night and day

We have two baby "manuals." It's amazing how differently each treats the idea of co-sleeping. One says, "Is it all right to let your baby sleep in your bed? Yes! It is not only all right, this is where we believe babies belong."

The other book says, "Co-sleeping, parents and children sharing a bed at night, does work well-but chiefly, it seems, in other societies. In a society like ours, which stresses the development of independence and the importance of privacy, co-sleeping is associated with a wide range of problems."

Here is a peak at the problems the book deems are caused by co-sleeping: sleep problems, dental problems in baby, developmental problems, peer problems (school age children may be ridiculed by peers for co-sleeping), marital problems, safety problems, and drawing-the-line problems. Whoa!

Here is what the book that encourages co-sleeping gives as reasons to sleep together (I have already noticed many of these points are true): babies go to sleep better; babies stay asleep better; mothers stay asleep better; breastfeeding is easier (I can't wait for this!); sleep sharing fits in with busy lifestyles (as more and more mothers, of necessity, are separated from their baby during the day, sleeping with their baby allows them to be reunited at night - this will be the case when sadly I go back to work when Jonah is 16 weeks-old); and finally, babies thrive.

Our baby sleeps in a co-sleeper next to our bed, and sometimes with us in bed. I can't imagine training an infant to become independent. What a bunch of bologna. Might as well train him to go to the fridge to pour himself a glass of milk when he's hungry!

Co-sleeper bed (pictured) courtesy grandma MaryAnn and grandpa John. Thank you!!!