Cosleeping advocates

[TiesThatBind]

Any cosleeping advocates want to tell me about their experiences? DS1 was always in his Moses basket, and on a schedule with strict bedtime routine from six weeks etc. However he was still a horrible sleeper and didn't sleep through till 10 months (and at 22 months is still a very unreliable sleeper).

DS2 (nearly 7 weeks) seems to be an equally rubbish sleeper - wakes frequently from wind/cramps, needs to be in the sling for naps etc. This time I am contemplating just going with the flow and co sleeping, feeding throughout the night etc.

However what are the chances I will then be able to get him sleeping decent stretches at some point?

Worried I am facing another five years eight months of exhaustion whatever I do...

I'm onto shitty godawful sleeper no. 2 here as well. I ended up using a sleep consultant with DS1 when he was 21 months old with great effect. Did everything 'right' with DS2 to encourage good sleep, but he was just as bad, possibly worse, than DS1, so went straight back to the same consultant as soon as he turned six months. No effect whatsoever. At 12 months, we're co-sleeping and enduring the old familiar 90 minute-2 hourly wake ups all night, every night.

I could have saved myself hundreds of pounds and hours/days/weeks/months of screaming and kneeling inside/outside a pitch black bedroom if I'd just accepted another two years of co-sleeping and dancing with joy at a stretch of sleep longer than three hours. Some babies are just hard-wired not to sleep so you've got to do whatever you can to get by.

I work full time through all this. Yes, my life kind of sucks but I find rocking silently in a corner with a large vat mug of coffee helps.

Mine is almost 12 months and in the last month has finally dropped from 3 wake ups to 1, and it's usually about 5am so I get a decent stretch. I still feed to sleep and feed immediately if he wakes but he just doesn't wake up as much anymore. He has reflux and allergies so it's probably taken longer for us to get to this stage. Though I don't think he's bothered that I sleep next to him, he just feeds and rolls away.

Everyone in my house (bed!) has slept so much better since giving in to cosleeping. DC1 is only 3 months though and am worried about how to stop cosleeping - don't want a toddler in my bed, but he sleeps so much better, less grunting etc when he's in with us.

Had a side car cot until DD1 turned 4mths and was on 1 hour wake ups. Prior to that she was sleeping 6 hours blocks and even right through. Read 'Sweet Sleep' and started cosleeping. Never looked back. I still breastfeed several times a night, barely waking to latch her on. I know I haven't slept through but I wake feeling refreshed and ready for my day back at full time work. She is now 10mths old. I can't see her leaving our bed any time soon. I am a total convert! So is my husband, he loves his morning cuddles with her. He is rarely disturbed by our feelings, and he is a light sleeper. Everyone is happy! Really recommend you read Sweet Sleep :)