

I would guess she'd need to be employed to save money for a downpayment, but if she's busy homeschooling the kids, there's no time or energy for an outside job.

[rmzbm]

Ohhh, ok. That makes sense. I wasn't thinking of that - sorry!

[roxyrox]

Originally Posted by alegna

I agree that a sleeping space should be available (or available to be made available ) for older kids. But I think it's worth mentioning that that space may certainly be in a room with a sibling or even in a bed with a sibling. The whole idea of every child having a bed or especially room to themselves is a very new one.

-Angela

I agree with you. I have nothing against siblings sharing, I shared with my sibling (through choice) until we were 8/9 and it was only fun!