My dear friend Isil from
Veggie Way responded to someone's question about co-sleeping and I thought I would add my limited experience to the mix.
I have been co-sleeping with my baby at home since she was born. We started out with this
Snuggle Nest in the center of our bed. We used it for about 1.5 months, and then she started sleeping curled up next to me at night. What I like about the Snuggle Nest is that it was inclined and had the side bumpers. She also was close enough to us to hear her and to comfort her when she awoke. I did have nightmares almost every night that I was nursing her and then I couldn't find her, only to discover that she was still in her little bed. I think most of that was because I was trying to make sure that she got fed every 2-3 hours. And...only once did she manage to wiggle down below her flannel cover and I thought for sure she was suffocated. Of course, she was all toasty and sound asleep.
After we got more comfortable with the side-laying nursing position, she started just sleeping by my side....all curled up next to me. I really liked it because I actually got better sleep and she was nice and warm. I wish I was more comfortable with this position originally, because we did have issues with keeping her body temp up that first week.
My original intention was for her to sleep in the co-sleeper next to my bed, but it was too difficult for me to get in and out of bed right about childbirth. When I did try her in it a little over a month later, she didn't want to have anything to do with it. She won't let me put her down to sleep by herself. She truly is a "velcro" baby.
Now that she is 2 months, I think co-sleeping is for us and I really can't see it any other way. It does have it drawbacks though that I am trying to work out (and maybe these will resolve themselves with time). First off, it sucks not being able to toss and turn anymore. I usually have to force myself to stay in one position until she gets up, because I don't want to deal with a crying baby that was disturbed. Secondly, I can usually sneak out of bed for a total of five seconds before she realizes that I am gone and wakes up. This really kills my sex life (which I still haven't had any since she was born because she is always by my side). She has been taking a liking to this vibrating rocker that a friend of mine let me borrow, so maybe someday she will stay in it long enough to let us "get it on." Lastly....humm...I can't think of another drawback. I truly enjoy cuddling with her as we drift off to sleep. I also love hearing her breathing and not having to get up to nurse. I also love that she sleeps so soundly next to me, nestled by her food source, and most days we can hang out in bed for a 12 hour stretch. Although, my sleep gets disturbed, I definitely sleep much better too with no more nightmares.
Personally, I am not really worried about how to get her out of the bed. I figured she will definitely want her own bed someday, but in the meantime we have plenty of room (I have a king-size bed). I remember wanting to sleep with my parents when I was little and they never let me (unless I threw up in the bed...which I did sometime on purpose). Instead, I was forced to sleep in my own scary bedroom in the attic, across the hallway from my sister.
And...as far as the cover issue goes, I am so aware of her presence that she never gets the cover higher than her shoulders.
Okay...you really can't see it very well in this picture. But trust me, it is there and it is causing all sorts of pain for her and for me. She is attacking my fingers and my poor nipples feel like they are being clamped. I am excited though for her, even though I can't believe that she is going to be 6 months old in a week or so.
