The truth about co-sleeping.

Since Babybabypants was born I have come to a few conclusions about co-sleeping.

1. Without co-sleeping, many babies turn to military sleep-deprivation tactics. If you want sleep, accept the fact that there's going to be an 8-pound addition to your bed.

2. With co-sleeping, many toddlers turn to military sleep-deprivation tactics. Unless you like to wake up with a crick in your neck, foot-shaped bruises on your hips, and "Mommy, I need milk" on continuous repeat, leave your toddler in their bed.

3. If your pediatrician lectures you on NOT co-sleeping, they have never had children.

4. If your husband lectures you on NOT co-sleeping, let him sleep on a single mattress without a comforter and see how long it takes him to beg to come into bed with you.

5. Those early morning hours when you're shoved to the edge of the bed with two children separating you and marital bliss are the best hours of the day.


With Babypants, co-sleeping became a habit when I would fall asleep while nursing her in bed. When the weather turned cold it became a must for our fat-free baby. She just couldn't stay warm, no matter how many layers she had on, without snuggling in the middle of our bed. Even after she out-grew her need for co-sleeping, I didn't. The morning of my first post-Babypants miscarriage. Daddypants, unable to find a way to comfort me, asked what he could do. "I need Babypants" was my immediate reply. Somehow, with her snuggled in on one side and him on the other, I was able to calm my sobbing and dry my tears. At least for a few seconds.

This time around, I gave in to co-sleeping much quicker. The first week it was just when I couldn't convince Babybabypants that her bassinet was indeed her bed. After her hospitalization co-sleeping became routine. Even with the apnea monitor, it is much easier for ME to sleep with BBP tucked in beside me. Having her within my physical orbit soothed me and feeling her milky breath against my cheek reassured me that she was indeed breathing.

Whether or not co-sleeping will outlast the apnea monitor (still trying to convince the pediatrician that we need the monitor until she's about 14 years old), I will enjoy every snuggly second of it. Now, I'm off to find the number of a good chiropractor to fix this huge kink in my neck.