Sleeping like a baby...or with one.

Why is sleeping with your baby, co-sleeping, sharing sleep..whatever you want to call it, so controversial? I LOVE having our babies share our bed...there, I said it. Did you hear me Dr. Pediatrician? I have had four healthy, happy children who have all shared our bed. What is so wrong with that?? I certainly do not judge other mothers for putting their babies in cribs please do not look at me funny when I say, "he sleeps with us."

When we brought Stephen home from the hospital almost 15 years ago, (how can that be?), I promptly placed him in the cheapo crib we bought. We were dirt poor back then, but that's a whole other story. I had decorated the nursery with said cheapo crib, a rickety rocking chair I bought for $25 at an antique store and painted it white, and a changing table that my mom bought and had delivered. (We were living no where near home...that's another story too.) Anyway, I bring him home and put him in the crib. I remember thinking how small he looked in there...but more importantly, how alone. So, I brought him into my bed when Steve was out flying at night. I also remember feeling like I was doing something wrong.

When Hannah arrived a few years later I found the Dr. Sears attachment parenting book and finally I felt validated. We've had two more babies since then and they've all shared our beds. I'm aware it's not for everyone...but for us, waking up next to a baby snuggled up with you is pure bliss.