I know I haven't posted in a while, and I just wish I had more time, because I really love my blog. But I saw this in one of my baby center update emails I got, and was totally upset by what this NURSE of all people said about co-sleeping.
Holding Vs. Sleep
I'm a concerned dad. After doing some research about my son's constant need to be held in order to sleep, I have found out that they really shouldn't be left alone if they need to be held, and it helps them not feel neglected. However, my one concern is that my wife sleeps while holding our son and I'm afraid of her rolling over, or have him fall off while they're both sleeping. Lately, I've been performing "watchdog duty" to make sure that doesn't happen, but that's interfering so much with MY sleep, that I've ran a red light once due to sleep deprivation. So, should I trust her instincts to wake up when needed?
I'm a concerned dad. After doing some research about my son's constant need to be held in order to sleep, I have found out that they really shouldn't be left alone if they need to be held, and it helps them not feel neglected. However, my one concern is that my wife sleeps while holding our son and I'm afraid of her rolling over, or have him fall off while they're both sleeping. Lately, I've been performing "watchdog duty" to make sure that doesn't happen, but that's interfering so much with MY sleep, that I've ran a red light once due to sleep deprivation. So, should I trust her instincts to wake up when needed?
REPLY
Parents that co-sleep are my biggest pet peeve! I am a nurse and a mother of a 12 week old baby who is exclusively breast fed. He sleeps in his own bed AND sleeps through the night no problem. I nurse him and rock him and sing him to sleep then put him in his crib (sometimes still awake) and just walk away. If he cries I pick him up and rock him again and put him back in his bed. When he was a few weeks old this happened maybe 3-5 times a night (now he goes right to sleep) until he got the idea, "this is YOUR bed, this is where YOU sleep". Babies are smart they will get the idea.
posted 11/04/2009 by a BabyCenter Member
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posted 11/04/2009 by a BabyCenter Member
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We exclusively co-slept with our 2 1/2 year old daughter until our son arrived, at which point she transitioned no problem to her own bed in her own room. Our son is now 5 months and in our bed. I cherish bonding with him at night, especially when our days are pleasantly chaotic. Following recommendations made by sleep sharing advocates, I have never worried about crushing or smothering either of them. I firmly believe that the bond co-sleeping helped strengthen has as made for 2 well adjusted children. The toddler rarely tantrums and the baby hardly whimpers, knowing Mom is close by. I recognize that how I raise my children is but ONE way and certainly not perfect. News flash...neither is yours! And just in case you were wondering nursey-nurse, my son is exclusively breast fed, my daughter breast fed in the morning and at bed time, AND both sleep through the night as well as Mom and Dad (I do not believe that profession matters one iota but for nurses who do, I am an ER doc).
This made me so freaking happy it wasn't even funny! I just hope the nurse that posted that reply about co-sleeping being a pet peeve read what that dr. wrote. Co-sleeping is the best thing for a baby...and unless you are drinking or doing drugs, you will not roll over or hurt your baby at night, you will know. At first I thought I should wean Aiden out of our bed because so many people were like your kid will always want to sleep with you until they are 10, I don't care and I dont' believe that to be an issue. After having Brittany (thank you B), Annalise, and Trendon here, I realize screw all those others who were like put your baby in his own bed, and plus Aiden knows where he wants to be, def. since the night before he got sick the only place he would sleep was w/ us. Its just best, he feels secure when he is scared and I'm so happy to have him in our room. When he wants or when he is ready, he can go back to sleeping in his bed. As of now though he is sick and needs his mommy and daddy!
Aiden is one of the happiest babies i've ever seen...and i'm not being partial to being his mom, he is just happy...he has never had colic or even been upset about teething like other babies, and I think a lot of it has to do with how much we do hold him, and love him. Adam and I read an article at my lactation consultants office right after he was born, and this pediatric dr. said you can not spoil a baby by giving him too much affection, or holding him too much...spoiling children is buying their love when they are older not just giving them attention and care, and we believe this is how we should raise him.
Aiden is amazing, he smiles all the time and never stops "talking" (jabbers and coos)...it is just wonderful! He has been holding his own head up for months now, and if you even try to help him, he will pull it away! I have the funniest video in the entire world which I will be soon putting up of Aiden laughing hysterically at my dad. He really loves his grandparents, all of them. He pretty much is going to be spoiled rotten, I'm ok w/ that, because I know he will still be a good baby.
I haven't hardly done any Christmas shopping, and it's looking like I'm just going to do almost all of it online! Which makes me sad because I love to go shopping, maybe I will sneak a few days in, Aiden loves to get out and go! (He just wants to be a ham and smile at everyone that talks to him) I did get the Christmas cards done yesterday, along w/ a bunch of other great Christmas pics of Aiden, and I can't wait to see them.
And then we are going to watch Harry Potter, which Adam is picking up on his way home yay!!! 
Thank you so much for the gift Brittany, Annalise, and Trendon...he really loves it!!! He has already played w/ it, smooched on it, and took a nap w/ it! Such a great gift! You all are wonderful and your Christmas card came in the mail today at the same time...and it was wonderful! I was mad because the mail ppl got it wet! But it didn't mess it up! Love you guys! 
We have had two amazing trips, the first was the MS to visit Adam's Granny Grunt and then to Cincy to stay w/ Nathan and both were sooo amazing! Aiden is a champ at traveling and there is soon to be a major pic post with details of all the fun.
So, here we are up as early as can be on Friday trying to get ready for Saturday. We are taking Aiden on his first trip to Mississippi...and honestly I'm already in a pre panic mode, hehe. Thankfully my fam and Adam's familia have been more than helpful coming over and helping get laundry done, and holding the baby while I run around doing stuff. And seriously I don't know what I would do w/out my Sis, and Brittany's moral support, via txt. I'm getting pics ready for Adam's granny, fixing to go and get the oil changed, doing a load of Aiden's laundry, nursed the baby, and just tucked him & my sis in on the couch...now I can get ready! (of course I'm in here blogging instead!) 
I wish I could just take my sister w/ us to MS but no, she has a wedding to go to this weekend, but that's alright I already stole her away from my Granny next week. It's always been tradition for her to go to Granny's on fall break, but this year, she is just coming to stay w/ me. We have so much fun and she is a huge help! But all of her hard work is paying off, I'm taking her to an All Time Low concert in St. Louis towards the end of Nov.
