Click to visit The Nursing Baby!

The Boards Diapering Info Alley Reading List Resources

Cosleeping -- Making the Family Bed Work for Your Family When I was pregnant, I knew I would want to keep my baby close to me, so I purchased a cosleeper unit which was set up right next to the bed. Our plan was to keep our baby in the cosleeper for several months, then move him to a crib. I had a rough delivery, and I was too weak to lift Wyatt out of the cosleeper and into the bed to nurse or change him that first week home from the hospital. As a result, Wyatt ended up sleeping in our bed, in between me and the cosleeper unit. This made his frequent nighttime nursings very convenient, and after a few days I also began changing his diaper right there in bed. While we hadn't intended to have Wyatt in bed with us, it worked out very well, and as I read more about the benefits of the family bed, I began to realize that this was something I wanted to do long-term. I realized how important that closeness between parent and baby was, and I knew that nursing Wyatt in bed was definitely more convenient than getting up to get him each time he cried. In addition, my husband, who had to go back to work two weeks after Wyatt was born, has been able to get a good night's sleep nearly every night. I was able to wake up and nurse Wyatt before he even began to cry, which made for a restful night all around. Wyatt is six months old now, and he is still in our bed. We have purchased a Delta Luv Crib which is set up right next to our bed with one rail removed, so that Wyatt can roll over onto his side when he wants to stretch out, yet he is close enough to scoot over and nurse during the night. This is the perfect setup, as it allows my husband and me to sleep next to each other and to have enough room to move, yet it also allows us to be near our baby. My husband is very supportive of our family bed, but he often asks me how long we will continue to do this - I believe these questions arise because so many people question what we are doing. I plan to let our son sleep with us until he decides on his own to sleep in his room. We will have a twin bed set up in his room for him, and he will be allowed to move from one room to the other until he decides "his room" is the place to be! I haven't met a teenager yet who wants to sleep in their parents bed, so I'm not concerned with how long this arrangement will last. Cosleeping is one more step towards a return to natural parenting, and I think it is a great practice for both parents and child. It's not for everyone, but I think every parent should at least give it a try!