In my last post I promised an overview of some of the experts opinions of co-sleeping.

Who are the experts? The moms of course.

So here are some views from all sides of the co-sleeping perpective:

From Lauri over on the Adoptive Parenting Blog

A few weeks ago she was fighting a fever, teething and she was fighting her nap. I rocked her and could tell how sleepy she was she just would not sleep. I asked her if she wanted to lie down with me. I was exhausted at this point as well and wanted to nap… I never get to nap. I brought her into my bed we snuggled and we fell asleep. To be honest I liked it.

From Sandra on the Older Parent Blog

The Indiana report says that in three years, twelve infants have died of "unsafe sleeping practices" in the county where this latest death occurred and quotes an official from the coroners office saying, "the odds are too great" to chance sleeping with kids.

I have to question those "odds", as I wonder how many babies born in those same three years survived the parental bed, and perhaps there were even some who were saved from other dangers by being close to mom and dad through the night.

And a comment from Shar on the same post:

The first three months of my daughter Angela's life. I spent sitting in a recliner with her on my chest. When she would lay flat she would stop breathing.

Then when we got that under control she was in a bassinet so close to my bed that I kept my hand on her to make sure she was comforted and still breathing.

I would take the chance of having her in my arms in bed sleeping than placing her alone and her not making it through the night.

But you can make co sleeping safe for everyone. You just have to follow some rules and make some changes.

From MO over on the Korea Adoption Blogs

We opted for the crib for several different reasons:
• Our son slept in a crib in Korea.
• Bedtime is often the only time that my husband and I get to spend alone together.
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome – My son did not have any blankets, stuffed animals or pillows in his crib until after he turned one. I would worry about all of the blankets and pillows on our bed and the chance that we could rollover on him. (http://www.sids.org/ ; http://www.firstcandle.org/ ; http://sids-network.org/ ; http://www.sidscenter.org/ ; http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/sidsfact.htm )
• I was worried that it would be difficult to get him out of our bed.
• I wouldn’t get any sleep if he was in my bed (which I have learned the few times he has slept with me).

My son does not seem to have been traumatized by being left in kiddy prison for the night. I am cherishing this time where he is still willing to sleep in his crib because I suspect things will get more difficult with the on-coming of a “big boy” bed.

The blog posts go on and on. There is a great deal more info on the blogs. Just do a search under sleeping or co-sleeping to find them.

In the end, I suspect for a lot of people they 'fell' into co-sleeping just like I did.


Here's a great article on co-sleeping, both pro's and cons.

Are you a co-sleeper with your child?