Sleeping in same bed - Opinions?

DVFlyer wrote: I could have sworn I saw this topic here before, but a searching a couple different ways didn't come up with anything.

What are your opinions on children sleeping in the same bed with their parents (cosleeping). Let's say 3 years old or under.

Our daughter (17mos old) sleeps with us almost every night. She does have her own room and bed and sometimes sleeps in there. When she does, she sleeps fine. It's just become habit to get her to start going to sleep in our bed..... plus she looks soooooo cute

Any thoughts?

Josie83 replied: Well personally, my child has her own rom and her own bed and for the sake of my marriage that it where I want her to stay! I love her to bits but think that she needs to understand that her bedrom is where SHE sleeps. Obviously if she is upset she will come into our bedroom. i think its important for her to have her own space as well. However, like I have said, that is my personal preference for my own child. I see nothing wrong with your arrangement if both parties are hapy. But if you're questioning it, this suggests to me maybe you're not happy? I don't know, maybe I am jsut talking rubbishh (happens quite a lot). Like I say, i have not practised co-sleeping and attachment-parenting myself, but i know that a lot of the ppl on these boards have, so maybe they can help you! Good luck in whatever you decide! xx

Josie83 replied: Sorry . . . also just wanted to add . . . welcome to the boards! Always nice to see a daddy join us on these boards . . . even if its just so vig (loveydad) can have someone to eat lunch with! xx

kit_kats_mom replied: I've been doing it with my 6 week old and my oldest was in our bed until she was 2 then she was in our room, but in her own bed, for another 6 months or so. Our house wasn't set up for kids at the time so it just worked out that way. Now I love waking up to my little one in bed with me.

kimberley replied: i co-slept with all my kids... still am with my 17mo . it is just a lot easier for us because am still nursing her and for my boys, it gave them the security they needed to sleep independantly when they were older. and yes, they are just so cute when they are sleeping!

gr33n3y3z replied: My Kids belong in there own bed in our house but then all my kids are ALOT older
But when they were little they stayed in there own beds.
But mind you I'm talking 20 years ago so things have changed alot since then.
If the parents can deal with it go for it I just never could and it was not encourged back then.

atlantamomof2 replied: I think it's all a matter of personal preference.

Maggie only stayed in our room until she was 3 months old because I would wake whenever she made the slightest noise. I slept a lot better once she was in her own room.

Joshua, on the other hand, falls asleep in his own bed for the night at about 7:30; then wakes somewhere around 2-3A.M. to nurse and I hardly ever stay awake long enough to put him back in his crib (I nurse him lying on our bed) so he's still in bed with us when he gets up for the day around 6:30. I sleep fine with him. Probably because I'm much more EXHAUSTED now!

Whatever works for each family is what's best-for sure!

Jamison'smama replied: My daughter slept with us until she was about 22 months--then she moved to her own bed since I was pregnant and thought I should move her a few months before the new baby. I am now co-sleeping with my 6 week old.

mommy2owen replied: my daughter Alyssa sleeps in her own room , in her own bed. same with Owen. occasionaly Alyssa will have a bad dream and come finish the night in our bed but that's it!

paradisemommy replied: we co-sleep with our 2 1/2 year old and will probably keep him with us for as long as he wants. my dh works 24 hour shifts so when it's just us at home, i especially like to have him with me - he keeps me company and vice versa..

mommy2owen replied:
I will admit...when Ben ins't home I like to have the kids in bed with me, just so I know where they are and that they are ok.

mommy2owen replied:
opps....double posted!

loveydad replied:
LOL yeah.

My kids sleep with me for an hour in the morning or so but not at night unless they won't bed down. I NEVER sleep with an infant though because even though I know I won't i worry i'll roll over onto them or they'll fall off the bed. Hen did that at 18 months and cracked his head.

DansMom replied: We cosleep---it works for us. Daniel naps in his own bed, and we'll probably transition him to that for bedtime this summer. I'm guessing that when he wakes up in the middle of the night, for a long time he'll be coming to our bed at that point and finishing out the night with us. I know what you mean about just staring at that cute little sleeping face. Being right next to my baby felt very right to me, and putting him in another room felt terrible. Every person is different in that regard---it really depends on what works for your family.

5littleladies replied: The only time I've co-slept is when my babies are first born and are nursing all the time. They sleep on my tummy. Other than that, my husband is a very sound sleeper and I once woke up to him laying on the lower half of one of my girls so it does not work for us. We've never had a problem with them in their own beds, but when they on occasion wake up in the middle of the night they know they can come sleep in Mommy and Daddy's room-They usually just bring in their blankets and pillows and sleep on the floor next to the bed.

moped replied: I personally don't like it - because I never slept well for fear of hurting Jack, but it works for some. Jack also sleeps better in his own crib..........................

DVFlyer replied: Great replies. Thanks. Don't worry, Loveydad and I won't start a revolt *whispering to loveyday... yes we will*

She sleeps between us so I'm not too worried about her rolling off, but if it's just her and one of us, there is a barricade of pillows around her. It looks like we're trying to keep a flood in. Kinda funny.

I've thought about the possibility of rolling over on her, but so far so good. I'm a pretty light sleeper.

Oh, the funniest thing is she sleeps SIDEWAYS. We put her in bed parallel to us and sure enough, she rotates 90degrees. I usually get the feet in the rib (hmmm, wonder why I'm a light sleeper?) and mom gets the head. I think of it as evolutions way of getting her into her own bed. At some point, she'll push both mom and dad out of the bed!

DansMom replied: That's exactly what Daniel does. He ends up sideways by morning, with his head against dad's back and his feet poking my ribs. Even in a king sized bed, he's getting tall enough that this is becoming somewhat hilarious and annoying at the same time.

MLou replied: My first dd taught me that some kids need the comfort of a parent close by at all times-especially during the night. She still sleeps with us, and it is a happy relationship. My second child, although still only 6 weeks old, seems to be more of an independent sleeper. She doesn't mind being in the crib or bassinet one bit. She will always be welcome in our bed if she needs or wants to-but I think it is important to listen to their needs and try to find a solution that works for the whole family that addresses the needs of everybody.

My2Beauties replied: Well Hanna slept in our bed for a while almost every night, we only have a full bed and it drove me absolutely bonkers! She would get up and smack me in the face (while she was sleeping of course) knee me in the side, stomach, back wherever, I never got any sleep! It was getting so bad that one of us (mom and dad) would end up sleeping on the couch! I have weaned her from it because none of us were getting any sleep at all! She is a wild sleeper and sometimes ends up at the opposite side of her crib in the morning, but she can do that in her own bed!! I am happy to report she is sleeping better than ever in her own bed, with some of the other moms on here advice!!!! Thanks guys!

A&A'smommy replied: we co-sleep with our daughter who is 15 months its has worked well for us sometimes we put her in her crib but that doesn't last very long

loveydad replied:
LMAO You are a funny guy *whispers* meet me tommrow. We'll discuss plans... LOL