Comments on: The Co-Sleeping Campaign That Backfired Completely

By: Janelle Reid

Janelle Reid — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 23:54:50 +0000

In reply to Jessica. @Jessica, thanks for sharing your experience with us! Congrats on baby #2 that sounds like she's coming soon (or perhaps already here?). :)

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 18:07:38 +0000

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for this article! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt like a terrible mother because a Doctor has told me not to co-sleep. ( I was scolded for co-sleeping at the hospital with my newborn).

I co-slept with my 1st daughter until we were already to transition her to her own bed. What we did was co-sleep until she was 5 months old, then we part time co-slept until she was 11 months old. By then she gave up her overnight feed and has slept on her own bed ever since. (Except for times she is sick). I am so glad I did a gradual transition and I plan to do the same with my 2nd daughter.

I’ve always been safe about it and I wish more emphasis was given to that, than to scaring parents, or even worse, make them feel bad for even thinking about co-sleeping. Not only is co-sleeping a part of my culture, but it is something I should have the choice in doing and not feel bad about it. I am hoping that in our future, the stigma of co-sleeping goes away, and when babies get hurt due to it, they blame it on the actual cause, for example the provider being under the influence of drugs, and not just the practice of co-sleeping.

By: Janelle Reid

Janelle Reid — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 19:19:37 +0000

In reply to Kari Amalie. @Kari Amalie, Thank you so much for your comment and sharing your co-sleeping experience with us! I am so glad your daughter is doing so well. Thank you for using the Baby Sleep Site as a resource for sleep!

By: Kari Amalie

Kari Amalie — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 19:54:49 +0000

So nice to read an American source that is not condemning co sleeping. Same as Hilde above, I am a first time Norwegian mom. I would say that safe cosleeping is even encouraged over here, we were sent home from the hospital with a neat folder explains safe co sleeping principles. We bought one of those side car beds that is attached to our bed, mattresses the same height. Our LO will start the night in her own little side car, and then she will be transferred over to my bed upon first waking up for her first feed. She demanded quite a lot from us when she was a newborn, and doing this saved both of our sleep, I was even able to fall asleep with her nursing making my waking up to attach her significantly less impacting my own sleep. Now she’s 4,5 months old and still starts the night in her side car at 7 PM and doesn’t wake to feed until ca 6 AM the following day, so I too can attest to the fact that co sleeping does not necessitate frequent night wakings demanding to feed.

By: Emily DeJeu

Emily DeJeu — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 20:41:22 +0000

In reply to Anna. @ Anna - I love your advice :) And I know other moms reading this will, too - thanks for sharing!

By: Anna

Anna — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 18:43:37 +0000

Just to clarify: Bed-sharing worked for us…until it didn’t. By about a year old, our daughter was starting to get less restful sleep in bed with us, and our sleep was also suffering as a result. By 14 months, we finally got help from the Baby Sleep Site to transition to a crib, and as daunting as it was, we did it!

Given our co-sleeping experience, I’ve become a big advocate of informing parents of their options and how to be safe no matter what choice they take. My top advice (for anyone who finds it helpful) is to educate yourself, go with whatever works for your family (knowing that it may change over time), and not to worry about what others are doing.

Sometimes I’m sad that bed-sharing didn’t work long-term for us. It would be so nice to snuggle occasionally with her at night, but our few attempts at it (usually when she was sick and in need of extra comfort) have resulted in making exhausted disasters of all of us by morning.

Fun follow-on story: After she moved to a crib, we continued to room share, debating when/whether to move her to her own room. Then, at about 2 years old, she TOLD us she was moving to her own room, and started pushing her crib (it’s light-weight) down the hallway. That was it. Sometimes it’s best to let the kid take the lead. 😉

By: Emily DeJeu

Emily DeJeu — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 17:25:57 +0000

In reply to Hilde. @ Hilde - love your comment! Thanks for debunking that myth for us ;) So glad to hear that bed-sharing has been a great choice for you and your family!

By: Emily DeJeu

Emily DeJeu — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 17:25:21 +0000

In reply to Anna.

@ Anna – wow…what a story! How funny that your child safety instructor had to be so covert about discussing bed-sharing, but I guess I can understand that, given the times in which we live. But glad to hear that cosleeping has been a real solution for you, and that you’ve been able to feel confident and good about your choice – way to go!

thanks for commenting, Anna! 🙂

By: Emily DeJeu

Emily DeJeu — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 17:23:55 +0000

In reply to Bridgette. @ Bridgette - thanks so much for sharing your opinion with us! So glad to hear that safe co-sleeping has been a real sleep solution for you. It's not for everyone, but it is a life-saver for some families! :)

By: Emily DeJeu

Emily DeJeu — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 17:21:39 +0000

In reply to irene.

@ irene – Thanks so much for sharing your story! I think a lot of moms end up doing just what you have done…and it’s high time we stopped making them feel so terrified!

Thanks for commenting, irene – glad you’ve found us and are adding your voice to our community. 🙂