Cosleeping clarification

ejgballerina

I thought cosleeping was physically sharing a bed with your LO, but someone recently told me that technically if you have your LO in a bassinet right next to your bed, this is also considered cosleeping.  I would love to share a bed with my baby, but DH is a verry heavy sleeper and we are both paranoid that he would roll over on the baby and not even realize it.  So, DS sleeps in a pack n play right next to my side of the bed.  It's a dumb question, but was just wondering what the term 'cosleeping' truly meant.  TIA!

mechanicsgirl

I always considered it sharing a bed (which, even though I said I never would, I do every night now), but apparently it includes using a "cosleeper"...it's like a bassinet, but has no railing on the side that sits up against your bed.  That way, it's like they're in bed with you, without actually being so.

schmoodle

My understanding is:

Cosleeping = same room

Bedsharing = same bed

ESTH2000

mechanicsgirl:

I always considered it sharing a bed (which, even though I said I never would, I do every night now), but apparently it includes using a "cosleeper"...it's like a bassinet, but has no railing on the side that sits up against your bed.  That way, it's like they're in bed with you, without actually being so.

ditto this

 I found this on kellymom.com

What is co-sleeping?

Co-sleeping essentially means sleeping in close proximity to your child. It may be in the same bed or just in the same room. Some ways of co-sleeping that different families use are:

• Family Bed:
  Parent(s) sleep in the same bed with the child.
• Sidecar arrangement:
  Securely attach a crib to one side of the parents' bed, next to the mother. Three sides of the baby's crib are left intact, but the side next to the parents' bed is lowered or removed so that mother and baby have easy access to one another.
• Different beds in the same room:
  This might include having baby's bassinet or crib within arm reach of the parents (easier at night) or just in the same room; or fixing a pallet or bed for an older child on the floor next to, or at the foot of, the parents' bed.
• Child welcomed into parents' bed as needed:
  The baby/child has her own bedroom, but is welcomed into the parents' bed at any time. In many families, children start their overnight hours in a separate bed or room, but are welcomed into the parents' bed after a night waking.

JGirl2005

I share a bed and consider that cosleeping although AP mamas think in the same room is cosleeping.

My pedi asks all moms to sleep in the same room until 6 months but no one I know does this (except me.....ha!)  None of my friends IRL and my pedi doesn't call being in the same room cosleeping. I've heard bed sharing to clarify.

JCM083009

schmoodle:

My understanding is:

Cosleeping = same room

Bedsharing = same bed

Same for me.  

and if you bed share you are still doing a form of co sleeping so yes, it can be called that (hence the confusion maybe?) but co sleeping doesn't always = bedsharing. 

ESTH2000

Come to think of  it..my Pedi doesnt consider being in the same room cosleeping either.... hmmmmmm

AvaLikeLava

schmoodle:

My understanding is:

Cosleeping = same room

Bedsharing = same bed

this

517butterfly

ESTH2000:

mechanicsgirl:

I always considered it sharing a bed (which, even though I said I never would, I do every night now), but apparently it includes using a "cosleeper"...it's like a bassinet, but has no railing on the side that sits up against your bed.  That way, it's like they're in bed with you, without actually being so.

ditto this

 I found this on kellymom.com

What is co-sleeping?

Co-sleeping essentially means sleeping in close proximity to your child. It may be in the same bed or just in the same room. Some ways of co-sleeping that different families use are:

• Family Bed:
  Parent(s) sleep in the same bed with the child.
• Sidecar arrangement:
  Securely attach a crib to one side of the parents' bed, next to the mother. Three sides of the baby's crib are left intact, but the side next to the parents' bed is lowered or removed so that mother and baby have easy access to one another.
• Different beds in the same room:
  This might include having baby's bassinet or crib within arm reach of the parents (easier at night) or just in the same room; or fixing a pallet or bed for an older child on the floor next to, or at the foot of, the parents' bed.
• Child welcomed into parents' bed as needed:
  The baby/child has her own bedroom, but is welcomed into the parents' bed at any time. In many families, children start their overnight hours in a separate bed or room, but are welcomed into the parents' bed after a night waking.

Thanks for posting this!  I found it very helpful!