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A dad has asked if co-sleeping with your baby is ever acceptable after listening to the constant debate around the issue…

Taking to Reddit’s parenting forum, a new dad has asked if it is ever ok to co-sleep with your baby as his seven-month-old son has stopped sleeping through the night. The dad says that the constant debate around the issue has made him and his wife feel uncomfortable bringing it up with their doctor but that the current situation means no one in the house is getting a good nights sleep.

Every Single Night

The dad says their son has begun to wake up crying many times during the night. “Our son is seven months old and has been sleeping 7am-6pm for the past month or so,” he wrote. “In the last few days, he has been waking up many times every night crying. (My wife) suggested that we put him in our bed so he can sleep (but) the doctor suggested we don’t pick him up, unless his nappy needs changing, during the night.”

After checking that there was no health problem behind the ongoing sleep disturbance, the dad says that they tried absolutely everything to solve the problem. “We’ve tried to go into his room, take his hand until he falls back to sleep,” he wrote. “Also tried picking him up to rock him to sleep, same result.”

The dad says that at this stage, co-sleeping seems like the only viable option. “Is there something wrong in putting him in our bed when he’s woken up a few times during the night to allow me to get a bit of sleep before going to work and my wife to have a bit of sleep before baby is ready to get up for the day?

Taking A Risk

NSW Health issued a document titled Safe Sleep For Newborns – FAQs About Co-Sleeping back in 2016, highlighting the potential risks of the practice.

“Co-sleeping increases the risk of sudden unexpected death in infants for all babies, but this does not mean that all babies who co-sleep will die,” the document reads. “It is important to continue to reduce the risk for babies whenever possible by placing a baby in their own safe sleeping space.”

Comments on the dad’s post, however, revealed that many parents still believe it can be a useful technique to cope with sleep disturbance. “Yes, bring that baby into bed and get some sleep,” one commenter said. “Nothing wrong with it at all,” said another. “Just focus on the here and now and do whatever will get your family the most sleep.”

Do you think it is ever ok to co-sleep with your baby? Let us know in the comments.

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  • For me …NO. I need my sleep and sleep better without kids in the bed.

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  • If it is done correctly and safely it shouldn’t be a issue. Families need to do what is best for them.

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  • I think it is ok if there are certain safety plans in place. My daughter co-slept with us but she was in her own basinet in our bed between my husband and I. There was no chance we would roll on her and no chance she could roll between the bed and the wall. It gave us piece of mind for the first few weeks she was home.

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  • No way! Not only are there huge risks associated with this it also ruins your sex life and personal space. You need to at least sometimes have some time to yourself and time to be with your spouse. Alone. Without the kids. Your bed should be the one sacred place – at least at night time.

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  • I have never done it as it scared me that I would suffocate or crush the during the night. Plus I don’t think its healthy for your marriage in the long term

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  • I believe in co-sleeping but not with both parents in the bed because there is not enough room, I was a single parent so it was easier for me and I just continued even after breastfeeding ended. But my mum said here solution was to put the cot next to the bed so you can touch and reassure baby during the night. I still feel though there must be a reason for baby to wake up every night.

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  • I’m lucky enough I have had both good sleepers but I do believe you have to do what works with your child and parent and a lot easiest if both get some sleep

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  • A nap with my 6 month old every now and then. Sometimes you just need to get through the day!

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  • I never co sleeped when my bubba was a newborn i was very worried and thought it not being safe, but now shes 6 months there are some times she sleeps with me, we get a much better and longer nap or sleep but i do try to be super careful to not have anything around her and careful with the blanket

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  • I think they just need to figure out what is best for them. If they need to co sleep to get sleep, then so be it. There are ways to make it safer when co sleeping and things you definitely avoid when co sleeping.
    I didn’t co sleep with my first and the sleep deprivation was intense for first 2 yrs. I was so paranoid about SIDS. My 2nd I co sleep. Yes I still worry about SIDS but I do everything I can to make it as safe as possible. But now I get sleep, my anxiety is manageable, i can function normally most days.

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  • I’ve done it with both of my kids from birth. I do it safely and believe it is 100x better than the alternatives of accidentally falling asleep in an unsafe position or sleep training. We follow the safe sleep seven.

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  • I think at the end of the day you do what you think is best, for your child. No matter what you think is best, someone else will always have something to say, others may judge, others may agree. I think the only thing that you and your partner need to know, is if one or the other are heavy sleepers or on heavy medication, it would be better not to co-sleep. There are other options (like a port-a-cot in your room), so when bubby wakes you can reassure them, that you are in the room and all sshh shhhsshhh go back to sleep. I co slept with all my babies (even in the hospital) and once bubbies were at the 6 months age, I moved them out of our room into their own, depending on the circumstances, I slept on a mattress on the floor (my last pregnancy were twins). 6-9 months is a hard stage, as all babies are going through another big growth spurt, some being introduced to solids, some starting to be more active, so some sleep patterns change (also dropping a day time sleep helps with the night time routine sleep). Just remember you are never alone and there are people around you that are happy to help (with advice too). Enjoy your beautiful child (and lack of sleep), before you know it, you will be giving others some tips that have worked for you!

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  • Co sleeping is a touchy subjects as there is for and against answers. There are portable cosleeping beds for babies under one. These beds can go between yous and are designed that you dont roll into the baby. The baby is at risk of suffocating if your a heavy sleeper or on medications. There are also co sleeper beds that go next to the bed which are even safer. Check out the latest products for cosleeping.

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  • Before I had my son I never thought I would cosleep But when bubs is sick and wants a cuddle in my bed he goes. he sleeps so much better snuggled next to me.

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  • I co sleep with all my 3 kids and i feel i get more sleep while they are sleeping beside me. I dun need to get up and walk to the cot every time I need to breastfeed the baby and put her down and pick up again and down again. I just pull them close and feed them then when she’s done she’ll sleep then I’ll sleep. It depends how deep sleeper are you.

    Reply

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