Any suggestions for co-sleeping beyond infancy?

Question

What do you do to safely co-sleep when they start rolling over, crawling, walking, etc.? Please don't respond if it's just to say that you are not in support of co-sleeping.

Answer 1

My 8 month old just recently started to crawl. I love co-sleeping and don't want to give it up until she's atleast a year old as I breastfeed!! Here is what I do that works pretty good - my daughter goes to bed at 7:30pm.

1. Bed up against the wall

2. I do use a bed rail (just started)

3. Also I line up my pillows at the foot of the bed.

4. Most important - I use a night/day video monitor. I got mine for like $40 off ebay. I can't live without it! I just keep it on while she is up there without me. I can see immediately when she wakes and can run upstairs before she can get through one of my barriers!  When she sleeps she doesn't really move a whole lot.  

Also I've thought of putting pillows on the floor around the bed - just in case.

I hope this helps!!!

Answer 2

We moved our bed so one side was against the wall when my son was around 3-4 months.  He slept between me and the wall (usually in my arms) from that time on.  Him sleeping in my arms made me feel safer.  Once we were well established with co-sleeping, I felt ok with him sleeping on the side of me (around 8 months or so).

When he started crawling/pulling up, the first thing he would do in the morning would be bumping into or pulling up on me!  When you co-sleep you become super hyper aware of your baby next to you and any little movement will wake you up, I don't know why it happens that way, but it does.  

Right now he's a walking bundle of energy and we still co-sleep.  I wake up when he wakes up in the morning and while he does wander around the bed (to play around), he will not go near the edges.  Now I'm not saying all babies/toddlers won't go near the edge of the bed, so please don't assume yours won't either.  

You should check out Dr Sears website for information on co-sleeping safely (if you haven't already).  Good Luck!  

Answer 3

if you put ur baby or toddler in bed with you, you are going to ruin their bedtimes. i learnt that.....my daughter is three and won't go to sleep in her cot, i still have to get her to sleep on the couch and then put her in her cot....its not easy. even if you can keep the child in his or her cot beside the bed, and gradually move the cot further away from ur bed once he/she is sleeping on is/her own. assuming that's the reason ur keeping the child in the bed with you. and if u insist on having him/her in the bed, than don't worry about rolling over the child, ur fully aware that the child is beside you and u don't move. i have suffered backaches from having my daughter in wit me and punches and kicks too.  

Answer 4

Just put them either in between the parents or on the side against the wall. Easy : )  My 2 and a half year old hops in bed with us most mornings around 2am, she sleeps between the wall and my partner. I actually can't stand sleeping next to her, I get too worried bout squashing her plus she is a fidget!