Co-sleeping - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[CCoello]

An idea that I've heard about, but haven't tried yet as Armie isn't rolling much, and when he rolls it's towards me for a milk-snuggle, is to take one of those big gauze receiving blanket (like Aden & Anais) and fold it once diagonally so you have a big triangle. Loosely wrap this around your child once like a sling, putting the two triangle points together, and sleeping on top of the points yourself. It isn't restrictive to your child - no more than a blanket - but prevents them from rolling away from you. It sounds like a temporary solution, or one that would be tolerable while travelling, rather than a long-term one to me.

[LilyTiger]

We use a mesh rail on our bed and I personally find it's really helpful.  I've never been worried about her falling in the crack, though you could easily stuff it with something.  If anything, she rolls into me as a result of the divot my body weight creates in the bed.  We have a full bed, though, so I'm more worried about her falling out than if we had a king or something.

We're transitioning away from co-sleeping though.  She roots into my arm/boob all night whether she's hungry or not and I'm tired of having two sleep positions (flat on back with arm around her and on my side with arm straight out to side above her head).  The past few nights I've been actually getting up to put her back in her bassinet after feedings, which is only acceptable because she's down to one or two night feeds.  Two nights ago she only ate once, which was glorious, so I got the bed to myself and only had to get up once.  Last night I was up twice, which was worse.  But dream feeding, which was so awesome for us at the beginning, now means that she uses me as a pacifier almost all night.  She's old enough to sleep without sucking on me all the time, so I think we get better sleep when she's in the bassinet.  I don't know when we'll transition her to the crib in the nursery.  I agree with everyone else that I wouldn't be comfortable with her that far away.  We'll see what happens when she outgrows the bassinet.

(FWIW, Boots, our bassinet has fabric sides (no mesh at all) and Piper unfortunately sleeps with her face pressed fully against the side.  We worried about it for a long time, but since she rolls into that position and she breathes fine while in it, we sort of stopped worrying as much.  So I wouldn't worry about the co-sleeper too much, but that's just me)

[pennywhistle]

Originally Posted by LilyTiger 

We're transitioning away from co-sleeping though.  She roots into my arm/boob all night whether she's hungry or not and I'm tired of having two sleep positions (flat on back with arm around her and on my side with arm straight out to side above her head). 

That's where we're at, too.  I love having him in bed with me, but I really miss being able to move around freely.  And he's a restless sleeper, and tends to head-butt my boob all night.  It's a little annoying!

[Veritas Vitae]

Originally Posted by pennywhistle 

That's where we're at, too.  I love having him in bed with me, but I really miss being able to move around freely.  And he's a restless sleeper, and tends to head-butt my boob all night.  It's a little annoying!

She has been sleeping more and I'm loving the nights she sleeps until 5am and then bringing her in bed with me for morning cuddles, but I was so sick of sleeping with my arms up all night long, it was just very uncomfortable.  I definitely don't want to give up my morning cuddles though. Best. Feeling. Ever. waking up next to her sweet little milk breath and morning smiles.

[pennywhistle]

Atticus is SO smiley in the mornings!  My husband and I are fast asleep and then I roll over and look at the baby and he's just laying there, eyes wide open, smiling at the ceiling.  Totally just entertaining himself while we snore away.

[CCoello]

I posted this in the Dec chat thread, then realized that it really belongs here:

Just came back from Armie's 4 month visit, where the doctor said it was fine to bedshare until 6 months, but then he strongly encourages parents to transition the child to their own space for "healthy sleeping habits". His habits are certainly healthy right now - he sleeps easily, self-soothes, and sleeps a lot. Do we really need to fix it if it's not broken? Has anyone regretted bedsharing for longer with a previous child? The doc described our sleeping arrangement as "chaos" - but it really doesn't feel like chaos, it feels like sleep...

Plus we don't even own a crib and I have no idea where we'd put one! I know we'll have to cross that bridge eventually, but I didn't expect to see it this soon.

[sallyrae17]

CCoello - I commented in the December thread because I didn't see your post here. :-) Bottom line - Don't listen to your doctor on this one.