Baby in the same room

[Sammi1986]

I keep reading on here that the baby should stay in the same room as you for the first six months.

Is this essential? Why?!

I'm starting to panic as there is no way I'd fit the Bean in our room so always assumed they would go straight in the cot, even if in a Moses basket inside the cot. It's what my mum did!

Confused/scared first time mummy

It's to reduce the risk of cot death - apparently babies breathe erratically and they match the rhythm of your breathing (I think).

That said, my dd was in a bedside cot for 10 weeks, then we moved her into her own room. Some people do it earlier or from the beginning. Have a look at the NHS page on it and see what you think

Google SIDS guidelines (can't seem to link on my phone!) It's in the same room for all sleeps, including naps for the first six months.

The advice for baby to sleep in the same room as you for the first six months is to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

You will find it much easier having baby in the same room in the early weeks anyway, rather than wandering in and out of different rooms.

If the Moses basket won't fit in your room then could you put a spare bed in baby's room for you to sleep on? Or have you looked at co-sleeping cots which attach on the side of your bed? They are supposed to be great, wish I'd got one.

We only did 10 weeks. I couldn't sleep with her in our room as she was so noisy. I was a wreck.
Tiny dinosaur noises, grumbling, screaming (all while asleep!) and not forgetting the wonderful choking noise that she made for no reason at. As for all things, use common sense and your judgement as to what's best for you.

As others have said, it's to reduce the risk of SIDS. Babies use the sound of your breathing to regulate their own breathing, the little noises you make during the night also stop the baby from slipping into too deep of a sleep. Not to mention it's much easier getting up to feed if they're close. If you can squeeze a Moses basket in your room I really would try, even if it means taking some other furniture out of your room and putting into babys room for now.

To be honest DS is 5 weeks old and I have spent the whole time sleeping in the lounge with him in his Moses basket as he wakes so much in the night screaming and then takes a while to settle, I didn't think it was fair on DP who gets up at 5am for a 12 hour day to be woken so much, hoping he starts to go through the night soon arghhh

Can they sleep in the carrycot part of the pram downstairs or do I need to keep lugging the Moses up and down the stairs

It's OK to sleep in the pram if it's lay-flat rather than curved

We are in a 1 bed flat and can’t afford to move before bub arrives so we’ll have no choice but to have him in the room with us! Fortunately our bedroom is fairly big and with a bit of shifting stuff around we can get a small cot or crib in there. Am thinking that a co-sleeping crib might be best so that I don’t have to reach too far to feed him when he wakes at night. My parents kept us in their bedroom until we were all about 3 or 4 and although I wouldn’t go as far as that, I don’t think it did us any harm. We’ll be moving when bub is about 6 months so can start phasing him into his own room then.

Not every pram is suitable for overnight sleeping but they can definitely nap in it as long as it's a proper carrycot type affair :)

If you do out of absolute necessity have to have baby in a different room before 6m I highly recommend getting a monitor with a motion sensor pad which beeps if they stop breathing.

I already have an angelcare sensor pad, I just wasn't aware it was essential to have them in the same room :/

An angelcare mat won't help to regulate baby's breathing, you need to have them in with you for as long as possible particularly the first few months when newborn.

I know a lot of people (myself included) who have had baby in with them until they outgrow the Moses basket, so that could be a compromise? It's not ideal, but for me there was no room for a cot in my bedroom, and no room for a single bed in the nursery with the cot, so it was the only option once DS outgrew the Moses basket (around 3 months).

You can buy half size cots , I think kiddiecare sell them. Even if you have no wardrobe etc it your room I would put your baby in with you.

We had baby with us till about 11 weeks then went into his own room because too big for basket. I was nervous about it but bought movement and video monitors. Know lots who've done similar. You will want your DC with you for first few weeks at least.

Btw my baby initially would not go into anything so was in bed with us until we got him used to the basket. Surely you could fit basket into your room or a co sleeping cot?

as others have said it is to reduce cot death the co sleeping cots/cribs are fab