We Cosleep. And we love it.
Truthfully, this wasn't exactly planned. Elliot's daddy and I had talked about cosleeping when we were pregnant, but then we found out about Elliot's condition and Aaron left for Korea. Every time we talked, we talked about gastroschisis and sonograms and doctor's appointments and our upcoming life in the NICU.
Then Elliot was born, and he spent the first six weeks of his life in the NICU, where we didn't get to do the things that most parents get to do with their newborns. And suddenly, six weeks later, he was home- and EXTREMELY constipated and cranky. The only way he would sleep was on my chest or while being held, so I started bringing him into the bed with me.
Almost a month later, he still sleeps with me every night. I have to say that I absolutely love it. At first, I was worried that I might roll over on top of him or something, but that thought never even crosses my mind anymore because {even though I'm asleep} I have this super-sensitive awareness of where he is/what he is doing at all times. It's hard to describe. I usually wake up the minute he starts squirming or rooting, which is wonderful because he doesn't fully wake up or start screaming, meaning we can both go back to sleep the minute he's finished his bottle.
Lately he likes to hold onto my shirt and bury his face into my neck while he's sleeping. It is so precious. There is nothing quite like falling asleep with your son cuddled up to you, breathing in that delicious baby smell, and listening to his rhythmic breathing. It's blissful.
For some reason, I always felt like I should be making up excuses or trying to get him to sleep on his own, like there was something wrong with it. But you know what I realized? Sleeping with your child is the most natural thing in the world. Why should I hide it? Cosleeping just works for us- plain and simple. I wouldn't change it for the world.
And you know what, while I'm at it, let's get it all out there in the open:
1. I believe in attachment parenting.
2. My son has never "cried it out" and he never will.
3. We formula feed. I struggled to breastfeed for eight weeks and {for many reasons} it didn't work out. I'm just now starting to be okay with it.
4. Our son is intact.
5. We cloth diaper and we LOVE it!
Some interesting articles I've found about cosleeping:
7 Benefits of Cosleeping
Ten Reasons to Sleep Next to Your Child at Night
Sleeping Safely with your Baby
