Comments on: Co-Sleeping Safety

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:47:19 +0000

Molly:

I don’t think it is possible to give an exact age. If I was going to, I would say around 2 years.

In reality, in our house, I became a bit more relaxed about things when my kids were about one year old, because they were more mobile, they were bigger, and I felt more aware of their presence and aware of what I was doing at night (i.e. confident I wasn’t going to pull the blanket up over my daughter’s head subconsciously).

If I were you, I would sleep in warmer clothing, get a sleep sack for the baby, and keep the heavy bedding away for now.

By: Molly

Molly — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:28:26 +0000

In one of your posts you mention something about a time when suffocation risk is lowered. When is that exactly? Should I be following all the standard precautions with a 6 month old? Is there anything I can be more relaxed about? We are in a fairly cold climate with no indoor heating! But I really want to make sure I’m making the safest choices. Thank you!

By: How We Ended Up Co-Sleeping | An unschooling adventure

How We Ended Up Co-Sleeping | An unschooling adventure — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:59:17 +0000

[...] Bed-Sharing and Co-Sleeping: Research Overview Dr. Sears Addresses Recent Co-Sleeping Concerns Co-Sleeping Safety [...]

By: harmonyl

harmonyl — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:01:20 +0000

OK, this question has been bugging me for a very long time. We have a memory foam topper – 2 inches, I think? – on top of our mattress. It’s not so squishy as, say, a pillow-top and the mattress underneath is pretty hard. But just in case, with our daughter we initially did something like kangaroo care. I slept on my back, and she slept on her stomach on top of my chest. Once she hit about 4 months, I think, we moved her to sleeping on her back next to me, her head resting on my arm or shoulder.

Was that a safer choice? She’s 2 1/2 now, so obviously if it was highly dangerous we dodged the bullet. But I’d still like to know for future children what would be best to do….

By: Practical Parenting: The Family Bed « Mother of Fact

Practical Parenting: The Family Bed « Mother of Fact — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:55:10 +0000

[...] do find yourself desiring to pull your baby into bed, I would encourage you to try it (but do it safely). You might be surprised at how much you actually enjoy it. And you’re definitely not [...]

By: CoSleeping, Babies & Butcher Knives? | Baby Food Scoops

CoSleeping, Babies & Butcher Knives? | Baby Food Scoops — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:09:42 +0000

[...] say that co-bedding is absolutely safe or absolutely not safe. However, I do feel that there are safe ways to do things, and unsafe ways – just like choosing to wear a seatbelt or not wear a seatbelt when driving [...]

By: The Bed-Sharing Debate

The Bed-Sharing Debate — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:37:48 +0000

[...] This one states, “Formula feeding mothers and fathers are less likely to sense their child’s presence and should be more cautious about their co-sleeping arrangements.” However, it doesn’t state a formula fed baby should NOT bed share. It simply warns parents to be more cautious. Personally, I feel if a child is breastfed at all, whether partially or fully, that physical awareness between mother/child is formed and ever-present. [...]

By: Co-Sleeping and Scare Tactics | Little Snowflakes

Co-Sleeping and Scare Tactics | Little Snowflakes — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 04:51:55 +0000

[...] what is safe co-sleeping? Annie at PhD in has great information in her post entitled “Co-Sleeping Safety“. I highly recommend reading it in its entirety if you are considering co-sleeping, or if [...]

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:22:10 +0000

As a bottle feeding mother, I’m pretty darned offended by this uninformed and stupid statement: “Formula feeding mothers and fathers are less likely to sense their child’s presence…”

I see that you’re an advocate of breast feeding. Which is fine. But it seems like you’re carrying am opinion common in Lactivists that bottle feeding moms are less aware of and selfish in regard to their children. It has been suggested that because there are different hormones released when vaginal birth occurs/breast feeding is successful that effect bonding and that children born by c-section/don’t breast feed don’t bond with moms properly. I unfortunately used to believe this and it had a detrimental effect on my ability to bond with my first child. I’ve had c-sections with both of my daughters and bottle fed them out of medical necessity in both cases.

My first experience was disappointing when I was compelled to have a c-section after months of practicing HypnoBirthing because of my baby’s breech position. I had a very hard time bonding with her afterwards when I also couldn’t breast feed. It was horrible and I felt responsible. I thought it was because of the section and the bottle feeding. I had my second baby by c-section on Sunday morning and have happily discovered that that was all CRAP. It was the unfortunate circumstances caused by the hospital staff and my own inexperience and lack of preparedness for recovery which caused this rift. This time, I was the first (and at this point almost only) person to feed my baby, change her diaper and care for her. It’s completely different. I feel totally connected to her like I never have with any person. So those kinds of statements are just more unrealistic lies that make moms in non-deal situations feel like failures.

You should be embarrassed by what you said and consider changing it because it’s insulting.

By: Annie, mama dweeb

Annie, mama dweeb — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:38:01 +0000

Jane, it is ok to use a pillow and blanket as long as you make sure the pillow is not near baby’s head and the blanket is not like a down comforter that will swallow your baby. I say that slightly tongue in cheek, but in all honesty, you can find safe ways to co sleep even in winter. It is amazing how much of a heater a baby’s body is. When I snuggle with my baby I end up not needing as many blankets and use a light weight one anyways