Co-sleeping Essay

We never intended on bedsharing with our daughter, we didn't with our son, part of me regrets it but parenting is a learning experince.




I fell asleep nursing my daughter on the couch and woke up thinking this is silly, I can do this in bed. We went to bed and that's where she's been ever since. She's able to nurse when she wants, cuddle when she wants and move away to be independant when she wants. It has definately benefited our breastfeeding relationship, we're going on 13 months now with no signs of slowing down. We nurse on demand and bedsharing has definately assisted with that. We have a great sleeper who has acess to her mommy. We have experienced alot of differing opinions towards our bedsharing, my mother expressed concerns about the saftey, to which we respond with stats and facts that it is safe, and we've shown her our bed set up. While she is quietly still not as in favour of it, at least she accepts that this is what we are going to do and leaves it at that.



Either way, we are doing what we thinks works best for us, its saved us alot of sleep, worry and stress, we were able to catch two severe fevers/illnesses right away. We love her snuggles. She sleeps amazingly most of the time. Is it a conicidence? Maybe, but I'll take what I can get and I will definately bedshare with my next baby as well!
 
I submitted this post as an entry into the Co-Sleeping Essay Contest. You have a few more days to enter – entries must be received by March 23, 2010 (the deadline has been extended 3 days from the original!). If you submit an entry, please be sure to tell them you heard about the contest here. Here are details:


In 2008, the Great Co-Sleeping Survey was initiated and in just a few months over 9000 parents from all over the world logged on to http://www.co-sleepingsurvey.com/. These parents relayed powerful statements and stories about their bed-sharing experience. The result is a new book titled, “Are You Co-Sleeping? Me Too!” With more than 30 chapters of specific bed-sharing topics, it will provide relief to parents who have been affected by the negativity that often surrounds the issue.

ESSAY CONTEST:

You have the opportunity to be included in the book by producing some short “feel good” essays to head 7 of the chapters. These essays should be written by parents who love or have loved bed-sharing with their babies or children. This opportunity will take the form of a contest/giveaway program. The 7 prospective winners will have their story included in the book. The top essayist will win the Dr. approved bed-sharing aid, The Humanity Family Sleeper, a $200.00 value!

RULES & ESSAY GUIDELINES:

Essays (250 words or less) should focus on the writer’s personal experience with one of the following topics. Bloggers are also invited to enter their own essays. There are no international boundaries, all countries are invited to enter. Prizes will be shipped for free (essays need to be in English).

1. Oppression or negativity they received (Mother-in-law, parents, media, doctors, general society).

2. How bed-sharing enriched their parenting experience.

3. How bed-sharing helped breastfeeding (extended duration, adverse physical limitations, etc.).

4. How they got better sleep.

5. A Dad’s perspective, written by a Dad.

6. How it saved their child’s life.

7. How they intended to use a crib, and chose not to.

Entries need to be received by March 23rd, 2010. Winners will be chosen and announced by April 1st. The grand prize will be delivered to the winning entrant before April 20th. Contestants need to log their entries at http://cosleepingsurvey.com/cosleepingsurveyessay.html.

*I heard about the contest from Authentic Parenting. Thanks for spreading the word!