Pros and Cons of Sleeping With Your Baby

Co-sleeping is often confused with bed sharing.

As a definition, co-sleeping is defined as the infant sleeping in the same  room as the parent.

Bed sharing is defined as the parent and infant sharing the same sleep  surface such as a mattress or bed.

It is an individual choice as to what you do in regard to sleep and your  baby.

Some of the common arguments against co-sleeping  include:

Baby learns to be dependent on a parent and will not be able to sleep on  their own even as they mature into young children.

Parent does not get therapeutic sleep.

Partner sleeping in another bed due to disturbed sleep, thus causing  relationship difficulties.

Baby is more noisy at night and parents have disturbed sleep.

Other children feeling left out or jealous with new baby sleeping in parents  room.

Some arguments in favour of co-sleeping  include.

Baby is more settled at night and sleeps better due to close proximity of  parent.

Parent has less disturbed sleep in that they do not have to go far to respond  to infants' needs during the night.

Breastfeeding is enhanced due to close proximity to breast.

Infant-parent bonding is enhanced with close proximity and prompt response  enabling infant to learn trust.

Reduced incidence of SIDs

Commonly co-sleeping is promoted for the first 6-12 months of your  baby's life.

The guidelines include:

Sleeping your baby on their back

Ensure the surface your baby is sleeping on is firm. No sagging mattress,  couch, bean bag.

Ensure the bedding and clothing is unable to cover your baby's face.

Ensure your baby is not sharing a sleep space with soft toys, pets or other  children.

Do not push the mattress /sleep surface against the wall where there is a  risk that your baby may roll between it and the wall. Babies have suffocated  this way.

If you do choose to share a sleep surface with your baby the  following guidelines are encouraged.

If you are taking drugs that make you drowsy at all both prescribed, over the  counter (including alcohol) or illicit- Do not share a sleep surface with your  baby. This is because you may not be alert enough to respond to your baby and  ensure they are kept in a safe place with you. This includes the risk of rolling  on them, your baby rolling off the sleep surface, or under bedclothes.

Also if you are a very deep or restless sleeper it is also discouraged to  share a sleep surface with your baby for the same reasons as above. If you are a  smoker it is also discouraged because of the toxins on your breath.

Ensure your baby is always on the outside of the bed and not between you and  your partner. If one person is solely responsible for your baby that person is  more likely to respond to your baby and ensure their safety. If you both take  responsibility the risk is that you both could subconsciously think oh it's ok,  my partner is aware and will respond to our baby- I don't need to check on  him/her.

Ensure your baby has their own bedding. Do not put them under your bedding  because of the risk of them suffocating.

Do not wrap or swaddle your baby so arm and leg movement is not restricted. A  sleep bag for infants may work better or their own blankets with warm clothing.

Of interest is that primitive cultures often will share a bed  surface with young babies. They instinctively employ the majority of guidelines  outlined above.

Where your baby sleeps for both day and night sleep is an individual choice.  Some parents feel that co-sleeping is not for them for different reasons. If you  are concerned or confused with the options available to you find someone with  expertise in this area to run your thoughts by.

Leisa Breed has been assisting and supporting women and families in caring  for their newborns and up till the age of 4 years since 1993. She is a  registered nurse, midwife, child health nurse and lactation consultant.

She has a successful home visiting consulting business assisting families in  all aspects of newborn and toddler care. She is based in the beautiful area of  Brisbane's bayside suburb of Redland Bay. To find out more visit http://www.insyncwithinfants.com
©Leisa Breed- Insync with  infants

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6203248

Being Comfortable with Breastfeeding In Public

Breastfeeding in public has long evoked a great deal of debate and even controversy.  The Equality Act passed in April 2010, has meant that mums cannot be discriminated against in England and Wales which includes being asked to leave a venue or be unfavourably treated because they are breastfeeding.  Whilst this is supportive, there is still a significant resistance to breastfeeding in public.  In Scotland, the right to breastfeed in public has been part of their legislation for more than a year.

Mothers have to endure a great deal of pressure to breast feed, with numerous articles in the media promoting the benefits of breastfeeding.  There is also a lot of help and advice on breastfeeding, particularly from the National Childbirth Trust who actively promote breastfeeding.  NCT also introduced the ‘Booby Awards' to praise those establishments that encouraged breastfeeding with their attitude and facilities, whilst also listing some businesses that seemed to have a poor track record.   However, I believe that it should purely be a mum's choice on how she feeds her baby and as a company; Freedom Babe does not promote either way.

If a mother decides she wants to breastfeed, then breastfeeding in public will be a necessary part of her regime.  However, it is clear from a recent survey of 1200 new mums conducted in conjunction with the NCT, that many mums fear the public reaction; with a staggering 65% of respondents saying that they would not even attempt breastfeeding in public.  Many new mums had found the whole experience of breastfeeding in public to be a very stressful process and over half of them said they had been asked to leave the premises.  On many occasions, mums have had to disappear into the toilet to breastfeed, with establishments unable to provide any more suitable facilities.

There are obviously many mothers who need support in order to breastfeed in public.  Locking herself and her baby away in a toilet for 20-30 minutes is not the experience she wants.  However, the unease felt by many mothers breastfeeding their baby in a public area is an unacceptable situation. 

There are fortunately alternatives available which can support new mothers.  There are specific clothing items that can make it easier to breastfeed including nursing bras and specially adapted tops.  Many mums struggle with using blankets or cloths to cover up during feeding but these are often awkward and clumsy.  Purpose made clothing accessories such as nursing aprons or breastfeeding covers; provide a much needed aid to new mothers.  They have the advantage that they can be used in conjunction with everyday clothing.  Not only do they provide a secure and discreet cover, they also allow the baby to have a cocooned environment; without the distractions of other children or activity within the establishment.  It also means that there is less pressure on mums trying to feed quickly.

Breastfeeding should be a choice for new mothers and one that is freely made with knowledge of the benefits without the pressures currently inflicted by the whole experience of breastfeeding in public.

By: Dawn Callery  -   About the Author :
  Dawn Callery is a mother who understands the pressure on mothers to breastfeed.  As owner of Freedom Babe, she strives to offer innovative, tried and tested products designed to make life easier for new mothers. The breastfeeding cover is the first in a planned range of products available from Freedom Babe.

A Journey Through Infant Development: The Ninth Month

It is the dance of life, the basis of human interaction. It’s about moving fluidly through our interactions. It’s not about an outcome, but the process in which we get there. It’s about doing it together. It’s the give and take. It’s the responses given to our actions and/or words. It’s co-regulation. By 9 months of age, a child spends a majority of the day engaged in co-regulation. My son is now 9 months old, and our interactive dance is becoming more fluid as we continue this journey.

You are the joy of our lives, the spark in our day. The joy you bring to our family is indescribable. Unlike when your sisters were babies, we are trying to slow down how fast you are growing. We want you to remain a baby forever, as you are the final baby of the family; and yet you seem to be growing twice as fast as your sisters. You have so many games that you love to play. You’ll crawl (yes, you are crawling now!) behind a chair, and then peak your head out when you see that I’m looking. I smile, then you smile back and hide again. It’s only a moment later when you slowly peak your head back out, and start to giggle as I give you a funny face. You are eating more and more foods! You make so many people laugh as you take a bite, and then quickly open your mouth for another bite. You’ll sit there with your mouth open staring at me until I get that spoon filled with more food back to your mouth. It can’t come fast enough! If I stand up to go get something, you scream like you are going to starve. I know you are about done eating when you grab at the spoon as though it’s a toy and not a shoveling device. If there is a ball around, you will find it. You love playing with balls! I’ll hand it to you, and you’ll throw it back. Sometimes it comes to me, but your hands don’t always throw in the same direction you’re looking. Then as I hold the ball you look at me with anticipation, wondering if and when I’ll throw it back; often times your hands and feet are moving with your excitement. Once I roll it back to you, you smile and scream in delight! If it bounces off you, you’ll race after it. You already know that we both have a responsibility in keeping the ball in play. Your sisters still love to torment you. They’ll climb in your face, and try to tickle you or tackle you. You are learning to defend yourself by clawing them in the face or pulling their hair. They get upset; but I defend you, and tell them that they deserved it. There is nothing better than coming home after not seeing you all day. When you see me, you light right up and come crawling to me as fast as you can. If you can’t get to me or I don’t pick you up right away, you’ll sit there and scream until I give you attention. It can be a bit annoying, but I love the attention and the immediate hugs!

The interactive dance of life is established, and relationships are beginning to flourish. Isn’t it amazing how early on in life this begins to happen? This is a topic I discuss early and often with families who have a child with autism: What does co-regulation look like; when is it established; when does it break down; and how is it repaired? Co-regulation is the basis for all human interaction, essential for developing relationships. Watching this form between the parents and children I work with is an amazing experience. What are you doing to initiate this dance?

By: Michelle Vanderheide, BSW  -   About the Author :
  About the Author: Autism specialist Michelle VanderHeide, of the Horizons Developmental Remediation Center, provides practical information and advice for families living with autism and other developmental disabilities. If you are ready to reduce your stress level, enrich your child’s development, and improve your family’s quality of life, get your FREE reports now at ==> www.HorizonsDRC.com