Know where you are coming from Jo. LOL We started co-sleping with #3, shift in ideas and necessity as he was a shocking sleeper. Even with being in bed with me he needed to be rocked for long periods through the night. Finally after 2 years we had our first full night sleep. We are still sleeping with #4 and at 2 1/2yrs we are trying to achieve something close to a full nights sleep. Both were and little one still is demand fed, which included many feeds during the night. I wouldn't change it, I have no doubt that with #3 in particular, that he was just not into sleeping and a cot set up would have never worked. The best part was waking up to his beautiful pudgy face in the morning, seeing your child wake is a truly priceless experience. For us, our 2 that slept in a cot were the best sleepers. After 5 years of very poor sleep I am exhausted and for us co-sleeping hasn't been quite as dreamy as it is often spelt out. Possibly just unlucky in having 2 non-sleepers, in which case laying in bed settling is much easier than standing next to a cot for hours. But, what I wouldn't give for a good nights sleep. Looking after 4 boys under 8 requires enormous amount of energy and a sleep deprived Mum is not always so pretty... cheers Megan
_____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jo Bourne Sent: Tuesday, 23 January 2007 8:44 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] co-sleeping Maybe I am alone in this but having coslept with our first and used a cot for #2 I found the opposite to be true - I get so much better quality sleep without the baby in bed with me that it is definitely worthwhile getting up even three times a night to feed her and then put her back in the cot. She is wonderfully secure and content and I really feel we have brought out the best in her sleep tendencies rather than the worst as we did with #1. Sleeping well is a life skill and to be honest I don't feel that we did #1 any favourss. I am not suggesting that cosleeping be discrouraged, we would absolutely have done it again if the bassinets/cot plan hadn't worked. But I guess I just don't think that cosleeping is necessarily a miracle cure either. I think the best solution is assuring parents that cosleeping can be done safely, that they can't spoil a baby and that they should do what works for them whatever that is. On 22/01/2007, at 8:53 PM, James Fairbairn wrote: but the positives are - as everyone has mentioned - a less tired mum - not needing to completely wake up in the night when feeding and having a more secure and contented baby
