Night sleep

[nicolejoy]

It's funny, we tried co-sleeping with my first daughter when she was born and found that we got no sleep - if she made any noise, I'd be awake instantly. Even though I was breastfeeding, she HAD to be in her own room for me to get any decent sleep. I'd go get her, feed her in 5 minutes and put her back into her room, then I'd fall back asleep instantly. If she was in our room, even the littlest gurgle would keep me up.

With our 2nd, she was in NICU for 4 months, then when she came home, I was worried about her disturbing my older daughter, so she slept in our room in a moses basket for a few months. I kept her in that until she started rolling over (she rolled late - maybe around 7 months old or so??) then for safety reasons, I put her into the cot in her older sister's room. The 2nd time around, I didn't wake as much as the first time - but she wasn't in the same bed as us.

If we have a 3rd, I'd probably prefer the moses basket at first for those first few months - they are close enough that you don't have to go into another room, but not so close that they wake you with every noise or movement.

Different people like different things - up to you what suits you and your family

 

[TNT]

Just to clarify and add to what Genkimom said about SIDS. I think you are mixing up suffocation of the baby with SIDS. There are no known cases of suffocation when a fully breastfeeding, sober (no drugs or alcohol), non smoking mother is co sleeping on a firm surface (ie proper mattress, not a water bed or sofa/chair)- so if all those factors apply to you, you don't need to worry about suffocation. Some of these things are obvious eg being sober, but others like the breastfeeding and not smoking they don't really know why these are protectors for suffocation but they are. For example, if you were to give bottles overnight, even if they are expressed milk - which is not a good idea if you plan to breastfeed as Genkimom said - then there is some small risk of suffocation in co sleeping (albeit v v small).

Sudden infant deatth syndrome is a different thing altogther (where the baby dies suddenly for no known reason) and SIDS research recommends the baby being in the same room as the mother (can be in the same bed or in a separate bassinet/cot) for the 1st 6 months to minimise the risk of SIDS.

 

[supermom30]

Thanks all for contributing to such practical replies.. makes life simpler. getting a moses till 4 mtnhs and plan to buy a leander depending on baby's moods..