Co-sleeper or crib in nursery?

iriecricket · Post by **iriecricket** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:04 pm

Hello everyone. I conceived via IVF and am due in November. I am hoping you can give me some advice.

I was intent on getting one of those co-sleepers that attach to the bed so the baby could sleep next to my husband and me at night but not be in our bed. I thought it would be so much easier to feed during the night without having to go in the nursery to get the baby. However, a friend who has two children told me she really disliked having her babies sleep in the bedroom with her and her husband. She is a light sleeper (I am too) and says it was really hard for her to sleep with the little noises babies makes while they're sleeping. Now, I am torn. Can any of you share your stories with me -- did you prefer to keep the baby in its nursery in a crib or did your baby sleep in the same room as you?

Thanks!!
Lynn

kholtan · Post by **kholtan** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:00 pm

This was just me and how I did it. I slept in the same room for 4 weeks because with twins I knew I would be up a lot. Although they were in the bassinet.Then it was straight to their own room in cribs. Many women love to have their children in their bed with them but I am firmly against that in this house. For many reasons. First of all, I am a marriage first girl and let's face it. . .sex happens mostly in the bedroom.

So I was not going to spend my entire day doting on the babies and the night too. Of course I had to get out of bed and feed them a lot in the beginning but it was better for all of us here. The big benefit was that we weren't waking each other and I very quickly realized that they often wake up and will go back to sleep on their own w/o my help. Also, we all slept better.

Obviously, no one is ever right or wrong here but you'll know what fits you. It's also your parenting style that plays a big hand in it. I am very affectionate with the babies and I just adore cuddling and such but for us having our nights together alone is priceless. I didn't want to start a habit I may have a hard time breaking.

Good luck and congrats!

iriecricket · Post by **iriecricket** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:02 pm

Thanks Kholtan!

I too am firmly against the whole baby/children in bed concept so I thought the co-sleeper would be a good fix for at least the first couple of months. However, I think I'm now leaning toward just having a crib in the nursery.

Thanks again.

Lynn

meg12 · Post by **meg12** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:45 pm

I'm a co-sleeper. My daughter is 9 months old and is still in with us, although I think is very close to moving into her own room. All 3 of us (me, DH and baby) have loved sleeping together. It is so easy to nurse at night......and I love waking up and seeing my baby next to me...It's a controversial decision though. I know a lot of people are anti-co sleeping (my in-laws are really against it.....)

When she was very little, she and I slept on the couch together (me holding her) because she would not let us lay her down---would only sleep while being held. Then, when she was about 3 months we started laying down in the bed.

I really think the baby dictates where he/she will sleep. Some babies need that contact even while sleeping while some are independent from the start and sleep best alone.

Aliann09 · Post by **Aliann09** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:21 pm

Irie, I did the bassinet thing for 5 weeks at night and during the day I would put my DD down in her crib for naps which were never very long! I thought that it would help her get used to it's size however after 5 weeks I noticed that my DD was starting to make more nosies at night and I was waking up more often. I don't think that she was even awake but I would try to quite her down and that didn't seem to happen unless she was right next to me. I did not want to be a co-sleeper after hearing stories of the kids being in bed with their parents until 6 and 7 yrs old. I was planning on keeping her in the bassinet until 2-3 months and then moving her to her crib in the nursery however after the turn of events in her sleep pattern at the end of week 5 I started putting her in her crib right away the first night she sleep 6 hours straight at first I paniced but she was fine. She is actually sleeping longer and so am I becuase I don't wake up at every little noise she makes and when she really does wake up at night she will make enough noise to wake me fussing that I can get to her and feed before she ever starts to cry, it has been great! I think kholton hit the nail on the head with 4 weeks in her room and then moving them. Just my story.

kholtan · Post by **kholtan** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:33 pm

The one thing I must add is that there are a lot of people who will TELL you what you should do and make you feel bad for doing it any other way. I think people thought of me as cruel and some sort of dictator over their sleeping patterns. I just never let it get to me because I felt I knew what was right for them and to this day my kids take 3 naps, sleep 12 hours straight at night and are very happy babies.

Everyone finds a pattern that fits them and when you hit a nice stride that works for you and you find your whole family happy then you will know it. I always found it useful to "pick and choose" bits of other peoples advice. It's like making your own soup/

Good luck!

iriecricket · Post by **iriecricket** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:59 pm

Thank you for all of the responses. I appreciate everyone's input.

Co-sleeper or crib in nursery?

Co-sleeper or crib in nursery?

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