Mom Life: 3 Reasons Why I Love Co-Sleeping

I am going to preface this post by saying that before I was a Mom, I hardcore judged people that slept with their kids. I thought it was weird and I just simply didn't get it. Isn't it funny how quickly our opinions on things change when we have our own kids?! And how quickly all judgment of other parents just falls to the wayside? Until you have children, you really have no idea what you will do as a parent and looking back, you feel pretty silly for judging people on something that you knew nothing about. 

When I was pregnant with my son, I held strong to the idea that he would never sleep with us. He started out next to our bed in a bassinet because in the first few months I didn't feel safe putting him in the bed. I didn't feel comfortable actually putting him in the bed until he could roll over on his own and have a little more control over his movement. When he reached that age, I did start putting him in the bed with me when he would wake up at 4am and now, two years later, our bed is his bed and I would't have it any other way!

We have a king size bed, so he sleeps in the middle without a pillow and I always (still) make sure that the blankets don't get too close to his face. My daughter is two months old and she sleeps beside the bed in a Rock 'n Play. I also use SwaddleMe swaddlers that have velcro on them and they are AMAZING.

For us, co-sleeping works and here's why:

1. It's Just Plain Easier

Both of my children were/are breastfed. My son just recently weaned. We made it to his 2nd birthday! YAY! My daughter is only two months old, so my breastfeeding journey has begun once again. In the early months with a new baby, sleep seems like a distant dream. With my son, I would be so sleepy when he would wake in the middle of the night that I would have to turn on lights to stay awake. (I would also change his diapers in the middle of the night...) Needless to say, I cut that out quickly! 

With my daughter, she is right next to me so when I hear her, I pick her up and feed her and I just grab my phone to scroll through Facebook to stay awake. And no nighttime diaper changes! That way, she eats and falls back asleep easily without being fully awakened. When baby goes back to sleep easily, that means Momma gets to go back to sleep too! I like being able to stay in my bed and in my room instead of getting up, getting the baby from the crib, feeding her, getting her back to sleep, repeat. Staying in my room just seems like the easiest thing to do!

2. Security (For Mommy and Baby)

My logic behind having my babies in my room or in my bed is pretty simple. I don't know about you, but I don't like sleeping alone and I am 27 years old. Why would a baby or a young child want to be alone?! If my babies wake up in the middle of the night, all they have to do is roll over or just make the tiniest peep and I am right there to instantly comfort them. I feel safer having them in my room so I can hear their breathing, I can reach over and make sure that nothing is blocking their airways, and I can make sure they are warm and snugly. I am able to sleep better knowing that they are safe and sound and I don't have to worry about missing a cry or anything else. I am a worrier, so it's comforting to me to have them nearby!

3. Baby Snuggles

Our babies are only babies for so long. They won't always want to reach over and wrap their little arms around you in the middle of the night, so why not enjoy it while they do? I also love waking up and seeing those precious little faces right next to me in the morning. Every night when we lie down to go to sleep, my son wants me to hold him and he asks to "Talk Jesus." It is the sweetest thing E-V-E-R. I am a working Mommy, so I don't get snuggles all day. We make up for it at night!

I love sleeping with my babies in arm's reach and I wish time would stand still so they would never outgrow my bed.

What do you love about co-sleeping?

Keep doing your thing Mommas; you're doing a great job!

xoxo, 

Caitlin