Where should baby sleep

[kd83]

Can anyone advise.

Baby isn't due until Oct but we have a cat who currently sleeps upstairs and I want to get him in to a new routine in plenty of time.

We are already keeping him out of the baby's room, but I've read that baby should sleep in your room for the first six months, is this true?

Two problems with this are the lack of space in our room for anything more than a Moses basket (ie no space for the cot) and the cat.

How long was baby with you before moving into their own room?

[Iwish]

Hey. We had DS in our room in a Moses basket at first then moved him into his own room. He only lasted in the Moses basket 7 weeks because he didn't like it but some people can get much longer out of their Moses baskets xx

[LoopyLooplaHoop]

Yes, first 6 moths is advisable. Look a swinging crib/cradle things, as they are bigger than moses, so last much longer, but nowhere near cot sized.

Either keep the cat in or shut him out, up to you.

[Rockchick1984]

6 months is advised due to increased risk of SIDS (cot death) if baby is in their own room. Obviously if you only have room for a Moses basket then you can only have baby in with you until they outgrow the basket - this was our dilemma as our room was too small for a cot, and DS's room was too small for an adult bed. We kept him in with us as long as possible but then had no choice but to put him in his own room at around 3 months.

Regarding the cat, you will simply need to start keeping upstairs doors closed so the cat can still go upstairs but not in your room or baby's room. Alternatively don't allow it upstairs at all.

[JennaRainbow]

The baby really does need to be with you for 6 months, dramatically reduces cot death which I think is one of the main reasons you need to. Would you have room for a co-sleeper right next to the bed? Might take up less room then a stand alone cot x

[Thurlow]

6 months, as everyone else is saying. People do move them earlier - we did, a lot earlier, but that was a personal choice and not following the guidelines. A crib or a sidecar cot will last longer than a moses basket, though you could also see if a travel cot would fit in your room for the last month or so.

As regards the cat, I'd say the safest thing is to start to teach your cat he is not allowed upstairs at all.

[pumpkinsweetie]

In with you for the first 6months in a moses basket, carrycot, cot etc

[rootypig]

Our 7mo DD is still in with us (one bed flat until the autumn). We had a BedNest, which is really wee and has load of other advantages (I posted a review on it oon here a while ago so won't repeat). NCT is apparently now doing a scheme to rent them for £99 for 6 months, I've heard. or we got ours second hand and bought a new mattress. Can't recommend enough.

[Shellywelly1973]

I would be looking at some sort of crib or carrycot rather then a moses basket. Moses baskets tend to only be used for a couple months but i managed to keep Ds in a crib for 6 months.

Start now training the cat to stay out of the room...its easier whilst pregnant then when you have a little baby to deal with.

Guidelines are 6 months but they are only guidelines & if you need to put your baby in a cot, he will need to go into his own room. Many do & are fine.

[bigkidsdidit]

If you can't fit a cot into your room, could you put a single mattress onto the floor of the baby's room? That might be easiest, then you could both sleep in there from birth.

[rootypig]

ugh sorry, meant to say - she fit in the bednest til 6 months (and she would still have fit, but had to come out because she could sit up). That's why I was recommending.

[notsoold]

My dd loved the moses basket and slept in it until around 3 months.
My dd was tallish and hated it so was in his cot within the first week...

We are training our dog ( sorry I know it is a different animal but the love is the same) to stay outside all the bedrooms. Made a wonderful bed with the plug in pheromones from vet and she is settling in the bathroom ( out of the way)...

[notsoold]

Her main bed is downstairs...

[FoofFighter]

Ikea sell a space saving cot worth checking out

[Kelly1814]

I'm interested in feedback on this. I know the guidelines say to keep the baby in with you but know heaps of people who didn't. I just can't imagine having a baby sleeping in the same room as us....

[babyhmummy01]

guidelines say 6 months but tbh if my flat wasn't only a 1 bed place she would be going straight into her own room as my dp works nights so when i am going to put her down in the day i don't want to disturb him.

As for the cat, you can buy cat nets for the cot that stop them being able to get into it. BabiesRUs and Kiddycare type places sell them - never seen in my local mothercare but then not really looked.

As for space if you do want to have baby in with you, moses basket will be fine initially or a small crib -think mothercare do one for about £60 but look at local NCT sales etc for ideas

[bigkidsdidit]

everyone I know kept them in for 6 months, I think it is becoming increasingly common. Why can't you imagine it? It is a lot easier seeing as they wake up so often!

[worried111]

I thought there was no room for a cot in my bedroom, but it just sat next to the bed while we needed it, and I climbed around it to get clothes! Needs must.

[crikeybadger]

Have a look at the Isis website which has a whole section on where it is safest for babies to sleep. Isisonline.org.uk

Interestingly, by having the baby sleep near a parent night AND day dramatically reduces the SIDS risk.

[jammiedonut]

6 months. Apparently hearing your breathing helps to regulate theirs and so reduce risk of SIDS etc. I bought a narrow crib from kiddicare (about £40). Not much wider than a Moses basket but a bit longer. Baby will be there til he grows out of it, then into his own room. We're lucky we had room for a single bed in his room so if push comes to shove one of us can sleep in there with him. I'm sure there are plenty who moved their children out earlier and caused them no harm in doing so, but I'll be trying to stick as close to recommended time period as possible.

[littlestgirlguide]

I know the main concern is baby, and really do take the risk of cot death seriously, but I cannot imagine the effect it would have on my marriage if I was to sleep apart from my husband on a mattress on the floor of the baby's room for six months. Seriously?
DD slept in a Moses basket in our room for the first 3 months, until she outgrew it, then she moved into her cot in her own room. We closed the door (we also have a cat, and it is pretty much impossible to train an adult cat that he is not allowed in a room he has always gone in before) and had a baby monitor. Its an average sized house and she wa about 6 yards away from us even in her own room. You do what is practical for you, be realistic.

[FeelingHorse]

YY to bed nest from NCT website.

I've rented mine for £99, for 6 months, and it comes with a new mattress.

It's beautifully designed, very compact and light! It even folds down into a carry bag to use on your travels.

Love, love, love it.

[MrsGSR]

kiddicare also do space saver cots quite reasonably :)

[Lavenderandroses]

Your baby probably needs you more than your husband initially !

[jammiedonut]

If its that much of an issue shag your dh during the day then! I'd personally love an excuse not yo have to share a bed with the snoring, farting sweaty mess that dh becomes at night, but he's a lovely hands on dad who enjoys sharing night feeds etc with me and a snuggle in bed with ds, so would be cruel to sleep apart. Your relationship will change drastically anyway and really its not an obscene amount of time to sacrifice for the safety of your child, if you read the guidelines yourself you'll understand why they recommend your children sleep in your room. It doesn't work the same if they are in another room with the door closed (even if it is 6ft away). I can see it all appears very pfb though, just try for as long as you can, I'm sure you'll adapt as time goes on but if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out.

[Kelly1814]

littlestgirlguide, i hear you.

it's certainly not all about 'shagging my dh' as jammiedonut says but i would like my marriage to also remain important.

by the time our baby comes and i've recovered from birth we will have been celibate for a year (cervical stitch so sex and climax ban for me!)

thought of a potential total of 18 months without any intimacy is not a pleasant one.