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Bed Sharing Moms, What Do You Think?
MommyPhoenix
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Are any bedsharing Mamas afraid of their LOs never moving to their own beds/rooms? I coslept with my DD from day one and bedshared off and on. However, since about 2.5 mos ago (when she turned 6mos), we started to bed share. She was waking up every 2-3 hrs to BF (still is!) so in a quest to get more sleep, I decided to exclusively bedshare with her. She's a chubby little Darling and feeds well during the day, so I'm not sure why she keeps wanting to feed through the night...that's a whole other issue! 
Although she is still waking every couple of hours to feed, DD seems to be sleeping more soundly in our bed than in her crib. She'll whine a bit when she first awakes until she finds my breast and she'll turn over, back to sleep once she's had enough.
So the reason behind my initial question - I am not one to buckle usually when it comes to my intuition (bedsharing/cosleeping is right for us) but lately, I'm being chastised by family and friends for allowing DD to sleep with us so now I'm second guessing myself . I don't return to work until the new year but everyone is saying that it will be difficult to "break her of this habit" when I go back to work. My MIL says she needs to be in her crib for safety reasons since she'll be crawling soon (my MIL freaked when I told her we bed shared since DD rolls all over the place. I told her I'd get bed rails but she's convinced that they don't make them for king beds...???). A friend was surprised DD wasn't in her own room and proceeded to tell me that she knows a couple who still can't get their 8 yr old out of their bed.
Any thoughts Mamas? TIA
Although she is still waking every couple of hours to feed, DD seems to be sleeping more soundly in our bed than in her crib. She'll whine a bit when she first awakes until she finds my breast and she'll turn over, back to sleep once she's had enough.So the reason behind my initial question - I am not one to buckle usually when it comes to my intuition (bedsharing/cosleeping is right for us) but lately, I'm being chastised by family and friends for allowing DD to sleep with us so now I'm second guessing myself . I don't return to work until the new year but everyone is saying that it will be difficult to "break her of this habit" when I go back to work. My MIL says she needs to be in her crib for safety reasons since she'll be crawling soon (my MIL freaked when I told her we bed shared since DD rolls all over the place. I told her I'd get bed rails but she's convinced that they don't make them for king beds...???). A friend was surprised DD wasn't in her own room and proceeded to tell me that she knows a couple who still can't get their 8 yr old out of their bed.
Any thoughts Mamas? TIA
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Re: Bed Sharing Moms, What Do You Think?
Your LO won't be in your bed forever, and you can make the transition gentle and loving whenever you are ready.
As for nursing frequently at night, it's extremely common and normal. Their tummies are tiny, and if she's growing or teething, she'll need to nurse a bit more. What she does (rolling away when she's done) sounds exactly like my DS.
Babies sleep differently for different people. DS has always been nursed to sleep when he's with me (I'm a SAHM now and we still do this), but if he's with DH, he will go to sleep being rocked or worn in the carrier. Your LO will adjust and adapt to whatever her caregiver can do for her.
Try not to worry about others' criticism. You know what's best for you and LO. Follow your heart and your mommy instincts.
Oh my gosh, this post and these responses were what I needed as well. I too bedshare with DD and have since she was a newborn. We all love it. DH says we need to eventually work on that transition but he loves it right now too. My mother watches her during the day, and she sleeps in grandma's arms at nap time, daddy holds her for naps, she sleeps in her swing or in my arms for me. She makes adjustments for different people and what is comfortable for her. She has begun sleeping while playing whether on the floor, in her jumper, or in her crib. She may wake up, but naps are ok to have a variety of places or ways that she sleeps. She will figure out what works best for her and for the person she is with.
I work full time and was off for 12 weeks after DD was born. She adjusted much faster than I did to me being gone. I wouldn't sweat it, LO's figure out for themselves what works. As for the nursing, my DD nurses off and on all night, has since she was born, but I let her, because I figure, if she's hungry or thirsty, I would want to be able to get a drink (which I have always gotten up at least 2 times per night to get a drink), so I have no problem with DD nursing, when she is done, she rolls away and flops onto her back with her arms and legs sprawled, lol. Good luck.
Keep doing what works best for you, you are right they are only this small for a short time, why not eat up all the snuggles and cuddles we can get!!!
Breastfeeding Counselor with Breastfeeding USA
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