Benefits of Co-sleeping

I had four children and did not co-sleep or bedshare with any of them. Most of my friends had children before me and I saw the trouble that they had getting their children to ever sleep in a bed of their own. I wasn't going to risk it! I would have also not been comfortable as it would have been very crowded. I would worry to about rolling over and harming the small child. Not the mention the intrusion on mine and hubby's private time. Our children were in a bassinet beside the bed until too large for it, and then in a crib in the nursery. They were/are all very healthy and well adjusted.

I did that with my daughter when she was a baby - I sort of alternated between co-sleeping and bedsharing. What usually happened was I'd put her in her cot at first but when she woke up through the night I would bring her in beside me. I know a lot of people don't "approve" of it but to be honest I think I enjoyed it as much as she did. Any opportunity for a cuddle I say! I don't remember having any problems getting her to sleep in her own bed when she got a bit older. By the time she was about 3 she was sleeping in her own bed most nights but occasionally would come into mine but the times when she did that gradually reduced until it was only very rare occasions. She's an adult now so I'm trying to remember back a good few years! Generally I think people get too uptight about bringing up children - I think it's best to follow your instincts and for me that meant when she woke through the night my instinct was to bring her into bed beside me and have a cuddle. The books didn't recommend it but no two baby books ever seem to say the same thing anyway!

I don't think there are any benefits to co-sleeping, in fact, I think it's a very dangerous practice. I don't think your child should ever been in the same bed with you. http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_11729.aspx Coroners recommend against it. Babies should be in the crib alone with a tight fitting sheet, that's it. You also can't feel it all the time, if you're so exhausted, you fall asleep, you could fall asleep right on top of the baby.....very dangerous.