38 answers

Anyone Else Co-sleeping?

I know this is a heated subject, but it happens to work well for our family. (Don't worry, my husband and I are very happy.) I'm wondering if anyone one else has done this sucessfully. Did your kids actually decide when the time was right to sleep in their rooms? Was it difficult to stop breastfeeding? Looking for support. Thank you in advance!

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My 2 1/2 year old co-slept with us until almost 8 months, when I weaned him. The easiest way to wean (no engorgement)is to simply cut out 1 breastfeeding per day- replace with bottle or solids- for 1 week. Then next week, cut out another and so on. To stop the co-sleeping painlessly (at least for the baby!) start with naps in babies own bed/room. When you get to one breastfeeding a day make it just before bedtime, sit in babies room and then put the down for the night. I have a 22yr old, 18yr old and the baby and it worked like a charm every time! Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

My son is 4 and he still sleeps with me. Partly because i was an older Mom when i had him and wanted to hold him 24/7. Also because my now ex would get upset when he cried. Now that his Dad and I are divorced he really likes to be held. And i enjoy the comfort too. He has his own room and bed that he relaxes in at night but comes to me when he is ready to go to sleep.

Yes! We have an 8 1/2 month old son and also co-sleep. We LOVE it! :) I breastfeed, so it's wonderful being able to feed Jack at night w/o waking up too much. I also have been married nearly 7 years and my husband loves having Jack with us as well. :) I'm not ready to stop... I don't know when I will be either. We all sleep so well together.

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I am co sleeping with my 7 1/2 month old daughter. She sleeps on a body pillow bolstered on either side. For safety reasons, we don’t share a blanket- we each have our own. We love it. I also co slept with my son, Rio, who is now 2 1/2 years old. He decided he wanted his own bed before we stopped breastfeeding. He was about a year old (we got the bed for his birthday present and he loved the idea!). We put the bed next to ours in the master bedroom even though he had a room of his own. He felt much more secure that way. He didn't start sleeping in his bed right away, it took a few weeks to warm up to the idea (much like a potty chair) but then he decided he wanted to be a big boy. He just crawled in next to me when he wanted some milk or a snuggle. I let him set the pace. He fully weaned himself at 15 months which was perfect because I had become pregnant again. However, he didn't start sleeping in his own room until the baby came. Then he just couldn't stand to be woken up by her cries. He is very sensitive and her crying upsets him. Anyway, my husband slept in our son's room on an air bed for about 4 months after the baby was born and that helped Rio tremendously. My husband was worried his alarm might wake the baby as he gets up very early for work. Also he didn't want to be woken by her because he needs all the sleep he can get! After that, we decided to get a long twin mattress to put beside our king to make one giant bed. Now there is room for all of us, even Rio when he needs the extra attention (although he hardly ever wants to sleep in our bed anymore) and nobody needs to feel crowded or fearful of squishing baby. I just can't imagine putting my baby in a crib away from me, let alone putting her in a separate room. She's just not ready, and I'm in no hurry. I love having my warm little sleeping baby right next to me; within arm's reach. Well, sorry this post is so long. I hope it helps!
C.
P.S. Dr. Sears states in his book “Attachment Parenting” that co sleeping reduces the possibility of SIDS. On top of being great read it helps validate all of those ‘mommy instincts’ that society tells us to ignore.

2 moms found this helpful

Hi B.! I have had 3 kids and all of them, including the one currently sleeping now, have all slept with my husband and I since they were born. As newborns we had the bassinette at our bedside but because I would nurse, it was more comfortable to nurse while lying down with the baby. This made for an easy and wonderful transition from hospital to home. i would lay them in their bassinette at the start of the night and nurse them in bed with me. If the abay was really asleep, then I was able to lie them back down in the bassinette. If kind of fussy, I would just keep them with me in bed. My oldest daughter made it clear to me at around 20 months that she wanted her own bed. She saw a kids bed at a store one day and hopped right in so we took it home and it was easy as pie. Same with my 2nd daughter. She slept with us up until she was about 1 year and a half. She decided one day that she didn't want to sleep in our bed anymore and kept putting her blankie and pillow on the floor so a new toddler bed it was. :) My 3rd is now 19 months old. And he too is starting to show signs of wanting to sleep alone. He doesn't let me hold him how I usually did with him tucked in by my tummy and both of us on our sides. He wants to have his own space and so we know it's time. Both my husband and I were raised in cosleeping houses and so are totally for it because we know that our kids let us know when they're ready just like we let out parents know. Nursing is a breeze and everybody gets more sleep in our home. Good luck to you! :)

1 mom found this helpful

I had always heard it's not good to have your children sleep with you, but that could be completely wrong. My daughter slept in our room until she was about 3 months old and from then on slept in her crib until she was a little over two. It was hard for her at first and me as well, but after a couple of night she was sleeping better at night and enjoyed playing by herself when she woke up first thing in the morning. I also, got a lot better of sleep after the initial heartbreak. She loved her big girl bed until I went back to work full time about six months ago and wanted to sleep with us. So my aunt gave me the idea that if she wouldn't sleep in her room without a drama filled night to have her sleep in our room in a sleeping bag on the floor. My sister has always had her first son sleep with them in their bed and struggled until about two months ago for him to sleep in his own room and he's four now. I would definitely suggest you try and move her especially if you are planning on having more children. She is still young enough that she won't remember crying for a couple nights and young enough that she will give in more quickly versus when she hits the age of two.

As far as the breastfeeding goes, doctors opinions vary on how long you should actually breastfeed, but my girlfriend is a nutrionist and says there really is no nutrional value that they get from brest milk after the age of one that they don't get from milk or soy milk. It really wasn't that hard for me when I weaned my daughter. Physically, I think my body was ready to back to normal, so I adjusted fine in that department. For about two weeks I only fed her at night so she got used to having milk during the day. I probably could have stopped all at once, but I think for my comfort I stayed on nights. I didn't realize how much I enjoyed the bonding until it was gone, but just think of all the different ways you will have to bond with her in the upcoming days. My daughter is four now and there are so many great milestones and quality thigs you will bond together with her, Just think about those times to come. Good luck and I hope it helps!

1 mom found this helpful

My 2 1/2 year old co-slept with us until almost 8 months, when I weaned him. The easiest way to wean (no engorgement)is to simply cut out 1 breastfeeding per day- replace with bottle or solids- for 1 week. Then next week, cut out another and so on. To stop the co-sleeping painlessly (at least for the baby!) start with naps in babies own bed/room. When you get to one breastfeeding a day make it just before bedtime, sit in babies room and then put the down for the night. I have a 22yr old, 18yr old and the baby and it worked like a charm every time! Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

Greetings B.,

My husband and I co-slept with my first daughter and now with our newborn second daughter (1mon)! I thoroughly enjoyed it because I was more confident that my daughter was safe, comforted, bonding, and breastfeeding was a breeze which meant more precious sleep for me. It was not hard to stop nursing my first but she did nurse for about 2.5yrs! I dont know how you feel about that. For the most part she sleeps in her own bed but still comes in the middle of the night. So far we have her comfortable sleeping on a palet in our room. #2 will be our next lesson.

Peace and blessings
T.

If your daughter is not even 1 year and still breastfeeding, I wouldn't worry about co-sleeping - especially if you and your husband are comfortable with the arrangement. Breastfeeding is an important aspect of security for children and bonding for both mom and child. Continue as long as you would like.

My children were both breastfed and transitioned to their big beds (twin bed) when they were almost 2 yrs old. They are now 8 and 5 yrs and sleep through the night for the majority of the time. There is occasion where they wake up in the middle of the night for whatever reason and are welcome to come sleep with Mommy. Last Friday, my daughter had a sleepover at camp and since my son missed his sister and going to bed at the same time, he and I had our own sleepover/slumber party and we co-slept on a mattress in the living room!! He loved it!

L.

About me -
L. Kandell, MS, RD, IBCLC
I am a registered dietitian specializing in pediatric nutrition and an international board certified lactation consultant. I have been in practice for over 15 years and love what I do! I have 2 kids, a daughter (8yrs) and a son (5yrs).
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AFFILIATED NUTRITION CONSULTANTS, LLC
8669 E San Alberto Drive #102
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Hi there. My first daughter never slept with my husband and I when I were married, we did have her crib in our room and then her toddler bed next to ours also in the same room. She had her own room the whole time with a twin of her own but never slept in there till she was almost two. When she would be in deep sleep my exhusband would carry her to her room and put her in her bed until finally she knew to sleep in her room and we got rid of the toddler bed in our room. She never asked to sleep with us because she never had.

I BF my 7 yr old until she was 2 and she slept in our bed as well. She slept in our bed on and off until she was about 5, and it worked for her. My 2 yr old was BF until she was 8 months old and hated sleeping in our bed, she started sleeping in her crib at about 6 months. It depends ont he child and they will lead you as to what works with them.

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