bobgian@psuvax.UUCP (Bob Giansiracusa) (03/22/84)
Subject: Re: New Topic ("Co-family sleeping")
References: <6368@decwrl.UUCP>
Yes, my family sleeps together. When we had our first son, he slept
with us from about age 1 month (when he outgrew a small infant bed)
until about age 2 years (when he became so big he took up our whole
bed -- remember that children rotate a lot while sleeping; they don't
stay parallel like adults do).
Our new son (1 week) is sleeping in the same infant bed for now, but
he will surely join us in our regular bed soon.
I agree very strongly that having young children sleep with parents is
a big help to both parents and child. I love cuddling with my children
in bed, and they like it too. I really think it helps them develop a
better sense of security.
Also, it helps us be more aware of their physical well-being (like blankets
falling off and the child getting cold). Several times our child developed
fevers during the night, and we would not have known about it nearly as fast
had he not been right there between us.
As you might imagine, we NEVER NEVER NEVER believed in shoving a kid into
another room and leaving him/her there to cry during the night.
Regarding the "big objection" to children in bed with parents: who has
sex that often anyway (especially when you have young children! who has
the time OR the energy?).
- Bob
Bob Giansiracusa (Dept of Computer Science, Penn State Univ, 814-865-9507)
Arpa: bobgian%PSUVAX1.BITNET@Berkeley
Bitnet: bobgian@PSUVAX1.BITNET CSnet: bobgian@penn-state.CSNET
UUCP: bobgian@psuvax.UUCP -or- allegra!psuvax!bobgian
USnail: 333 Whitmore Lab, Penn State Univ, University Park, PA 16802bobgian@psuvax.UUCP (Bob Giansiracusa) (03/25/84)
[This started in net.women but probably should move to net.kids; I'm
posting to both as a "transition".]
The discussion started about children sleeping with parents. I pointed
out some of the advantages: child seems to grow with a greater sense of
security, and many times we became aware of problems (kid too cold, fever
developing, etc.) that we might have missed otherwise. co@ariel wrote
asking what happened when our son "moved out" on his own. To pick up ...
Herschel (our son) told US when he wanted his own bed. And he is welcome
back with us at any time. I guess the declining "need for security"
curve crossed the rising "need for more space" curve somewhere around
age 2, and he chose to "move on out" then.
I should add that his bed is in our room, so he is never more than a few
feet from us anyway. Someday he may tell us he wants his own room.
Then (if we can afford it) he'll get it.
We have found that most childhood problems (so far, at least) can be
greatly alleviated by listening to our children and respecting what they
tell us. I'm not saying we are perfect, but we try. Most other people
don't.
Bob Giansiracusa
Arpa: bobgian%PSUVAX1.BITNET@Berkeley
UUCP: bobgian@psuvax.UUCP -or- allegra!psuvax!bobgianmark@umcp-cs.UUCP (03/26/84)
Right on! Our children sleep with us, and it is great for them and us.
--
Spoken: Mark Weiser ARPA: mark@maryland
CSNet: mark@umcp-cs UUCP: {seismo,allegra,brl-bmd}!umcp-cs!markjohans@mprvaxa.UUCP (David Johanson) (03/30/84)
voiding the file eater.... After my daughter was born, we decided that we were going to keep her in bed with us. It was great for the first two weeks. But then she started moveing around alot, crying in her sleep, makeing noises in her sleep etc... the problem was that every time she did this, we woke-up to see if there was a problem. After a week of literally no sleep, we resigned to the fact that we couldn't continue this way. She is now in her own room, sleeps most of the night and we get our sleep/rest. The only problem that still remains is that if there is any sudden sound, we both semi-wakeup, and start searching the bed for our daughter because she is not beside us. feeling guilty about subscribeing to net.women david J.