To Co-sleep or Not to Co-sleep…

November 29, 2007

I don’t remember exactly when it began. But I remember how…

I had just fallen asleep…or so I thought. I was just starting to dream about sleep (I dream about sleep because we always want what we can’t have). I hear the stir and rustle of my baby boy. He whimpers which turns into full fledged crying. It takes a moment to register that I’m definitely not dreaming. Hubbie nudges me that Josh is awake. I stumble in the dark to get our little boy. Gone are the days of warming up bottles. It takes too long. I nurse him to sleep and carefully put him in his crib so as not to wake him. No sooner does he hit the mattress when he wakes up whimpering again. “Just bring him to bed Caryn” hubbie says. I know I must be dreaming. You see, hubbie and I had this conversation long before Josh was born. Babies sleep in a bed separate from mommy and daddy. Co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS. Babies need to learn to sleep and self soothe on their own.

I had to beg and plead to get hubbie to allow Josh to remain sleeping in our room in his crib. So for him to suggest that I bring Josh to bed must have meant that hubbie was just as sleep deprived and delirious as I felt at 2 am.

That night set the precedent for the last few months. What started as one innocent little exception became a habit that has been difficult to break. Josh is 5 months old and still doesn’t sleep through the night. We thought if we introduced cereal at 5 months like the Pediatrician recommended it would help him sleep longer.

Try again.

He gets cereal twice a day and STILL wakes up at night to nurse at least twice. Sometimes it’s more..sometimes it’s less. I stopped counting. He’s in our bed. We all sleep much better these days.

I know that co sleeping is frowned upon in the western world and I know the risks. What is a NICU RN doing co-sleeping? What kind of example is she setting for other moms? What about SIDS?

Josh slept in the co-sleeper for several months until he outgrew it. He actually slept better in the co-sleeper when he was younger than he does now that he is in his crib. He has not transitioned to the crib well. We thought wide-open spaces would give him more freedom to move, stretch, roll over…all it’s done is increase the amount of times he wakes himself (and mommy and daddy) up.

You’ll spoil him. He’ll never learn to sleep on his own. He’ll be in the bed with you until he’s 2 (5? 10?). All “advice” given to us about co-sleeping. Forget about all the warnings about how dangerous co-sleeping is. But is it really that dangerous?

Not according to Dr. Sears. His experiments with co-sleeping have led to several conclusions. The most profound is that co-sleeping is actually protective and reduces the risk of SIDS. Moms and babies also sleep better and safer together.

Every family has to decide what parenting style is appropriate for them after weighing all options. There is a safe and unsafe way to co-sleep which is covered in Dr. Sears’ article and I highly recommend reading it before making a decision to co-sleep. For now, the Bailey family bed is full!

Source:

Co-Sleeping: Yes, No, Sometimes?

Sleep Safety

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Cool Contests of the Week!

November 29, 2007

Laura Williams’ Musings has a few giveaways going on. Check out her site for TONS of contests and interesting information on everything from scrapbooking to travel.

First up is a 6 month subscription to the Tessy & Tab Reading Club. Post a comment here.

Deadline: November 29,2007

Next is a copy of the book For Parents Only. Just post a comment here.

Deadline: November 29, 2007

Last she has a fab giveaway from Happy Panda! It is a Limited Edition Happy Panda Holiday Gift Basket. Josh would most definitely be a Happy Panda! LOL! Blog about the contest linking to this contest post and Happy Panda and you’re entered.

Just leave a commment on the above posts and blog for an additional entry!

December 3, 2007

The Laughs Will Go On is giving away the DVD about babywearing entitled Tummy 2 Tummy. Do you want to win? Comment comment! Do you want a second entry? Blog about the contest, link to the giveaway post and Tummy 2 Tummy.

Deadline: December 3, 2007

A Mom in Red High Heels is giving away a beautiful ring sling in red silk flocking by Bowen Handcrafted! It is soo gorgeous! If you want to win, head on over to this post.

Deadline: December 5, 2007

Teeny Manolo is giving away three gift certificates to Amazon! How perfect would that be for your Christmas shopping. If you want to win, blog about the contest, link to the site, and leave a commment here.

Deadline: December 7, 2007

Made in the USA is giving away a Little Builder and Whimsie Block Set by BEKA, Inc. Link to the giveaway post and leave a comment and your entered to win!

Deadline: December 3, 2007

Pyreflies over Zanarkand is giving away a gorgeous set of hairsticks by LollyBeads. Blog about the contest and post a comment here.

Deadline: November 30, 2007

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