Comments on: Extended Co-Sleeping http://dagmarbleasdale.com/2009/09/extended-co-sleeping/ making sense of motherhood * breastfeeding * attachment parenting * green and frugal living * decorating * social media Thu, 17 May 2012 03:56:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lynda http://dagmarbleasdale.com/2009/09/extended-co-sleeping/comment-page-1/#comment-1579 Lynda Sun, 16 May 2010 22:59:47 +0000 http://dagmarbleasdale.com/?p=3231#comment-1579 We shared the bed with both our babies until they were around 10.5 months and I will most definitely co-sleep with any future children also. We probably would have shared a bed for much longer, but both of my children started sleeping restlessly around that time. The baby and I both started sleeping like CRAP throughout the night. (Actually, with my second baby, I was sleeping like crap after the first few months after being forced to sleep only on my left side for the past three years due to pregnancy and continued co-sleeping, but I kept co-sleeping anyway.) The kids started sleeping a lot better through the night once they were moved to their own space in our room. My oldest (2.5yo) is now getting to the point where he might enjoy co-sleeping again. He has a toddler bed and I'd like to get him a twin sized bed so I can snuggle in with him at night. I mentioned this on another blog that pointed me to this entry, but I think "extended co-sleeping" is a strange phrase. When I think of breastfeeding, I know it must come to an end eventually, at the very latest when the milk teeth fall out and the child no longer has the ability to latch. The term "extended breastfeeding" makes a lot of sense to me since it helps differentiate those who breastfeed past the minimum recommended age. It also has a clear medical benefit for every child (as long as they're not allergic to mom's milk, which is rare). Co-sleeping never has to come to an end if it's working for everyone involved and will not medically benefit all children, nor should all parents try to attempt this if they cannot meet the criteria to safely co-sleep. So I don't know, putting "extended" in front of it just seems out of place to me, even though I'm completely supportive of co-sleeping through any age. .-= Lynda´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dwc_photos/~3/AabOoV2Ia4M/" rel="nofollow">Bow Wow Luau [135/365]</a> =-. We shared the bed with both our babies until they were around 10.5 months and I will most definitely co-sleep with any future children also. We probably would have shared a bed for much longer, but both of my children started sleeping restlessly around that time. The baby and I both started sleeping like CRAP throughout the night. (Actually, with my second baby, I was sleeping like crap after the first few months after being forced to sleep only on my left side for the past three years due to pregnancy and continued co-sleeping, but I kept co-sleeping anyway.) The kids started sleeping a lot better through the night once they were moved to their own space in our room.

My oldest (2.5yo) is now getting to the point where he might enjoy co-sleeping again. He has a toddler bed and I’d like to get him a twin sized bed so I can snuggle in with him at night.

I mentioned this on another blog that pointed me to this entry, but I think “extended co-sleeping” is a strange phrase. When I think of breastfeeding, I know it must come to an end eventually, at the very latest when the milk teeth fall out and the child no longer has the ability to latch. The term “extended breastfeeding” makes a lot of sense to me since it helps differentiate those who breastfeed past the minimum recommended age. It also has a clear medical benefit for every child (as long as they’re not allergic to mom’s milk, which is rare).

Co-sleeping never has to come to an end if it’s working for everyone involved and will not medically benefit all children, nor should all parents try to attempt this if they cannot meet the criteria to safely co-sleep. So I don’t know, putting “extended” in front of it just seems out of place to me, even though I’m completely supportive of co-sleeping through any age.
.-= Lynda´s last blog ..Bow Wow Luau [135/365] =-.

]]> By: Lauren @ Hobo Mama http://dagmarbleasdale.com/2009/09/extended-co-sleeping/comment-page-1/#comment-944 Lauren @ Hobo Mama Sun, 29 Nov 2009 06:55:55 +0000 http://dagmarbleasdale.com/?p=3231#comment-944 I love extended cosleeping! Thanks for giving me a new phrase. Sometimes my husband & I wonder out loud when our 2.5-year-old will stop sleeping with us, but we both feel like there's just no rush. This way's easiest and coziest for us all. I love extended cosleeping! Thanks for giving me a new phrase.

Sometimes my husband & I wonder out loud when our 2.5-year-old will stop sleeping with us, but we both feel like there’s just no rush. This way’s easiest and coziest for us all.

]]> By: EileenJay http://dagmarbleasdale.com/2009/09/extended-co-sleeping/comment-page-1/#comment-923 EileenJay Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:42:24 +0000 http://dagmarbleasdale.com/?p=3231#comment-923 Our 12 month son loves to come in our bed in the middle of the night. He's so unbelievably precious, why would I deny him? Myself, too? He's still nursing, too, and sometimes he'll stay latched on for hours on end. He'll usually stay until the morning, unless I motivate myself to put him back in his crib. Sure, there are nights when it's not the arrangement we have in mind ;) But, we do love sleeping with him. We did the same with our now 3 year old girl. For the most part she's grown out of sleeping in our bed. She'll come in here-and-there, but it's minimal. I miss sleeping with her. We squeeze in "cozy time" during the day and before bedtimes. The best is waking up with all four of us in our big fluffy bed! Soon enough they'll prefer being with their friends!! Until then, we'll soak up all snuggling opportunities. MomE Our 12 month son loves to come in our bed in the middle of the night. He’s so unbelievably precious, why would I deny him? Myself, too? He’s still nursing, too, and sometimes he’ll stay latched on for hours on end. He’ll usually stay until the morning, unless I motivate myself to put him back in his crib. Sure, there are nights when it’s not the arrangement we have in mind ;) But, we do love sleeping with him.
We did the same with our now 3 year old girl. For the most part she’s grown out of sleeping in our bed. She’ll come in here-and-there, but it’s minimal. I miss sleeping with her. We squeeze in “cozy time” during the day and before bedtimes.
The best is waking up with all four of us in our big fluffy bed!
Soon enough they’ll prefer being with their friends!! Until then, we’ll soak up all snuggling opportunities.
MomE

]]> By: FutureMama http://dagmarbleasdale.com/2009/09/extended-co-sleeping/comment-page-1/#comment-795 FutureMama Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:50:03 +0000 http://dagmarbleasdale.com/?p=3231#comment-795 I think this is a sweet post! I'm still not sure what I'll do as far as sleeping arrangements, but it's so nice to see that a range of thing works for so many different people... And that picture.. ADORABLE! Thanks for sharing! I think this is a sweet post! I’m still not sure what I’ll do as far as sleeping arrangements, but it’s so nice to see that a range of thing works for so many different people… And that picture.. ADORABLE! Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Kayce http://dagmarbleasdale.com/2009/09/extended-co-sleeping/comment-page-1/#comment-792 Kayce Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:35:07 +0000 http://dagmarbleasdale.com/?p=3231#comment-792 I am judging the Mommy Moment for Baby Making Machine - We had a crib and I think I can count on one hand the number of times my daughter used it. I did wean her at 9 months, but I still love co sleeping. We all sleep through the night and I know if something is wrong before she even wakes up. I love your post! Kayce I am judging the Mommy Moment for Baby Making Machine -

We had a crib and I think I can count on one hand the number of times my daughter used it. I did wean her at 9 months, but I still love co sleeping. We all sleep through the night and I know if something is wrong before she even wakes up.

I love your post!

Kayce

]]> By: Mom of Three http://dagmarbleasdale.com/2009/09/extended-co-sleeping/comment-page-1/#comment-766 Mom of Three Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:02:19 +0000 http://dagmarbleasdale.com/?p=3231#comment-766 I say if it works for you, why not?! I also never thought I would be able to breastfeed for a long time (although I wanted to) and with my daughter we've made it almost a year. I think co-sleeping has been a big part of that. She starts off the night now in her crib, but when she's ready for her night feeding she sits up and calls me and I bring her to the bed. She's happy, I'm happy. It works. Is there anything like feeling that precious little baby next to you in dreamland? Well maybe one thing - waking up to a little baby face smiling and giving you kisses.... Enjoy your precious little boy. :-) I say if it works for you, why not?! I also never thought I would be able to breastfeed for a long time (although I wanted to) and with my daughter we’ve made it almost a year. I think co-sleeping has been a big part of that. She starts off the night now in her crib, but when she’s ready for her night feeding she sits up and calls me and I bring her to the bed. She’s happy, I’m happy. It works. Is there anything like feeling that precious little baby next to you in dreamland? Well maybe one thing – waking up to a little baby face smiling and giving you kisses…. Enjoy your precious little boy. :-)

]]> By: Kim, Rambling Family Manager http://dagmarbleasdale.com/2009/09/extended-co-sleeping/comment-page-1/#comment-750 Kim, Rambling Family Manager Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:35:03 +0000 http://dagmarbleasdale.com/?p=3231#comment-750 We bought a lovely crib for my oldest child and her grandmother made her a beautiful crib set with matching bumpers and a quilt; we even found a wallpaper border that matched the fabric in the crib. Her room was fit for a fairy princess all in pink and white. She never slept in there, not even once, until she was 7 and the crib was long gone. When it got to be too much to have her in the bed with us (she was a restless sleeper and at a certain size those kicks in the night start to hurt, especially if she lands them across your face!!!) she moved to a crib mattress on the floor next to my side of the bed. She was also an extended nurser and finally stopped a week after her 4th birthday. We had a long heart to heart about it and she agreed it was time to stop, but it wasn't a big deal since she had already tapered down to less than once a day. We both agreed that we were a little sad but that we were also very proud because she was such a big girl now. :) The younger two never nursed as long. My middle child weaned herself at 18 months when I was pregnant; I think the milk tasted bad when I had to go on anti-biotics at that time and she never wanted to try it again after I finished them. It made me sad, but with the new baby on the way I let it go. My youngest weaned when he stopped taking naps when he was 3. He only nursed to go to sleep at nap time so the two things went hand in hand; he was too busy to be bothered with that anymore! ;) The younger two also moved out of our bed and room much more quickly; we moved and their bedrooms are now close to ours instead of on the other side of the house so that gave my middle child the confidence to go in her own bed, plus she's very independent anyway, and my youngest had to follow her lead. They are all so different from each other! Yes, the moments are so fleeting; it's a good thing that you recognize that and cherish each and every one. :) My oldest is 16 now but it seems like yesterday when we had that talk about ending her nursing. Sigh... We bought a lovely crib for my oldest child and her grandmother made her a beautiful crib set with matching bumpers and a quilt; we even found a wallpaper border that matched the fabric in the crib. Her room was fit for a fairy princess all in pink and white. She never slept in there, not even once, until she was 7 and the crib was long gone. When it got to be too much to have her in the bed with us (she was a restless sleeper and at a certain size those kicks in the night start to hurt, especially if she lands them across your face!!!) she moved to a crib mattress on the floor next to my side of the bed. She was also an extended nurser and finally stopped a week after her 4th birthday. We had a long heart to heart about it and she agreed it was time to stop, but it wasn’t a big deal since she had already tapered down to less than once a day. We both agreed that we were a little sad but that we were also very proud because she was such a big girl now. :) The younger two never nursed as long. My middle child weaned herself at 18 months when I was pregnant; I think the milk tasted bad when I had to go on anti-biotics at that time and she never wanted to try it again after I finished them. It made me sad, but with the new baby on the way I let it go. My youngest weaned when he stopped taking naps when he was 3. He only nursed to go to sleep at nap time so the two things went hand in hand; he was too busy to be bothered with that anymore! ;) The younger two also moved out of our bed and room much more quickly; we moved and their bedrooms are now close to ours instead of on the other side of the house so that gave my middle child the confidence to go in her own bed, plus she’s very independent anyway, and my youngest had to follow her lead. They are all so different from each other!

Yes, the moments are so fleeting; it’s a good thing that you recognize that and cherish each and every one. :) My oldest is 16 now but it seems like yesterday when we had that talk about ending her nursing. Sigh…

]]> By: Rachael http://dagmarbleasdale.com/2009/09/extended-co-sleeping/comment-page-1/#comment-749 Rachael Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:28:02 +0000 http://dagmarbleasdale.com/?p=3231#comment-749 I would never do it any other way. I didn't with my first child because...well, you're just supposed to make them sleep in a crib or else...or else...or else what? When my second child came, I was way too tired to get up so she could nurse and she not only nursed on demand, but needed to be latched on the WHOLE night. She may not have been drinking anything, but if she was not THAT close to me, she didn't sleep. I remember how she would wakeup, realize that she had fallen asleep and was no longer latched on, then shake her head as if someone had just scared her to pieces. I kept my third child in my bed as well. He eventually wound up in his crib, as his need for skin-to-skin contact wasn't as great as my second child and my second child...well, she's almost 8 and still climbs in our bed every night! Maybe that's what the "or else" was, but I'm not convinced it's a bad thing. Sorry for the long post. Just finished blogging and feeling wordy. ;-) I would never do it any other way. I didn’t with my first child because…well, you’re just supposed to make them sleep in a crib or else…or else…or else what?

When my second child came, I was way too tired to get up so she could nurse and she not only nursed on demand, but needed to be latched on the WHOLE night. She may not have been drinking anything, but if she was not THAT close to me, she didn’t sleep. I remember how she would wakeup, realize that she had fallen asleep and was no longer latched on, then shake her head as if someone had just scared her to pieces.

I kept my third child in my bed as well. He eventually wound up in his crib, as his need for skin-to-skin contact wasn’t as great as my second child and my second child…well, she’s almost 8 and still climbs in our bed every night! Maybe that’s what the “or else” was, but I’m not convinced it’s a bad thing.

Sorry for the long post. Just finished blogging and feeling wordy. ;-)

]]>