Kenyatta:
Like breastfeeding, the family bed is another "HOT" topic between myself and some people.
When I came home from the hospital, I was in PAIN. The staples in my stomach were killing me, I was healing from sore cracked nipples, and trying to get used to the uterine contractions I felt every time I nursed Christian.
Though I used the football hold and a nursing pillow in the first week or so , I couldn't WAIT for the stitches to come out so I could LAY DOWN! :-)
So began the Family Bed in our house. Recovering from a c section, as some of you know, is long and sometimes painful. Though DH was given leave by his job to help care for Christian and I, DH wasn't always there when I needed to get Christian ... and it sure helped to have Christian laying beside me when it was time to nurse!
I think it helped me heal, and it also helped because sometimes I was able to nurse Christian and have him not fully wake up. So I was able to sleep when he slept.
With Christian fast approaching two, I look at him and can't believe how far we have come together. He still sleeps with us, though recently he starts out on his own, and when he wakes up in the middle of the night (his molars are coming in) we bring him back to bed with us.
Some people agree with the family bed, some don't .. but for DH and I, it's worked out fine, and I have seen NO incidences of Christian not being able to sleep on his own...
Andrea:
I am for the family bed. My daughter is almost three, and like Christian, she starts off in her own bed and ends up in mine. I sleep better, she sleeps better...I like it. Sometimes, if it is a stormy night, my 10 yr old son sneaks in too. Of course, I don't have a DH to complain...but I am for the family bed. My three yr old is a very happy, very well adjusted and secure little girl.
Paula:
We started off with a family bed and had to put G3 in his own bed when he started to walk. Our crazy critter is a BIG dreamer and started "sleep walking". One night I caught his ankle as he almost walked off the end of the bed. That was the end of our family bed days. He still comes to bed with us some nights when he isn't sleeping soundly... sadly I don't sleep too well then... worried he'll bolt off the end of the bed - ARG
Love the idea, sadly it didn't last as long as I would have liked... maybe next time
Lorna:
I believe that co-sleeping was the key to the successful breastfeeding of my second child. It's working out quite well for the third so far.
Once he weaned at 9 months, I moved him to his own bed in the same room as his brother. I think that the Family Bed is a great option
Yvonne:
With my first I was a single mom, living in another state, away from family. Couldn't afford a crib so I just thought the baby would sleep with me. That's just the way it would be! And so it was! Next baby came along, was married, and since it was so easy ( for nursing too) to sleep with my first I thought I'd do the same. Just following my instinct! The same followed with #3, 4,and 5!
This time around though we are using a "side car". Josh will start out there in the beginning of the night but my morning time he's in our bed!
if you have any questions or comments!