baby sleeping in same bed as parents

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Someone who is related to me has a new baby. They mentioned by the way the baby has slept in their bed with them every night for his 8 week old life. I am worried they will accidently crush the baby, not mention a host of other issues. They basically told me this is what they want to do. I need help- what do my friends at All Nurses say?? Does this fall in the category of parental decisions and butt out?

Thanks in advance

Margaret

You are a little stinker . . . . . !!!! ;););)

What a great article . ... . simply great!

:bow::yeahthat::bowingpur:cheers::yeah::yeah::yeah::yelclap::flowersfo

steph

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Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.

I co-slept with both of my kids and I plan on doing it with any more kids we have. My 3 1/2 yo still sleeps with us most nights. I didn't plan on co-sleeping at first....it just happened. My 9-year-old slept with me until she was 5 and she is a good sleeper now. It is a little funny that the kids I know who have problems sleeping now didn't co-sleep. I just get tired of hearing that kids who co-sleep have problems sleeping alone later. I think every family should do what is best for them. Co-sleeping worked (and is working) for us.

btw, my kids never crawled out of the bed in the morning. They preferred poking mommy in the eyes to wake me up ;)

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Mark me down as one who had her babies sleeping with her. Daughter just recently stopped sleeping in our bed, but still sleeps in our room from time to time, on a "bed" she makes on the floor next to me. She has frequent nightmares/night terrors and finds being near me comfortable and eases her back to sleep quickly; she just reaches for my hand and holds it and is asleep in a minute or two (. She will move on when ready as my son did eventually. They are only little once and for such a short time----then they are teenagers who would not be caught dead admitting to cosleeping with you rofl!!! And no tears are shed (except on my part as they grow up----mixed tears of joy and pain, not about sleeping arrangements)

And no regrets on anyone's part in our family. To each their own.

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What an excellant topic...

We did co-sleeping with our 2 sons 25yrs ago. I would breastfeed and my hubby would cuddle with them and they would sleep on his chest. We are both light sleepers. My hubby being a firefighter. Our eldest up until he was 5if he wasn't feeling good would climb into bed with us and lay with his head on his daddy's chest.

It's up to each parent to make that decision and be responsible.

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We've had the second baby in 20 years die because her mom had a party, got intoxicated with alcohol and illegal drugs and slept with a 2 month baby. :angryfire

THIS is what gives we co-sleepers a bad name. Irresponsibility. Selfishness. Criminal behavior.

Unfortunately this baby was not born at our hospital - and the mom didn't get the safe co-sleeping rules.

However, I'm not sure that would have helped - if you choose to use illegal drugs in the first place . . you shouldn't have children.

We are all very sad here.

steph

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I did the Ferber method with both of my children. I started it two weeks after both were sleeping 7 hours without waking up. I took Friday off from work and by Monday, they were sleeping experts.

When they were 4 months, we went through our bedtime routine, and laid them down and that was that. Now at 3 years, they both prefer to sleeping in their bed alone...it's just the opposite, they might crawl into bed with us now and fall asleep to watch a movie or something but they wake us up saying, "Want to go in my bed."...and God forbid if you forget the pillow they brought, part of the drill.

I take short naps with them because I want to get all the cuddling I can before they get older, but it is extremely liberating, and shocking to friends that come over and say, "You mean you just put them down and that's it?"

I proudly say, "That's it!"

No tears.

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Both of my kids slept with me. I was afraid to even poot let alone move with them in the bed with me. They cried less because they knew that I was there. I would do it the same if ever given the opportunity again.

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I did the Ferber method with both of my children. I started it two weeks after both were sleeping 7 hours without waking up. I took Friday off from work and by Monday, they were sleeping experts.

When they were 4 months, we went through our bedtime routine, and laid them down and that was that. Now at 3 years, they both prefer to sleeping in their bed alone...it's just the opposite, they might crawl into bed with us now and fall asleep to watch a movie or something but they wake us up saying, "Want to go in my bed."...and God forbid if you forget the pillow they brought, part of the drill.

I take short naps with them because I want to get all the cuddling I can before they get older, but it is extremely liberating, and shocking to friends that come over and say, "You mean you just put them down and that's it?"

I proudly say, "That's it!"

No tears.

Whatever works and is safe is fine.

There are no tears with co-sleeping either though - and that was my point. Before the little guys come fully awake, in pops the nipple, they nurse back to sleep.

I get sleep - they get sleep. We all get to cuddle.

To each their own.

steph

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.
Whatever works and is safe is fine.

There are no tears with co-sleeping either though - and that was my point. Before the little guys come fully awake, in pops the nipple, they nurse back to sleep.

I get sleep - they get sleep. We all get to cuddle.

To each their own.

steph

Thats what we do, too. DD goes to sleep within 10 minutes of laying next to her. Then if I want, I can sneak out to do whatever I need to do before going to bed myself. Or I can go to sleep with her. No tears, no fuss, no guilt on my part. I also like not having to get out of bed during the night if she wakes. I will do the same with my baby I will hopefully deliver this November. They kids can sleep in my bedroom as long as they like.

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Specializes in Tele, Infectious Disease, OHN.

I have an update. Now it seem the baby prefers to sleep in the UPPER bunk bed with dad. If he wakes up then dad passes him down to mom on the lower bunk...

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I work in an ER and I have had 2 kinds come in after having been smothered by their parents in bed. The one was an overly tired mother who was breastfeeding her infant and she fell asleep and rolled over on the baby. The other was kind of a similar story where dad was feedign the child and lai him down in bed b/c he didn't want to get up and put him in the crib and he ended up rolling over and smothering the kid. I have never had a child personally, but I can't imagine that potentially killing your baby is worth the risk. However, my suggestion to you would be that it is your friend's family and you can only share with them your opinion and that's it. They're going to make the decision they want to make anyway and in that case we should just hope that nothing bad happens!

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I was sleeping with my little one until the time I woke up and found that I had actually moved over and was covering the baby. Luckily she was still able to breathe, but I got scared, and stopped the practice.

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