General discussion - Mom and Dad Esq.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
Wow, my first post on the parents board, and the LittledL has not even made an appearance yet...

Mrs. dL and I are getting a co-sleeper (this one, specifically), and for now intend to split time with the kid on our respective sides. This strikes me as a compromise between having the kid in the bed with us (which, despite what everyone says, still scares the crap out of me) and simply plopping him down in a bassinette.

Does anyone have any experience with these things?

I don't want to add to your anxiety, but having one of those things next to the bed is an invitation for the little bugger to roll over and out once em gets past the tiny little infant stage.

As for having the kid in bed with you, I can assure you that you won't roll over on the critter and smother it. Babies have a way of making their presence felt.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by taxwonk
I don't want to add to your anxiety, but having one of those things next to the bed is an invitation for the little bugger to roll over and out once em gets past the tiny little infant stage.

I figured as much, but we really only want it for the early infant stage, so I am not too worried about escape.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
I figured as much, but we really only want it for the early infant stage, so I am not too worried about escape.

We had a bassinet for the Princess, but she never spent any time in it after the first week. With Wonk Monster, we learned our lesson and didn't bother getting him anything to sleep in until he got older and it was time to ween him out of our bed.

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by taxwonk
We had a bassinet for the Princess, but she never spent any time in it after the first week.

I have the exact co-sleeper to which AdL linked, and it is still next to my side of the bed, but it's gathering dust now. Itwas a godsend the first two weeks home from the hospital after the c-section (so AdL, I don't think it's a waste of money), but mostly for daytime naps rather than nightime sleepling. Now that I'm up and about in the house, the baby has not been in the co-sleeper in weeks. That's not to say it's not useful. Putting the baby in it is a foolproof way to wake her up. It also is a handy receptacle for all the extra pillows I use to prop myself up with when nursing, which I don't want to have on the bed when the baby is in it. On the down side, it's kind of in my way when I have to get out of bed.

Sometimes I have the baby on the outside of the bed and I do feel more secure knowing that she would only fall into the co-sleeper rather than onto the floor.


I think your notion of swapping sides that the co-sleeper is on is really cute and thoughtful. Let us all know how that works out!

Originally posted by baltassoc
Co-sleeping is not a problem, as long as you aren't chemically altered.

Ours is actually sleeping at night in the PNP* changing table. I woke up this morning and he was in the bed. I have no recollection of how or when he got there - for all I know he flew.

When we do co-sleep, the baby does sleep on the outside of the bed: the Mr. would crush him for sure if he were in the middle - he's rolled on me before without noticing. It works like this: Mr. Lex crammed toward his side of the bed, me in the middle toward hubby, and the baby gets the rest of the bed.

And Alex, that swapping thing isn't going to work, especially if she's nursing. There's this condition called Selective Daddy Deafness that seems to infect most fathers after the baby has been home for about a month. It begins earlier and is more profound with each subsequent child. Don't think you are immune. You aren't.


*He's perfectly safe; he's too fat too rolll away. He sleeps on his stomach in our bed for naps, too. Go ahead, call CPS.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
Mrs. dL and I are getting a co-sleeper (this one, specifically), and for now intend to split time with the kid on our respective sides. This strikes me as a compromise between having the kid in the bed with us (which, despite what everyone says, still scares the crap out of me) and simply plopping him down in a bassinette.

Does anyone have any experience with these things?

Yes. Unless you intend to start lactating, chalk this up as an excellent theoretical way to express moral support for what your wife is about to experience for the next 6 to 12 weeks.

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Yes. Unless you intend to start lactating, chalk this up as an excellent theoretical way to express moral support for what your wife is about to experience for the next 6 to 12 weeks.

Weeks?

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by baltassoc
Weeks?

It has been my experience that the experience after three months is qualitatively different. I think it's not because the child has changed any behaviors between midnight and 6 a.m., but rather because they begin to behave rather less like a glorified tick between 6 a.m. and midnight.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
It has been my experience that the experience after three months is qualitatively different. I think it's not because the child has changed any behaviors between midnight and 6 a.m., but rather because they begin to behave rather less like a glorified tick between 6 a.m. and midnight.

Wow, something to look forward to...

[bilmore]

Originally posted by robustpuppy
Sometimes I have the baby on the outside of the bed and I do feel more secure knowing that she would only fall into the co-sleeper rather than onto the floor.

This all brings back memories.

First kid - concern about how to properly co-sleep.

Second kid - maybe he should really be learning independence by sleeping in his own room.

Third kid - open his door, throw in food in response to his cries.

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
It has been my experience that the experience after three months is qualitatively different. I think it's not because the child has changed any behaviors between midnight and 6 a.m., but rather because they begin to behave rather less like a glorified tick between 6 a.m. and midnight.

What an awful thing to say!

Leeches are cuter than ticks.

And they do change behaviors between midnight and 6AM, to wit:
(1) They learn how to latch on in the dark, quickly, and while lying side to side with mom, and
(2) They become more vocal, even when they don't need anything. Grunt grunt groan coo gurgle kick kick kick grunt grunt grunt arm jerk kick kick grunt groan coo gurgle grunt grunt breathe breathe breathe breathe whimper ... whimper whimper (is it going to become a cry?) whimper grunt grunt groan coo breathe ...

Further, mom learns to sleep (however lightly) through 2 until it becomes an actual "feed me" call.

Originally posted by robustpuppy
Further, mom learns to sleep (however lightly) through 2 until it becomes an actual "feed me" call.

I sleep through the actual feedings sometimes...even those involving carrying the baby across the room. One day I fear I may wake up and find the baby in the sink.

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by TexLex
I sleep through the actual feedings sometimes...even those involving carrying the baby across the room. One day I fear I may wake up and find the baby in the sink.

That's fine. A baby can't fall out of a sink. The dishwasher, however, would raise eyebrows.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by robustpuppy
That's fine. A baby can't fall out of a sink. The dishwasher, however, would raise eyebrows.

Somehow this post makes me think of this picture. Especially given your old avatar.

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Somehow this post makes me think of this picture. Especially given your old avatar.

oh, i miss my old avatar! {sniff}