Sleep Deprivation

It makes sense that if you are the only parent that can feed your baby then you are the parent who will be the most tired. And if your husband can feed the baby, then this will allow him to share in the fun and you will get some much deserved rest.

Well, that's only half right. Waking up for those night time feedings will make you tired. There is no doubt about that. But having your husband feed the baby will most likely not afford you more sleep.

New mothers have an incredible bond with their babies. Reason being, you already know your baby. You have been feeling your baby move, hearing his precious heart beat, and staring in awe at his ultra sound photos for months. Holding your baby for the first time is just confirmation of what you already knew; you are completely in love with your child.You will have a need to be with your baby that will be stronger then anything you have ever felt before and you will be amazed to discover that you awaken at the slightest whimper. It is doubtful, unless you live in a house with sound proof walls, that you will be unaware of your baby crying, even if Dad takes him in another room. And it is even more doubtful you will be able to sleep soundly unless your baby is doing the same.

Note: The definition of "sleeping soundly" will change once you have a baby in the house. That lovely coma that you have been slipping into for most of your life for around 8 hours a night will be a thing of the past. "Sleeping soundly" when you are completely responsible for another human life simply means you have both eyes closed, and are in some variation of a horizontal position.

Waking up multiple times per night is tough. Having to get up out of bed and prepare a bottle is torture. Breastfeeding mothers do not have to do this. You can easily pluck your baby out of the bedside crib, or (my favorite) sleep with your baby and wake up long enough to burp, flip and latch. Now... please read the following article in its entirety.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t102200.asp

OK, now that you have had your lesson for the day and are an expert on safe co sleeping practice, lets continue...

I have slept with all my babies and I promise that my two oldest now sleep in their own beds. My five year old daughter still ventures into my bed if she has a scary dream. But most nights, they fall asleep and stay asleep in their beds all night. My youngest is only three months old and is still enjoying the comfort of being tucked in close to mommy.

Keep in mind that each baby is different. My first child would willingly fall asleep in his bassinet, sleep for a bit, nurse for a bit and was perfectly content to stay tucked in with me after finishing his meal, or if I was still awake, he would allow me to place him back in his bassinet. At around two months of age it was clear to me he preferred to sleep in his own bed. He also slept through the night at a very young age. He was a very compliant and mild mannered baby and has grown into a compliant and mild mannered ten year old.

My second child did not like her bassinet.She preferred sleeping with me. She refused to sleep in her bassinet, tolerated her crib after an extended period of being walked around the house, and did not sleep through the night until around 6 months of age. But even after all that, she was content to sleep in her own bed by one year of age. She was a very demanding and high strung infant who has grown into a very demanding and high strung five year old.

Now, my new little guy is alot like his sister. He will only play, not sleep in his bassinet. He loathes his crib and will only sleep soundly for any length of time close to me or daddy or in his Papasan Cradle Swing. (this is an absolutely awesome swing!) I sleep the majority of the night with him tucked in beside me. But I have no doubt that eventually he too will be sleeping through the night in his own bed.

Sleeping with your breastfed infant, allows your baby comfort, warmth,security and an instant food supply. And you will come to cherish this special time with your baby. It also reduces the number of sleepless nights spent with a baby that just won't fall asleep. Most infants will sleep just fine if allowed to lie next to Mommy and nurse on demand. If necessary, your husband can assist you with diaper changes, burping the baby, or just playing with him a bit if he should decide he isn't quite ready to fall asleep after eating.

Oh, by the way. It is not possible to spoil a newborn baby. Newborns operate on sheer instinct. The quicker you repond to and meet their needs, the quicker they will learn to feel safe in this big new world. When your baby cries and you pick him up, you are teaching him to trust you.

Now, if you didn't read the article at the top of the page, please do it now. It is important that you know the safety rules in regards to sleeping with your baby.