[JeannineW]

Let me share my experience... I read and read and was sure that co-sleeping was best for baby. My first dd was born. She was in the co-sleeper next to our crib/bed then later, in our bed. At two she was nursing every hour at night and for two years, I had been tired. We transitioned her to her crib and she instantly got through the night without nursing. Somewhere along the way she would go to sleep in her bed and then move to our bed or floor (when she was older) during the night.

I was so happy that we had co-slept because I couldn't imagine how tired I would have been getting up to nurse her a million times a night. In hindsight, she only nursed because she was there next to me. ::: sigh ::: To think of all the sleep I lost! It all seemed so normal because all my friends at LLL were doing the same thing and playing musical beds all night with as many as three children.

At four, she was still on our floor and we had her baby brother. I was ready to do it all again. However, he was a very noisy sleeper so after a few nights, he ended up in our walk-in closet. Guess what? We all slept better. When he was eleven weeks old, we went to pick up our adopted daughter (then 2.5yo). We made a big hype about how everyone was going to sleep in their own room when she came. It worked like a charm. Everyone was happy and getting a good night's sleep.

Our last baby went straight to the closet after a few nights and then to her own room once she was sleeping through the night. It has worked so much better for everyone.

I got the book Health Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth when my first dd was about 2 yo. It made a world of difference. It explained so much about sleep habits and what kids need at different ages. It also explained why it is ok to let kids cry but what to do so they don't cry much. By following this book, my subsequent babies have slept so much better and have not cried much at all. My 21 mo dd goes to bed awake every time and smiles as I leave the room. My four year old has always been just as great and they were both raised with this as my bible. I never could have imagined this was possible with my first. My first dd was a nightmare to put to sleep because of my parenting.

I loved it at the time but in hindsight, I wish I had not co-slept with my first dd. I was a zombie for 2 years and stepping around her "bed" on the floor by my bed for 2 more years. She is my most anxious child and the worst sleeper. She is 8 yo now and has a hard time falling asleep at times. Of course, all of this may have nothing to do with her sleeping the first 4 years.

On the other side, I thought it was our little deep dark secret when I went to the pediatrician but somehow it came out and guess what? He said they co-slept with their last few daughters. They had quite a few - his, hers and theirs, I think. He was a wonderful doctor and about 70 years old. I never would have thought he co-slept with his own kids!

So, that is my long winded experience for what it is worth! Good luck with your new little one.