Bringing baby into my bed

[Bojangles33]

How bad is it?

He's 13 weeks old and self settles to sleep about 7/7.30. Dreamfeed around 10/11 and then he'll sleep through until 4ish. He gets niggly then but will go back to sleep with his dummy but normally only for 10-15 minutes at a time before spitting it out and disturbing me again. Around 6ish I tend to give up and bring him in bed with me and will then happily sleep until 8. People saying I'm making a rod for my own back by bringing him in bed with me and that I should get up with him at 6 rather than bring him in bed with me. This sounds frankly hideous to me but is it really bad to still bring him in with me? Am I going to end up with a 5 year old still coming in my bed every morning? If I need to stop what can I do to get him back to sleep, or if I can carry on for now when do I need to stop letting him sleep in our bed?

I say enjoy the snuggles! I used to do this with dd and every pm nap we snoozed together. Shes 4 now and sleeps through in her own bed in her own room. :)

Yes I do like to share a nap as well!! I sort of know I shouldn't but also I'm so tired! (In full knowledge that actually I'm pretty lucky where sleep is concerned but the on and off waking from 4 is doing me in)

Oh boy do i miss those afternoon snoozes. Didnt happen with dd2 because of dd1 needing attention and actually dd2 is a worse sleeper at almost 2 than dd1 ever was.

At 4am do you offer a feed?

Don't listen to these people saying you are making a rod for your own back!!! It is so annoying! They are not the ones who have to get up numerous times at night with your baby!

My DS is 15 months and still sometimes comes into our bed when he is teething and cant be settled because I am tired and I want an extra few hours of sleep before I have to get up and go to work. You do whatever works for you and sleep is so important.

@FortheloveofJames I was doing but he'd take a couple of ounces and then throw off his morning feed (and then all of his other feeds!) so I stopped.

I've just had a nice afternoon nap with DD in bed. Do you take precautions such as keeping an arm above the head?

Would he go back to sleep after the few ounces and sleep soundly? Only suggesting as 13 weeks is very little to have no night feed.

Regardless, there is never anything wrong with sharing a bed with your newborn in my opinion. Tbh I’d just be bringing him straight in at 4am 😂 sleep is the priority and whatever works to get you the best amount! As long as your safely co sleeping. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean he will be in your bed forever. We co slept a lot in the first 4 months as DS was a nightmare and we breastfeed so was easier. Now at 15 months he will not sleep with us ever. He loves his own space in his cot.

You're only going to end up with a 5 year old in your bed if you choose to! It drives me mad when people tell me this, and it's usually those with babies who sleep through who offer this gem. If you're happily and safely co-sleeping then continue it for as long as you need to.

We are in a similar situation to you and I'm hoping that at some point my DS' sleep will become less broken - at that point I imagine the co-sleeping will dwindle. They're too young to form habits now, just do what works for you.

Read up on safe cosleeping. If you follow the guidelines, no harm in it... and you both get more sleep.