co-sleeping && crib bumpers

I'm sure there has been a TON of controversy on this subject.. but I'll bring it up anyway


First, is anybody or has anybody done the co-sleeping in one crib when the babies are newborns? I bought two cribs.. & two bassinetts too.. but I feel bad seperating them when theyve been together & snuggled for so long. I heard co-sleeping is completely safe up until they are 4 months when they start to outgrow it. Any input?


Secondly, about the never ending subject of crib bumpers.. safe or no? I've tied them tightly around the crib but I still get that image of SIDS or something else potentially happening. I want my babies to be comfortable and protected throughout the night, but I certaintly dont want them to suffocate.


Thanks in advance !!!

 

We are starting with the Arm's Reach co-sleeper that attaches right next to our bed and opens up to the bed, w/ both of them in there. LAter, they will move to cribs and we will see if they share 1 for a while or just go to separate cribs.

I do not have bumpers right now, because of SIDS, but am planning on getting the breathable bumpers (as soon as the colored ones get back in stock!).

It is safe to sleep twins together, and I think especially at first they would be more comfortable since they have been together for almost 9 months! Plus, if they come early, there is research that shows preemies do better when they sleep w/ their twin.

 

mine slept together for the first month and then colic set in and we moved to swings for the next 3 months...by the time they went back to cribs at 4 months they were too wiggly to put in one crib - hence the next question yes we've had bumpers since day 1 - I took them out briefly (I mean for 2 nights only) because I woke up both nights at least 3 times to tuck limbs back into the crib...I don't like the breathable bumpers (just aesthetically) so I stuck with the bumpers I have...and still have - they aren't using them to try to climb out and it keeps little arms and legs in the crib at all times!

 

Our girls slept in the same crib until they were about five months old. By then they were rolling all over each other so we figured they'd be more comfortable in separate cribs. We put the cribs next to each other so the girls can reach through the bars and touch each other (they actually haven't ever done this). As for bumpers... we've never had them and I don't really see what we're missing. My girls were swaddled originally and then moved to sleep sacks. As a result, they never get their legs stuck through the crib slats. Every once in a while an arm will be sticking out when I go in to check on them, but I don't think it's ever interrupted their sleep. Now that my girls move all over the crib while avoiding sleep, there is no way that I would want bumpers. It would be just one more thing for the girls to pick at, stuff their faces into, or climb on.

 

thanks for the input ladies!

 

Sleeping the babies together at the beginning is very common. Just make sure they both have some space so they don't inadvertently put their arm or something over the other one's face.

With crib bumpers, IMO I wouldn't use them. I don't know why the still sell them. I just set mine up underneath the crib so that the design was visible down there.

 

Not sure if you mean co-sleeping as in the babies sleep in the same bed - or co-sleeping with you.

As for parent/child co-sleeping - I am not an advocate for co-sleeping .... but that is my personal decision. However, if you do co-sleep, I HIGHLY suggest getting a co-sleeper and NOT putting them IN the bed with you. They have co-sleepers designed to keep the baby safe next to you.

As for two-baby-co-sleeping - my best friend's twins had a startle reflex for a long time after they were born. Perhaps because they were so close in-utero. She combatted this with a sleep-wrap-thing (the right name I can't think of) - wait - a swaddling blanket. I think babies become much to attached to those and I won't use them with my little ones. Again, just my opinion. But this might be something you want to try to help them feel more cozy.

I wouldn't worry too much about putting them in the same bed - and to go ahead and use the two beds you have for each. Might as well get them used to it in the beginning as opposed to trying to make that change later on - it could really affect their sleeping pattern/ability.

First and foremost - decide what you want to do and stick to it - be consistent. Making changes later on will only cause scheduling problems

 

i did the same thing; no bumpers; just swaddle as infants then moved onto sleep sacks as soon as my boys were out of the crib i was ok with adding real blankets/pillow around age 3-- as for co-sleeping; i never got any sleep when i had slept with any of the boys- to this day my boys wont sleep well without thier own beds and alone in thier rooms-