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Original poster

When's it safe to cosleep?

14 replies

lunavix · 09/02/2006 21:08

Okay I know you aren't 'supposed to' but if your 8 year old got in bed with you you aren't going to worry too much about squishing them....

but at what age can you hear a little 'mummy can I get in bed with you' and not spend the rest of your night with your eyes open staring at them incase something dreadful happens?

OP posts:
Hulababy · 09/02/2006 21:19

I coslept from day one. The MW at the hospital handed me my baby, back on the ward, in the early hours following my cs and disappeared. I had had no sleep for 3 days so we slept together that night, and for many more nights after that.

Hattie05 · 09/02/2006 21:24

i never intentionally co slept, but have aslo done this since day one until now and dd is 3!

She has always started off in her cot and in her bed, but first waking she is in with us as i am such a deep sleeper, dp just used to bring her in for her feed, and now she just gets in herself.

So have never been afraid that anything would happen as always asleep! She has fallen out a couple of times and survived

FrannyandZooey · 09/02/2006 21:26

I am not sure what you mean - are you thinking there is something dangerous about co-sleeping? There isn't, if you follow a few basic precautions, and I don't think anyone anywhere has suggested it is dangerous to sleep with a child who is old enough to say "mummy can I get in bed with you'. Unless you are unconscious with drink or drugs, you are not going to roll on them without knowing it. You also shouldn't co-sleep if you are very overweight, or a smoker, or extremely tired - say falling asleep on your feet tired. Otherwise, enjoy it - I am not sure who says you are not 'supposed to'?

sweetkitty · 09/02/2006 21:45

Have been co-sleeping with DD2 for 2 weeks now from almost the minute she was born (well she had a feed, we got cleaned up, had cuddle with DP and DD1, then we both had a sleep. I secretly think babies should sleep cuddled up to their mummies boobs, just seems right when they are so small.

DD1 got kicked out at 15 months as she was punching ang kicking us by then.

hana · 09/02/2006 21:51

we are trying to undo everything about cosleeping with dd1 who is nearly 4 and a half!! Loved it loved it loved it when she was little for the obvious - breastfeeding, I could sleep , we both coujld sleep, but now she just finds her way into our bed in the wee hours of the morning - she starts off in her bed but it always sandwiched inbetween dh and I by sunrise - sooooo we have introduced the sleep fairy to her, best friend of toothfairy, who leaves little presents for little girls who spend all night long in their own beds! 7 nights later and it has worked brilliantly ( as long as she believes in the &^% sleepfairy!!)
but I certainly would recommend cosleeping, it gave me back a lot of sleep and encouraged me to bf for longer. (but I didn't dare cosleep with dd2 poor little thing

Original poster
lunavix · 10/02/2006 19:49

Sorry I didn't make myself clear.

There's so much you hear about not letting babies sleep with you if for example you have taken medication or are a deep sleeper.

Ds is nearly 2, and we are thinking about how, when he eventually (argh) ends up in a bed, we know he'll try and get into ours. As we are both very deep sleepers, I can't help but be worried he might get squished under covers, or down the wall-side, or fall out....

OP posts:
MarsOnLife · 10/02/2006 19:53

I should imagine your 2 yo would let you know rather loudly if you were squishing him in the night lol

FrannyandZooey · 10/02/2006 19:55

But when there are scares about co-sleeping, they are regarding small babies. I still don't know what harm your ds could come to even if he did get stuck under the covers - he's a big boy now, he will squeal if you squash him!

Don't let him be in a situation where he could fall out. Use a bed guard or put him in between you. Make sure the bed is flush against the wall. Don't co-sleep on a sofa.

The only thing I would add is you would need to be very sound sleepers to get a good night's sleep with a 2 year old in with you

PeachyClair · 10/02/2006 20:28

I co-slept from early on too, indeed have done every night for the past 6 years

IME an 18 month old will make it VERY clearly known if even a tiny bit squashed: ooh many is the time I have been woken by a sharp bite coz he hasn't got enough pillow (he likes hi whole body on mine).

However, if you like it go for it, but be warned: last night I had a 5 and 6 year old in with me (DH at woek), and I woke to find a 2.5 year old on floor next to me. It's addictive for them!

colditz · 10/02/2006 20:50

I used to keep ds in a moses basket on top of my covers, right next to me.

I am overweight, and a very heavy sleeper, so I felt I needed him there next to me so I heard him, but the moses basket stopped me worrying about rolling on him.

7777777 · 10/02/2006 21:08

same as colditz, had ds in moses basket next to me till he got too big, now sleeps next to me in one of those v shaped cushions hes 16months old.

only prob is he kicks me in the night and spreads too much so i end up with cold legs where im laid on the edge of the bed

milward · 10/02/2006 21:13

I co-sleep & find we sleep better for doing this plus can bf without having to get up. See the unicef www site for an excellent leaflet on co-sleeping safely.

KVG · 10/02/2006 22:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

chickaboo · 10/02/2006 23:09

So glad other people co-sleep, We didn't do it intentionally but glad we did our 7 month old now sleeps in cot until midnight then has a feed and sleeps with us until 7am I really can't imagine waking up without her in my arms

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