As most moms know, finding sleep with a newborn in the house is like searching for a pot of gold…ever elusive and yet the reward is what keeps us searching. Those of you who read my post, The Accidental Co-Sleeper, know that I did eventually find it, however, the path that finally led us there was not necessarily lined with rainbows.
Yes, we ended up a co-sleeping kind of family, yes it was accidental, and yes it worked for us. However, there are many different ways families find sleep in their homes. Whether you’re in the sleep training family way, completely committed to co-sleeping or fit somewhere in between, the important thing is to keep safety at the forefront. So, here are my Friday Follow-up Tidbits:
- Here is what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends:
- Back to sleep to prevent SIDS
- Safest place for infants up to 6 months old is the same room as parents but in a separate crib or bassinet (no soft bedding, pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, etc.)
- Use of a pacifier has been shown to be protective against SIDS
- These are just a few of their highlighted recommendations. Here is the full AAP Policy and Sleep Safety Parent Guide.
- If you choose to co-sleep with your baby, Dr. Sears has excellent guidelines to do so safely:
- Back to sleep to prevent SIDS
- Place infant next to mother, not between mom and dad.
- Use queen or king size bed and ensure infant cannot roll off, like having one side of bed up against wall.
- Do not co-sleep if you are under the influence of any tranquilizing medications or alcohol
- Never smoke in the room where baby sleeps
- Here is the complete list of Safe Co-Sleeping Habits
Here’s hoping all your babies sleep safe and sound tonight!
Those days are long behind me, but great tips!
Those days are long behind me, but great tips!
oh wow, that was great information! My daughter slept with us until she was 3 and my son has been in his crib since he was 8 months. We did what worked best for us at the time, although I definitely like having no kids in our bed. We all sleep better this way. Both my kids took binkies, and I never knew that it could help prevent SIDS. So cool!
oh wow, that was great information! My daughter slept with us until she was 3 and my son has been in his crib since he was 8 months. We did what worked best for us at the time, although I definitely like having no kids in our bed. We all sleep better this way. Both my kids took binkies, and I never knew that it could help prevent SIDS. So cool!
Oh boy! I got unpleasant flashbacks while reading this post. With twins, I hardly got any sleep at all for the first 4-5 months.
Those are very important tips for co Sleeping. I find that a bed side bassinet is the best for co sleepers. You can easily get it online or at a baby store. It opens from one side and you can fix it right next to your bed. So, it's like an extension of your own bed.
Oh boy! I got unpleasant flashbacks while reading this post. With twins, I hardly got any sleep at all for the first 4-5 months.
Those are very important tips for co Sleeping. I find that a bed side bassinet is the best for co sleepers. You can easily get it online or at a baby store. It opens from one side and you can fix it right next to your bed. So, it's like an extension of your own bed.
That's great information for moms. My 2 year old slept in the bed with me (alone) until I went back to work when he was 8 weeks old. Thankfully he transitioned into his crib easily
That's great information for moms. My 2 year old slept in the bed with me (alone) until I went back to work when he was 8 weeks old. Thankfully he transitioned into his crib easily
While I would never cosleep as a family because to be honest, we just wouldn't fit in our bed and I move all over like a crazy person when I sleep, I know familes who DO choose to cosleep get a lot of crap for it. I only know this because I hear it from other moms. While I wouldn't co sleep, I don't judge those who choose to.
Good for you for doing what is right for your family!
I'm visiting from the Tea Party.
Michelle
http://pietrosmomma.blogspot.com/
While I would never cosleep as a family because to be honest, we just wouldn't fit in our bed and I move all over like a crazy person when I sleep, I know familes who DO choose to cosleep get a lot of crap for it. I only know this because I hear it from other moms. While I wouldn't co sleep, I don't judge those who choose to.
Good for you for doing what is right for your family!
I'm visiting from the Tea Party.
Michelle
http://pietrosmomma.blogspot.com/
We co-slept with my oldest, because it was easiest, and I enjoyed it…until the kid turned 3 and was still sleeping with us. He took over the whole bed and actually made sleeping worse, but to put him in his own bed caused even more nightmares. So, with my youngest, we got a bassinet that he slept in right next to me, and it worked beautifully.
You are absolutely right, you have to adjust for what works best for your family.
We co-slept with my oldest, because it was easiest, and I enjoyed it…until the kid turned 3 and was still sleeping with us. He took over the whole bed and actually made sleeping worse, but to put him in his own bed caused even more nightmares. So, with my youngest, we got a bassinet that he slept in right next to me, and it worked beautifully.
You are absolutely right, you have to adjust for what works best for your family.
Great information – I could have used it about 4 years ago when I was crazy, depressed, and a wee bit psycho (all in good ways) I ended up just putting my little one in a pack and play beside my bed for months. Every few weeks moving it further from my bedside.
Now I only do the co-sleeping thing when “Dad” is out for the weekend for races. Though it turns into mom, little one, dog 1, dog 1, cat 1 , and cat 2 on the bed. hehe
Great blog! I will be back! Thanks to the TeaParty for helping me find you!!
Great post & tips! My son is 15 mos. and is a part-time cosleeper. Once or twice a week he will awaken around 2 or 3 and usually ends up in bed with us.
Like your son, he was not the type I could just “put down.” He would scream bloody murder for HOURS. Now that he is too big to rock to sleep, I bring him into our bed and we read and sing. Once he has crashed out, we make the transfer.
Glad I stumbled upon your blog today. I'm now following and looking forward to reading more!
Great post & tips! My son is 15 mos. and is a part-time cosleeper. Once or twice a week he will awaken around 2 or 3 and usually ends up in bed with us.
Like your son, he was not the type I could just “put down.” He would scream bloody murder for HOURS. Now that he is too big to rock to sleep, I bring him into our bed and we read and sing. Once he has crashed out, we make the transfer.
Glad I stumbled upon your blog today. I'm now following and looking forward to reading more!
I'm bummed that Dr. Sears doesn't take a harder line and recommend not smoking at all if you have kids.
I am not yet a mom but I can imagine how hard it is to find sleep. It is so scary thinking about sleeping next to your newborn and rolling over but I am sure I will be thinking about it when it comes to my sleep:) I will definitely use these tips some day!
I slept with all 3 babies upright, on the sofa, they had awful reflux, and could only fall asleep if I held them in my arm. I'd lean against the sofa arm, hold them in my crook, and I had the crib bar under the outside of the sofa. And that's how we slept until they were over 3 months old.
Sweet memories I wouldn't trade for the world. Not for everybody, but worked for us. THey never cried themselves to sleep. And the transition was easy.
Lucky lady, I know…
I slept with all 3 babies upright, on the sofa, they had awful reflux, and could only fall asleep if I held them in my arm. I'd lean against the sofa arm, hold them in my crook, and I had the crib bar under the outside of the sofa. And that's how we slept until they were over 3 months old.
Sweet memories I wouldn't trade for the world. Not for everybody, but worked for us. THey never cried themselves to sleep. And the transition was easy.
Lucky lady, I know…
Great advice. I did tons of research when it looked like we were headed for cosleeping.
Great advice and so glad that I'm past that stage..stopping by from SITS
Great advice and so glad that I'm past that stage..stopping by from SITS
While I am past the baby stage, and I'm sure I'm going to get alot of negative feedback on this… but both my kids are still part-time co-sleepers. Their ages are 9 and 6. Yes, I have a king size bed, and no, they don't do it all the time. My husband is a firefighter, so he's gone quite often and for long periods of time. So… sometimes when Daddy is at work, they sleep with me to keep me company and “keep Daddy's pillow safe”. Yes, they can sleep completely on their own. Yes, they are very well adjusted. No, there are no intimacy issues in my marriage… we're going on 11 years happily married and have never been more in love.
For my family, and I can't comment on others because all families are different, but for my family, this sleeping arrangement has worked. We are very close, very happy, and perfectly well adjusted. I know there will come a time when they'll not ask to keep me company anymore… but for now, I love the fact that my kids still love to cuddle with their parents. They are young for such a small fraction of their lives. We'll never get this time back with them, so we are very happy to cuddle with them for every moment they'll still let us. 