I am not entirely certain that this is the spot to open up a discussion about co-sleeping, but i wasn't certain it belonged in coffeehouse either...
I was wondering if any of you could provide me with some insight about co-sleeping, i honestly don't know much about it at all, and am looking for info. What i was told (and i honestly don't remember the source) was that it was dangerous to have an infant or child in bed with you because you could roll over and suffocate them. Also, i was told that it is better to have a baby in a crib with nothing around them (like blankets, toys, etc.) to better prevent SIDS. How does that integrate with co-sleeping? Does it at all? What are the benefits/risks? I think that i should be knowledgeable about this for doula training (it may come up with a client?) or just for my own knowledge, and i haven't yet taken my class so i don't know if this is discussed. Can anyone help me?
Thanks!!!
__________________ Looking forward to better protection of my privacy so that I can once again post and forge personal and lasting relationships with the amazing doulas here
This Member Says "Thanks!" to naturalbirther For This Post:
i have heard of women rolling over and suffocating their infant, i saw a program on it on HBO once. I am mindful enough though that i do trust myself not to do that.
My son co-slept till almost a year old in our bed with us. My daughter currently is in a co-sleeper by arms reach. I prefer this better because it seems to allow my child to sleep longer periods of time. My son was up every hour at night i do believe that it is because he could smell the breast milk and wanted it.
If you smoke, you shouldn't co-sleep because when you exhale nicotine actually comes out . I have read several studies about this. Having a few drinks and then co-sleeping is bad because you might not be aware of your actions while you sleep there for rolling over the baby..things like make it wise not to co sleep.
I co-sleep. Baby sleeps in a bedside cosleeper for the first part of the night and then when he wakes for nursing he moves into bed with me. I have never had an issue with rolling over on him or my daughter (who also coslept for 9 months). I have heard that drinking alcohol contributes to parents rolling over on their children.
I usually cosleep with my baby tucked over my arm, as if I'm holding him, that way I know where he is and my husband can't roll over on him either without me knowing. I read something about nursing mothers not being able to get into 4th stage sleep or something like that, so I trust myself to keep tabs on the baby better than my husband.
Also, I must admit that I do give my baby stuff in their crib like a blanket and stuffed animal. He sleeps much better with a blanket, he likes to rub a corner on his face. The risk of SIDS is small, so I am comfortable doing this.
Another co-sleeper here. My first slept with us til he turned 2, and my second is well on his way to doing the same. We also used an Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper until it was outgrown. There are lots of reputable online resources for safe co-sleeping. It's a world-wide custom, after all, and isolating babies to sleep alone in another room is a more recent, Western practice.
Here are the basic safety rules (most are common-sense):
1) No fluffy comforters or overly-soft bedding. Baby could get buried and smothered.
2) No drug or alcohol use by the co-sleeping parents. Could induce a deep sleep, and if you roll over on baby you may not realize it. Duh.
3) I've read that extremely obese people should not co-sleep. Not sure about this one... maybe baby can roll inward toward the parent in the dip of the mattress??
4) No one other than mom or dad should co-sleep, especially while the baby is still tiny. I think this has to do with the instinctive awareness a parent has for the child. I know that even in my sleep, I'm always aware of where my son is in the bed. I sleep lightly and feel for him all night.
5) Make sure there are no gaps between the mattress and headboard/wall that baby can roll into and get stuck.
That's all I can think of for now. We love co-sleeping. It is the only way I ever got any sleep at night... especially in the early days.
This Member Says "Thanks!" to hoosierdoula For This Post:
I am a co-sleeper as well. We started with the Arm's Reach Co-sleeper, but by 3 months she just stayed in our bed. By 6 months old, DD and I moved to a bed in her room, as DP's snoring was keeping us both awake, lol. At 2 years and 3 months we still co-sleep, no plan to stop anytime soon, and we all get the maximum amount of sleep this way.
I have to say, having DD in the co-sleeper right next to the bed was a great help during recovering from a c-section. I did not have to try to get up to get to her across the room or in another room, and was able to change her diapers right there, etc. I kept her in the co-sleeper though, since I was on pain killers for the c-section and did not want to take any kind of risk.
Dr. Sears is an excellent source on co-sleeping and safety. I think most mothers have an instinct about where there babe is, but it can be compromised by drugs, alcohol, or anything that alters your mental state. If I have even had 1 beer, I do not co-sleep. DD will sleep by herself tonight, for instance, as I have bronchitis and need to take prescription cough medicine that the pharmacist said will make me drowsy.
Co-sleeping is not for everyone, and many are really uncomfortable with the idea. But, when you look at it from a global view, there is a large number of cultures that promote co-sleeping, and they are astonished and repulsed that we place babies in cribs in another room of the house.
Liz
__________________
Elizabeth, CHBE
CAPPA trained postpartum doula
Currently training with CBI for my Lactation Counselor Certification!
about the safe way of cosleeping. I coslept with Keith until he was 3.5, and Henry starts the night out in his crib and moves to our bed when he wakes up (anywhere from 10pm-2am) and then goes back to his crib when he wakes up at 4am (b/c dh goes to work). I find cosleeping to make my life so much easier when they're little, b/c I don't have to get up every 5 minutes that they want to eat. OK, 2 hours, but you know what I mean! They move out of our bed when it's convenient for everyone.
Regarding sleeping in the same room - SIDS risk is supposed to be reduced when baby sleeps in the same room as the parents instead of in a separate room.
That should help you get started on research.
La Leche League makes a great tear-off sheet on Safe Co-sleeping you could buy to give to clients. Ask a local leader for a sample copy or one for your own use.
James Mckenna's book on co-sleeping is Wonderful!
Micky
__________________
Micky Jones, BS, CLD, CD(DONA), HCHI, IBCLC
Certified Labor Doula - CAPPA and DONA
Hypnobabies Certified Hypnosis Instructor
Hypnobabies Certified HypnoDoula
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Dancing For Birth Certified Instructor
Happiest Baby on the Block trained
Wife, Mother and friend
9 Months & Beyond, LLC
This Member Says "Thanks!" to mamamicky For This Post:
What i was told (and i honestly don't remember the source) was that it was dangerous to have an infant or child in bed with you because you could roll over and suffocate them.
Hmmmmm, well, I can make an educated guess where you heard that: from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association ( JPMA ). Surprise! They are the crib manufacturers! Who would have thought?
They did a (flawed) study a few years ago on SIDS and co-sleeping. They took statistics of children who succumbed to SIDS who slept in a crib vs those who did not. The numbers of children outside of the crib were higher. But, here's where the study is flawed and misleading. The numbers for the children outside of the crib included:
-those that slept in a chair, couch, etc and were trapped between cushions
- those that were sleeping in a waterbed
- those that slept next to a grossly obese person
-those that slept next to a person under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
-those that became entangled in bedding not suitable for a co-sleeping child
When these deaths are excluded from the study, the CO-SLEEPERS have a lower incidence of SIDS.
What we can then conclude is, co-sleeping is a SAFER option than sleeping away from a parent/caregiver as long as SAFE co-sleeping practices are adhered to.
Co-sleeping is not for every family. No one should feel guilty for doing it or not doing it. No one gets a medal. The best path is to educate yourself one way or the other.
__________________
Y v o n n e
Any statements expressed in this forum are mine and are not a representation of any organization I am affiliated with.
This Member Says "Thanks!" to DoulaYvonne For This Post:
ed this thread 
, I'll post my personal experience with co-sleeping 
about the safe way of cosleeping. I coslept with Keith until he was 3.5, and Henry starts the night out in his crib and moves to our bed when he wakes up (anywhere from 10pm-2am) and then goes back to his crib when he wakes up at 4am (b/c dh goes to work). I find cosleeping to make my life so much easier when they're little, b/c I don't have to get up every 5 minutes that they want to eat. OK, 2 hours, but you know what I mean! They move out of our bed when it's convenient for everyone.
Quote:
