cerveza_fiesta, on 14 November 2012 - 07:17 PM, said:
Health canada would shoot me in the head if I did co-sleeping I'm sure.
We have been keeping the crib in a 2nd bedroom and a single bed in the same room. Somebody is in the room with her through the night, but it ends there. In the crib we just wrap her up tight in a swaddle and plunk her on the mattress. Sometimes a double-swaddle if it's cold. Technically you're not supposed to do that either, but once you get good at it, swaddles are safe enough. Plus swaddles (esp the storebought velcro jobbies) are the almighty saviour when it comes to getting infants to sleep. We just use giant squares of cotton muslin, but any soft fabric bigger than 36" on a side will do.
I dunno, there's so much terrifying literature out there about SIDS, which is this retarded catchall acronym used to describe every means of accidental baby death that isn't intentionally caused by a parent. If you're smart about it, preventable forms of SIDS are easy to avoid and there's no good reason you need to share your bed with the wee-one. Especially if you might inadvertently toss her on the floor while sleeping!
I admit to knowing little to nothing about Canadian Law, and I live in Florida, USA so the cold isn't exactly a huge issue... But if I'm understanding the "swaddles" you're talking about (basically a gown with a sewn shut bottom instead of an open one) they are called bagsleepers sometimes. They are perfect for newborns and 1-3 month old (in size if not in age) because it mimics the action of the legs on the sac itself. Most babies strain their legs some while sleeping while still inside the womb.
Also, SIDS is sadly abused as a diagnosis and I'm glad you recognize that - however there are far fewer (over 80% fewer) cases of SIDS in families that Co-sleep than there are in families that do not. The actual occurrence of "SIDS" in countries where Co-sleeping is the norm is virtually non-existent.
I know that personally I constantly check the baby throughout the night, without even really having to wake up - I just put my hand on his torso and make sure the blanket is covering him enough. She is also checking on him throughout the night and when he wakes up he is instantly comforted.
In a crib there are any number of things that can go wrong if the parents prepared wrong. And the same thing translates to co-sleeping. If a soft mattress is present, that can cause infant death, in the bed or in a crib. So obviously preparation is necessary.
Check these out if you're still not convinced.
http://www.askdrsear...eeping-concerns<br style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.78333282470703px;">
http://www.askdrsear...its-co-sleeping
HiddenOne, on 14 November 2012 - 11:12 PM, said:
don't do it, it's hard as crap to kick them out once they become self-aware and learn to use the heart-twisting powers only a little one can possess
EDIT: have to admit, I did it wrong for a long time, my little girl wants to stay up as late as I do because of this
Yes, the breaking of the "sleeping in Mommy/Daddy's bed habit can be hard - though I would be lying if I said that would make me hesitate to start Co-sleeping. I can deal with the issues that might come up.. But as it is, he sleeps in his crib during all naps and sometimes for half the night (but only rarely) so hopefully over time he'll not fight too hard! =p
Shinrei, on 14 November 2012 - 11:14 PM, said:
Co-sleeping is the main method in Japan. Most of the co-sleeping lasts until elementary school. This will NOT happen in chez Shin, and my wife is on board. We'd both rather have the little one in her own crib, and maybe once we kick this binky habit, that will happen. I have a co-worker who moans about the fact he is still co-sleeping with his sons (6 and 4) and his daughter (1). It's because his wife insists that's "The Japanese way", and he has no balls.
Swaddling didn't work with our girl. If she can't move, she freaks out. That's part of the reason she thrashes around so much now. It's winter, we've got her blanketed up and all she wants to do is sleep-escape from the confines.
I couldn't do it for that long. My bed just isn't big enough hahaha.... It's barely big enough for him as it is. there's no room for him to turn over completely, which is a good thing, as I don't want him to be sleeping on his stomach. (He's ovder 28" tall and 23 lbs and neither my GF nor I are small. I'm 5'9" and 195 lbs)
Is the baby between you and your wife? if she is then she can't kick the blanket off, and it won't be as pressing on her because you are obviously bigger, and as such the blanket will be resting on you two more than her.
If the baby is between you two, in a onsie/baby sleeper then the temperature won't be an issue - if you're comfortable, she will be comfy... However, if she is between you and still having trouble by wanting to be less confined - have her sleep Nakie as well as your Wife. This will help add heat in the blankets for them as naked bodies naturally feed each other more heat.
This is a beautiful and amazing part of nature's design... A Baby's temperature can be regulated by skin-to-skin contact with the mother. The Mother can bring the baby's temperature up OR down based on what the baby needs in newborns (likely in older babies too, but I can't be certain of that without more research, will do so after posting)
A note about Co-sleeping in general:
Co-sleeping is an important decision, and shouldn't be done without the proper preparation - such as bringing in the right kind of mattress, which sometimes means replacing the entire bed. Making sure the blanket you're using isn't going to block the baby's nose and get stuck. Making sure that NEITHER parent drinks much or takes medication that causes deep sleep.
I'm not a heavy sleeper, I constantly toss and turn. I used to wake up with her using a different blanket because I'd have taken the entire other one with my twisting. That being said, I am not a mindless turner now that he's in the bed and has been for nearly 7 months. In fact, I had to start being careful before the birth, in hopes of not disturbing her much late in the pregnancy. It's something you become conscious of. I don't know many people who have a baby and do not instantly worry about being extra careful anyways... I didn't sleep for 3 days after he was born because I was busy looking at him and wanting to watch his every breath while she slept. I'm a bit of a sap =p