When Big Sis was born I wanted her as close to me as possible, especially in those first few months.
A friend lent me a Moses Basket, which I kept by the bedside, but after having an emergency caesarean, I had a lot of trouble lifting her in and out.
I loved having her lying beside me, but was far too afraid to let her sleep in the family bed. Co-sleeping seems to be much more accepted in Europe, but in New Zealand, where I’m from, you’re taught never to share a bed with your baby. Co-sleeping was once an accepted part of Maori culture, but has been strongly discouraged for years, because infants were being accidentally smothered.
With my second pregnancy I knew there was a chance I’d need another c- section. I wanted to find a better sleeping arrangement for the little one – I just wasn’t sure what alternative products were out there.
Then I carried out some research on the internet and came across the Arms’ Reach Mini Co-Sleeper Bassinette.
It’s basically a soft, fabric cot with one side that folds down, so you can pull it right up to your bedside and secure it to your mattress. It becomes like a safe and cosy extension to the family bed. Your little one can sleep safely, but still be right next to you – literally within arm’s reach.
So I placed my order, and have to say it’s even better than I expected. I wasn’t looking forward to putting it together, so was pleasantly surprised to discover it’s actually like a travel cot that you just need to open out, and click it into place. In fact, it also doubles as a lightweight travel cot.
All you need to do is release the velcro straps that secure the folded fourth side, lift it up, and slot it into place, and – voila! – you have a conventional freestanding cot. You can even use it as a changing table, which is fab, as we don’t have room in our flat for a separate unit.
But what I love the most about the Co-Sleeper Bassinette is going to sleep each night with my newest little one lying right beside me. I can see her, and she can see me, and I’m sure that’s one of the reasons why she such a content baby, and sleeps so well.
It’s also reassuring to know that I’m close enough to hear, and sense, if she falls ill or has breathing problems during the night.
When she wakes for a feed it’s so much easier just to reach across and pick her up, rather than having to lean in and out of a Moses basket. When I put her back in the cot she settles quickly and easily.
The cot looks classy and contemporary, and includes a storage unit under the cot, and two pockets on each each to store nappies, wipes, and other baby essentials.
It’s so much easier to have everything in one place for those night-time nappy changes.
• we received a discount off our co-sleeper cot, but all comments and opinions are my own
It’s funny isn’t it. I co-sleep but all mine are actually in/have been in my bed. I’m so cautious though. So paranoid I don’t get a good nights sleep!
I have a moses basket now too, the side car idea is great though!
I know exactly what you mean! I love having the little ones in bed with me, but even if I drop off while feeding I wake up with a start, in a total panic that I’ve rolled on her. I really do think that instincts would stop me, but I just don’t want to take the risk. xx
I co sleep with J still, hes nearly four. He has his own bed and he sleeps there for as long as he likes and if he wakes or has nightmares he knows he can climb into my bed. Its not accepted over here as much as it should be. They use scare tactics here. Thankfully I dont listen and I simply followed the safe guidelines such as no drinking/smoking etc and it worked great for us, I also did it because J was a larger baby, had he been prem or smaller I doubt I would have done it.
Next time round for the sake of any man that may be in my life I probably would invest in soemthing like this! It looks ideal!
Co-sleeping is what we’re *meant* to do. It is safer and healthier. Check out Meredith Small’s ‘Our Babies Ourselves’ for a more academic discourse.
In Asia (where I had my kids and where I lived for 10 years), children often sleep with their parents until they are 5 and cot death (SIDS) is *unheard* of. Coincidence? I think not.
Unfortunately, more and more societies in Asia are looking West and thinking that that is how they should be. So they are co-sleeping less and less. As a result, there are reports of SIDS in heavily Westernised countries like Singapore.
My two children are aged 6 and 8.5. The younger one sleeps in a bed other than mine very rarely. Maybe once every two months. The elder one sleeps with me maybe 3 times a week. This is appropriate – she is getting older and needs her space. Like Hayles, who commented before me, my children know that wherever they start sleeping, they are always welcome to come into my bed.
Like breasts, beds have become associated with sex in recent decades in the West – and therefore associating them with babies has become taboo.
One day, we will realise that breastfeeding and co-sleeping keeps our babies alive and healthy.
Oh! And another thing – because my babies (one who was 11 weeks prem and v tiny and the other who was 4.3kgs) always slept with me, I never had to get up to them in the middle of the night! 🙂
Hazel