Agree with cot from the word go. If you are concerned about the baby feeling lost in such a large space you can use bolsters (mother care and bumps to babes I know sell them) either side of the child and this keeps them secure. Helps too if child has colic/reflux and you can lie them on their side with a bolster putting pressure on the tummy which helps the pain - and the bolsters stop them rolling onto their tummy etc etc. They are also great if you don't want to swaddle - or the baby wriggles out of the swaddle - and you use a grow bag because they maintain a secure feeling.
Where should a newborn sleep?
- Thread starter mamamei
- Start date
barbwong_130
Registered User
And just to give a different point of view.
I agree with co-sleeping from the start. There is nothing nicer than cuddling and having your baby next to you. When they are very little they can sleep on your chest, in between your breasts. I loved that skin-to-skin contact ? and it is really good for the baby too. You can wrap a blanket around the two of you and still be decent when visitors arrive.
Just as I like to sleep with my husband every night I also like to sleep with my children. Not only do they feel safe but I feel safe knowing they are safe. In fact when my last baby was born my husband said to me, ?I didn?t realize how much I missed having a little one in our bed until we got another.?
I know that not everyone is comfortable with the idea of sleeping with their children and obviously co-sleeping isn?t for them. But I believe it is a great way to bond with your children and has long term beneficial effects on your communication and relationship.
Best wishes,
Barb
I agree with co-sleeping from the start. There is nothing nicer than cuddling and having your baby next to you. When they are very little they can sleep on your chest, in between your breasts. I loved that skin-to-skin contact ? and it is really good for the baby too. You can wrap a blanket around the two of you and still be decent when visitors arrive.
Just as I like to sleep with my husband every night I also like to sleep with my children. Not only do they feel safe but I feel safe knowing they are safe. In fact when my last baby was born my husband said to me, ?I didn?t realize how much I missed having a little one in our bed until we got another.?
I know that not everyone is comfortable with the idea of sleeping with their children and obviously co-sleeping isn?t for them. But I believe it is a great way to bond with your children and has long term beneficial effects on your communication and relationship.
Best wishes,
Barb
Marta
Registered User
Barb!
I totally agree with you! There is nothing nicer for BOTH than co-sleeping. And unless the mother is drugged or drunk she will not roll over her baby! As for the father: we put a towel in baby's back, between him and my husband, so no danger from that side either. I didn't do so much co-sleeping with my first and I regret it very much. That time I listened to too many advices against it, like rolling over or spoiling him....stupid from me. This time I simply enjoy my baby, yes on your chest is soooo good and makes up for everything!!!
I totally agree with you! There is nothing nicer for BOTH than co-sleeping. And unless the mother is drugged or drunk she will not roll over her baby! As for the father: we put a towel in baby's back, between him and my husband, so no danger from that side either. I didn't do so much co-sleeping with my first and I regret it very much. That time I listened to too many advices against it, like rolling over or spoiling him....stupid from me. This time I simply enjoy my baby, yes on your chest is soooo good and makes up for everything!!!
I think the cot is the best option too. Baby's are suffocated every year because of co-sleeping, so if you choose that option, get a special snuggle nest or infant bed with edges to put in bed with you so that baby is more protected. Also, make sure no sheets, pillows or quilts are anywhere near the baby to suffocate it. I've seen some infant beds that attach to the side of mom's bed so baby can be in it's own space and easily picked up at any time. I think that is probably the best option as baby is safe, but still right beside mom. Not sure if they have them in Hong Kong though.
barbwong_130
Registered User
It is not true that co-sleeping babies are at a greater risk of accidents than babies sleeping in a cot. In fact far more babies die in cots than in their parent?s beds. For example each year in Australia injuries involving nursery products result in 6,500 children needing medical attention (125 a week). Most of the injuries involve baby walkers, cots, high chairs, pram, strollers, bouncers and change tables. (Please note ? no mention of parent?s bed.)
Special precautions need to be taken to minimize accidents in co-sleeping environments. For example:
Parents should not sleep with their babies if they are smokers or have ingested alcohol or drugs.
Bedding should be tight fitting to the mattress.
The mattress should be tight fitting to the headboard of the bed.
There should not be any loose pillows or soft blankets near the baby's face.
There should not be any space between the bed and adjoining wall where the baby could roll and become trapped.
The baby should not be placed on its stomach.
Likewise special precautions need to be taken to minimize accidents in a sleeping alone situation:
Bedding should be tight fitting to the mattress.
The mattress should be tight fitting to dimensions of the cot - there should not be any space between the mattress and the cot
There should not be any loose pillows or soft blankets near the baby's face.
The baby should not be placed on its stomach.
Do not let your baby get too hot.
Place baby at foot of bed to prevent wriggling under covers.
Cots should be kept in parents' bedrooms for the first six months.
There is no international or universally accepted standard for baby cots. However when you buy one check that it has passed some safety standard. These standards usually:
Eliminate head and body entrapment gaps in the cot structure and between the mattress and cot sides
Eliminate protrusions which might snag clothing
Specify a minimum height for cot sides
Eliminate climbing footholds for cot occupants
Specify that drop-side fastening devices be effective and cannot be operated by children
Specify testing of the cot structure and fittings to establish structural integrity
Dr. James McKenna, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame, a member of LLLI's Health Advisory council, and an expert on the subject of co-sleeping, believes there to be more danger in leaving an infant alone in a crib than in arranging a safe co-sleeping environment. He states, "Special precautions need to be taken to minimize catastrophic accidents. However, the need for such precautions is no more an argument against all co- sleeping and, specifically bedsharing, than is the reality of infants accidentally strangling, suffocating, or dying from SIDS alone in cribs, a reason to recommend against all solitary, unsupervised infant sleep."
Barb
Special precautions need to be taken to minimize accidents in co-sleeping environments. For example:
Parents should not sleep with their babies if they are smokers or have ingested alcohol or drugs.
Bedding should be tight fitting to the mattress.
The mattress should be tight fitting to the headboard of the bed.
There should not be any loose pillows or soft blankets near the baby's face.
There should not be any space between the bed and adjoining wall where the baby could roll and become trapped.
The baby should not be placed on its stomach.
Likewise special precautions need to be taken to minimize accidents in a sleeping alone situation:
Bedding should be tight fitting to the mattress.
The mattress should be tight fitting to dimensions of the cot - there should not be any space between the mattress and the cot
There should not be any loose pillows or soft blankets near the baby's face.
The baby should not be placed on its stomach.
Do not let your baby get too hot.
Place baby at foot of bed to prevent wriggling under covers.
Cots should be kept in parents' bedrooms for the first six months.
There is no international or universally accepted standard for baby cots. However when you buy one check that it has passed some safety standard. These standards usually:
Eliminate head and body entrapment gaps in the cot structure and between the mattress and cot sides
Eliminate protrusions which might snag clothing
Specify a minimum height for cot sides
Eliminate climbing footholds for cot occupants
Specify that drop-side fastening devices be effective and cannot be operated by children
Specify testing of the cot structure and fittings to establish structural integrity
Dr. James McKenna, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame, a member of LLLI's Health Advisory council, and an expert on the subject of co-sleeping, believes there to be more danger in leaving an infant alone in a crib than in arranging a safe co-sleeping environment. He states, "Special precautions need to be taken to minimize catastrophic accidents. However, the need for such precautions is no more an argument against all co- sleeping and, specifically bedsharing, than is the reality of infants accidentally strangling, suffocating, or dying from SIDS alone in cribs, a reason to recommend against all solitary, unsupervised infant sleep."
Barb
cristletips
Registered User
I found it interesting that Dr. Ferber has changed his stance on co-sleeping just last week...
here's the link from MSN and an article is also in the latest Newsweek.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12893485/site/newsweek/
here's the link from MSN and an article is also in the latest Newsweek.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12893485/site/newsweek/