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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Sleeping in big cot from 7 weeks

61 replies

Minxie1977 · 12/12/2009 22:13

DH and I have been putting our 7 week old DD in her nursery to sleep at night. We decided on this as she had been sleeping better in her big cot, where we'd put her for day naps (live in a bungalow). After reading some info on cot death, I see they recommend her to be in our room for 6 months and now I wonder if I should put her back in our room.

The thing is she sleeps so much better in her room, I think because it's pitch black and I'm not snoring like a field of pigs. She has even been sleeping from 11pm to 6am for the last few nights.

We have a video monitor which I check all the time as I'm so worried about anything happening to her, and if I can't see her move I go in there, but that's not really the point with cot death is it because I'd be too late by then.

Guess I'd just like some opinions, and to know if anyone else would let their LO sleep seperate to them this young?

She's just waking for her feed now so I may not be back for some time

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

meep · 13/12/2009 08:18

This isn't about co-sleeping. That is another choice that parents make armed with the information on risks that is available.

Bigus if you read my posts you will see that I have been saying exactly what the SIDS website says.

But many parents don't know the reasoning behind sleeping in the same room for 6 months. If they know the reasons and accept the risk then they have made their own informed choice - which is fine.

BigusBumus · 13/12/2009 08:21

Which is exactly what i've been saying too meep.

I can't even be bothered to answer you Georgimama.

Georgimama · 13/12/2009 08:22

Good good, I don't actually want to know.

mumtoem · 13/12/2009 08:23

DD was in her cot from 8 weeks, because she wriggled so much in her moses basket that I woke one day to find that she had her legs dangling over the side. One more kick and she would have landed on the floor!

I agree with previous posters - you should do what you feel is right for your situation. Genuine cot death (not suffocation by a heavily sleeping parent under the influence of drink or drugs) is very rare. I have been told that, in the county I live in, there has not been a single case in the past 5 years.

The theory that a baby hears the parents breathing and uses this to regulate their own breathing is only a theory - it is not proven. Personally I don't believe it. I think the main reasons that having the baby in the same room has you reduced cot deaths are: you will know if the room is too hot and the noise of parents snoring sleeping means that the baby does not go into such a deep sleep.

canella · 13/12/2009 09:48

i'm surprised some of you ever go out with you're babies - there are risks in putting babies in the car seat! there must be a bigger risk to you're baby by being in the car than sleeping in a different room across a small hall.

I agree with mumtoem - cot death is extrememly rare when the major risk factors are eliminated - putting the baby in the room with you for 6 months is only a recommendation - not compulsory.

Georgimama · 13/12/2009 09:51

Don't be so silly canella, that's an extremely stupid argument. The car seat is the control factor in mitigating a risk (driving) just as sleeping in the same room is a control factor in mitigating the risk of cot death.

canella · 13/12/2009 09:54

i really dont think its appropriate in a debate to call someone else "silly" or "stupid" - sorry we dont all agree with each other - how boring MN would be!

Georgimama · 13/12/2009 09:57

I didn't call you stupid, I said your argument was stupid. And I didn't say you were silly, I told you not to be.

canella · 13/12/2009 09:59

maybe one day you'll read that post back and realise how you've just contradicted yourself!

Georgimama · 13/12/2009 10:02

Er, no I don't think I will.

SleighGirl · 13/12/2009 10:07

One of mine slept in with us for 2 weeks the rest (I have 4) were all in there own room from birth because I couldn't sleep at all with them as every snuffle made my engorge painfully and I would be wide awake whilst they were fast asleep.

If you can sleep with them in the room fab, go for it as it is safer for baby to room share (unless you are smokers I guess)

catinthehat2 · 13/12/2009 10:09

Georgimama · 13/12/2009 10:12

Being silly at that precise moment is asserting that particular view, yes. Not telling them they are a silly and stupid person, which is what I was accused of.

canella · 13/12/2009 10:17

catinthehat2 · 13/12/2009 11:11

I see your

and raise you

Georgimama · 13/12/2009 11:13

You can use all the emoticons at your disposal, the fact remains it is a recommendation that babies sleep in their parents' bedrooms until they are 6 months old and the reason for this (for reasons which are not entirely understood but are thought to be that is helps them regulate their breathing) is that it lowers the risk of cot death. You do what you like with that information.

canella · 13/12/2009 11:13

if i was really witty i think i would know what to put but since i'm "silly" it'll have to be

I raise you

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 13/12/2009 11:34

Sorry to hijack but just wondering about the smoking issue. My dp smokes (perhaps 6-8 a day) outside only and never in the car. He would never, ever smoke around us, and he mostly uses an artificial cigarette which delivers a low dose of nicotine only, not all the other nasties in cigarettes. Is there still a risk of cot death if baby sleeps in a moses basket next to our bed? Is it smoking in the house which is risky, or smoking at all? tia.

BigusBumus · 13/12/2009 11:42

JamesATGB,I am not sure either, but i know that my partner used to smoke 20 a day around the time DS2 was born. (He's since given up completely). Another reason I wanted DS2 to be in his own room, was that although DP only smoked outside and washed his hands afterards etc, I kind of thought there must still be some "stuff" on him somehow. So it was preferable to me to have DS2 in his own room and cot than in our room near DP. Thats not scentific, it was just my gut feeling and what we did.

Georgimama · 13/12/2009 12:00

I would agree with Bigus on that. Your DP should of course, give up. Most smokers have an end point in sight at which they will stop, what is his? It sounds like he barely smokes, what is the point of carrying on?

(before the hand wringers jump on me, I know how hard it is, I smoked 20 a day for 13 years)

tinierclanger · 13/12/2009 12:05

We moved the cot into our room. It was a squeeze, but DS seemed to sleep better in it than moses basket (not that he ever slept great!). Didn't seem worth the risk of moving him out when so little though.

Chica31 · 13/12/2009 13:14

My DD was in her own room from the day we brought her home as our room is so small.

nzlynda · 13/12/2009 16:06

a lot of the research undertaken around SIDS centres around the idea of an increase in carbon dioxide (hence why you shouldn't place a baby to sleep on their tummy, due to the risk of them re-breathing their own breath, among other things). See "here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudden_infant_death_syndrome"

Based on this surely it would be a bad idea having the baby sleep in the same room as the parents, due to the increased levels of carbon dioxide from one or two sleeping adults?

Also, the official SIDS recommendations of some other countries (I am thinking specifically of NZ, where research into SIDS is at the scientific forefront) mentions nothing about baby sleeping in the same room as the parents, see "here sids.org.nz/site/content/information/parents_reducing_the_risks/". NZ has historically had one of the highest rates of SIDS in the world however this has been steadily dropping since "this www.icpa4kids.org/research/children/sids.htm" recommendation in particular began being publicised.

Agree though, each person should do their own research and make their own informed choices.

nzlynda · 13/12/2009 16:08

Oops, seems I haven't got the hang of links yet, sorry! Am very new to MN.

canella · 13/12/2009 17:37

Nzlynda - those links are really interesting! (and they worked fine!)

Wonder why, if there is no mention in the literature of sleeping in the same room for 6 months, do health care professionals in the UK recommend it? Also seems strange if the theory is about increasing levels of carbon dioxide causing SIDS that recommending sleeping in the same room would be actually increasing the risk not decreasing it?

And if in the literature if co-sleeping is discouraged to so many people do it?

Reassured that my knowledge of the risks of SIDS were right - nto being too warm, on their backs and not smoking.
JamesATGB - even if your DP isnt smoking anywhere near the dc, they will still be breathing out carbon monoxide for over 24 hours since their last cigarette. Not sure if this is linked to SIDS or if its the other products in cigarettes but it still isnt good. I agree in those circumstances your dc are def better in a different room.

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