Co-Sleeping

[Childminder]

As a provider can I say how much I hate it when parents co-sleep with their children? No? Okay, then I won't. (But I really do!)

[Soupyszoo]

As a provider can I say how much I hate it when parents co-sleep with their children? No? Okay, then I won't. (But I really do!)

Agreed!! There are a lot of controversial threads about this, but I agree with you 100%

[jojosmommy]

I co-sleep with my dd now. We'll, sorta. She starts in her bed, then remains with me once her first awaking.

She sleeps fine in her crib here during the day for daycare. I think either way you have to teach kids how to sleep at daycare, regardless of where they sleep at night. I have however had a few toughies-harder to teach I guess and I can see why it makes people crazy.

[AnneCordelia]

I co-slept with all my babies. Here in Canada it's a 1 year maternity leave. I coslept with all 4 of mine until they were about 6 months old and it was awesome.

Now they are all toddler and older, and they sleeps (and stays!) in their own beds, everyone under age 5 takes a 2.5 hour nap, and we have no sleep issues in our house.

I hear you though...it's when cosleeping takes over and changes the dynamic of the child-parent relationship that it's an issue. When it is used as an excuse to not set boundaries or expectations. That is when it bothers me too.

[Soupyszoo]

I co-slept with all my babies. Here in Canada it's a 1 year maternity leave. I coslept with all 4 of mine until they were about 6 months old and it was awesome.

Now they are all toddler and older, and they sleeps (and stays!) in their own beds, everyone under age 5 takes a 2.5 hour nap, and we have no sleep issues in our house.

I hear you though...it's when cosleeping takes over and changes the dynamic of the child-parent relationship that it's an issue. When it is used as an excuse to not set boundaries or expectations. That is when it bothers me too.

Perfectly said! I love that you get 1 year maternity leave that's great!

[KEG123]

I love cosleeping with my dd. It's the best wy for us to get some shut eye.

[Meeko]

It's my personal opinon too that co-sleeping is dangerous.

However...I do co-sleep with my 10 month old, four legged baby because he insists on it.....::

[saved4always]

It's my personal opinon too that co-sleeping is dangerous.

However...I do co-sleep with my 10 month old, four legged baby because he insists on it.....::

Awwww....he is so cute! lovethis

[permanentvacation]

It's not an opinion. It's a proven fact that it is dangerous for children - especially babies to co-sleep. Babies suffocate and die often in an adult's bedding. Parents roll over onto the babies and suffocate and kill their own babies from co-sleeping. I know it doesn't always happen and plenty of people have co-slept with their babies/children and nothing happened. But why would you want to take that risk?

[AnneCordelia]

Babies die in cribs too. Why would you take the risk of sleeping your child there? When done safely, co-sleeping has few risks and many benefits. This can be a touchy subject, I think.

[renodeb]

Ok not to open a can of worms but I have to agree with Chiildminder. All of the children that I have had through here that slept with mommy and daddy were very underrested. IMO it is not good sound sleep for either. I never co slept with either of my own kids. With my luck I would be the one to roll over on them. I think kids need there own bed and they need to learn how to self sooth. With that said I know there are whole cultures who cosleep. But to me its not normal or healthy. I have a 9 m/o dc baby who still sleeps like crap b/c she slept in the same room with mom so every time the baby stirred she would pop up to, or get her up thinking that she wasnt tired.
I dont know how parents think it helps the child or them to co sleep. The bed would be crowded! I guess there is the bonding but I dont buy it.
Anne, how do you safely co sleep? I always thought it couldnt be done.
Keg, why couldnt you just teach your child to sleep in there own bed? I guess its whatever works for you!
Debbie

[KEG123]

Too bad I don't like popcorn.

Typing 1 handed, but I've read the rate of SIDS is lower in cosleeping infants .

[cheerfuldom]

It's not an opinion. It's a proven fact that it is dangerous for children - especially babies to co-sleep. Babies suffocate and die often in an adult's bedding. Parents roll over onto the babies and suffocate and kill their own babies from co-sleeping. I know it doesn't always happen and plenty of people have co-slept with their babies/children and nothing happened. But why would you want to take that risk?

MANY of these cases involve parents that drink, do drugs, or do have unsafe bedding while co-sleeping. These type of people should be separated from parents that choose co-sleeping as a parenting technique and take the precautions necessary to do it safely. Is there still a risk? yes but there are just as many studies that prove that co-sleeping has many benefits as well or that crib sleeping has its own dangers too. Something to keep in mind before painting all co-sleepers with the same brush.

[GrannyJ]

This is a very touchy subject!

I did my college thesis on Co-sleeping. Now, I cringe when anyone says they co-sleep. I actually talked to a couple that lost their baby from co-sleeping. It was so heartbreaking. They felt so guilty because if they would have put their baby in a crib or a bassinet by their bed they would still have her.

We lose enough babies from SIDS that we can't do anything about but we can do something about losing babies from co-sleeping.

The ironic thing about my thesis was I did it after I had my children and I also was guilty of co-sleeping!

[KEG123]

http://www.parenting.com/article/ask-dr-sears-co-sleeping-a-sids-danger