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The other day I wrote a post about 7 things you might not know about me – Then Jen over at More Than A Single Mom left a comment asking what exactly co-sleeping IS!

I decided to write a post about it!

Co-sleeping, also known as bed sharing is the practice of having your infant in your bed with you during sleep. Co-sleeping promotes breastfeeding and bonding, and it is safer than crib/cot sleeping when practiced correctly. Co-sleeping beyond the breastfeeding years is common in many non-Western cultures, and many Western families choose to extend the co-sleeping phase for two years and beyond.

Which is basically what co-sleeping is. Though there are several way’s TO co-sleep.

You can:

• Use a crib, and “butt” it up to your bed.
• Use a “co-sleeper” which is basically a “little” bed, that’s placed inside of your bed, where the baby sleeps.
• Place the baby IN your bed.
• Place your mattress on the floor
• Some families also let siblings sleep together in a co-sleeping arrangement. HOWEVER, please do NOT do this unless both children are at least 1 year of age (unless you have twins).

With my kids, I have co-slept with both of them, for a time at least. With Aubrey, we used her crib, and just took off one of the sides. With Zachary, I am co-sleeping with him just in my bed. (We use a toddler “gate” to be sure that he does not fall off onto the floor.)

Co-sleeping basically enables you to continue “parenting” and bonding with your baby even during the night time hours. It can also help ALOT, when your breastfeeding.

Co-sleeping is not for everyone, and if you decide to co-sleep there are things you should do to make it as safe as possible, like:

• Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Always leave your child’s head uncovered while sleeping.
• Make sure your bed’s headboard and foot board don’t have openings or cutouts that could trap your baby’s head.
• Make sure your mattress fits snugly in the bed frame so that your baby won’t become trapped in between the frame and the mattress.
• Don’t use pillows, comforters, quilts, and other soft or plush items on the bed.
• Don’t drink or use medications or drugs that may keep you from waking and may cause you to roll over onto, and therefore suffocate, your baby.
• Don’t place your bed near draperies or blinds where your child could be strangled by cords.

List borrowed from kidshealth.org.

Co-sleeping can be, very safe, and if used correctly can go along way to help creating a wonderful bond between your baby and yourself.

I hope that answers your question Jen.