General Chat

Another campaign has been started to highlight the risk of smokers sharing a bed with their baby and also anyone who has drunk alcohol, is very tired or on certain medication. So many different cultures have different views on parents sharing beds with their babies and children. Do you co-sleep with your baby or is it something you would never do? Did you grow up in an era when everybody shared a bed?

When Jacob was born 8 years ago,I was a single mum for a while and from the day he was born,i put him in bed with me.I found he slept better because when he went in his cot,he woke up quite a lot. He went in his own bed when he was nearly 2 when my second son was born.Ryan went straight into a cot,and slept in it ok. Nowadays,they both like sleeping in our bed,not every night though.Jacobs poorly now and hes been sleeping in my bed with me for the past few days. Anna

Morning Bendy Wendy Oliver our 11yr old slept in bed with us it was the only way we got any peace, he was a Crier and the only time he was quiet was when he had a boob in his mouth! when the girls came to us they were ever so tiny and doing cold turkey after being exposed to god knows what, they were fretful and restless, they always settled down after a cuddle (worked us out early didnt they!) but as soon as they began to improve they were put into their own cots , they now come into bed every morning for the best cuddle of the day- pure heaven. neither of us smoke and we dont drink so i quess for us it was slightly different keri X

Hi Keri - my George was like your Oliver!!

I know a babe I would like to sleep with but she won't hear of it. len

Our son was a terrible sleeper, mainly due to being in Intensive Care, then Special Care for 5 weeks - lights on all the time, doting nurses giving lots of attention! We used to bring him into our bed, but one of us would go and sleep in the spare bed so that he wouldn't get squashed between us (and we don't smoke or drink either). When he was 4 and just about to start school, he suddenly started sleeping through the night in his own bed, and although he is still a very affectionate boy, even at 16, he hasn't been in our bed since! Mandy :)

Co-slept with all of mine, youngest is still in with us [11months] I wouldn't be comfortable with anything else. My maternal instints say my babies have to be close + easier for feeding! The 2 elder ones were put in their own beds at 2, but knew our bed was always open to them, however, they rarely took this option. I guess its just a personal choice, you have to do whats right for you and your family. I know of people who have put 6week olds in their own room!

As a single mum I was desperate for sleep so altho I had a crib next to the bed my son was in with me most of the time. He used to cry a lot at nights - I tried everything, singing, stroking, feeding, drinks, you name it I tried it - so many times I nearly threw him out of the window LOL but at 2 1/2 he finally started sleeping through the night. What joy. He is still a night owl tho, just like me!

my eldest was born in 92 and my girlfriend breastfed her for 20 months!! so it was easier for her to come into our bed everynight.....but when we tried to put her in her own room..she didn't want to go....we suffered for about another 18 months..we were late night night people..still are...and our daughter is the same...even at the age of 12..she still doesn't go sleep til about midnight...our mistake i guess..

Sorry but i cant agree! Only twice, in extreme circumstance,s has my dau slept with us! On both occassions hubby has slept on the sofa. ( he tends to thrash about in his sleep and i consider this unsafe for a child). I have never had any probs getting my child into a regular bedtime with the doors shut and lights out! My sis does the sleeping with child and she has made a rod for her own back! karen

Have never had baby in bed with us both...........too risky! Had to sleep downstairs with my youngest cos he was diagnosed as asthmatic............and I couldn't settle. 4 yrs on............not showing any signs of it...........but my daughter had a chest infection............and really scared me ! (diagnosed with asthma after a chest infection!) Not sure but doctors really quick!!!!!!!!!!! Hope she grows out of it.......cos I struggled to breathe for 5 yrs till doctor diagnosed me! I was 14!!!! Breathing nicely.........Stel.

My eldest (now 36) slept in our bed from 10 days old.( I NEEDED sleep!) We never got a good nights sleep for at least four years. I walked through the streets with her in her pram and even tried .....sitting on the door step rocking her pram...but she knew!!!!! and screamed the place down. As soon as I started walking, she was quiet! Ggrrrr! Thank god I had two more children that were a pleasure to bring up... If I have problem in my life now, guess who's the first at my door???...yep Maxine. She is still a night howler......like me. Time is 1.51am..UK Gerri x

Well I'm a wriggler so I wouldn't share a bed wiv my baby if I had one, I'd be afraid of squashing it. AL