Blogging Baby

Simplicity Convertible Bassinet Sleepers unsafe

Sandy Maple — 2008-08-28T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Newborns, Babies, Health & safety, In the news, Baby essentials, Sleep, Shopping & recalls

This product recall is a little different than others in that it isn't actually a product recall. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible "close-sleeper/bedside sleeper" bassinets do not meet the safety standards regarding spacing of the metal bars and pose an entrapment and strangulation hazard to infants. The products would be recalled, but SFCA Inc., the company which purchased all of Simplicity, Inc.'s assets at public auction in April, 2008, refuses to recall them. SFCA claims they are not responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity.

Clearly somebody needs to be responsible for the products because according to the CPSC, two infants have already strangled to death between the bassinet's metal bars - a 5-month old girl earlier this month and a 4-month-old girl in September of 2007. Since SFCA won't recall them, the CPSC is issuing a warning and urging all consumers to share this warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family and friends to ensure no more children are injured or killed sleeping in this bassinet.

The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets have metal bars spaced farther apart than the 2 3/8 inches maximum allowed by federal crib safety standards. The metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by Velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the Velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.

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Wake up, sleepyhead!

Sandy Maple — 2008-08-23T14:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Health & safety, Sleep

Our friends over at MomLogic have broached a subject that many of us will soon be dealing with: getting the kids off the summer schedule and back on the school schedule. I don't know about you, but we have gotten so far off schedule this summer that I can't even remember what a schedule is.

But the thing I love most about summer - after the swimming and sunning - is the sleeping late. And if I want to do it, the kid's gotta do it, too. So we tend to stay up later during the summer months and getting back into the swing of things in the fall is a challenge. But with a little forethought and planning, it shouldn't be too painful.

As with just about everything else in life, talking things out can help ease a transition. Explain to your child that in order to be healthy and ready to learn, a good night's sleep is necessary. And if you have to get up earlier, then you have to go to bed earlier, too. This transition takes a little time, so don't wait until the night before the first day of school to implement the change. A week or so of 'early to bed, early to rise' before the big day should help things go smoother.

For some of us, it is still light out when it is bedtime. This is when blackout shades or curtains are worth every penny you pay for them. But don't leave them closed. After your child has fallen asleep, sneak back in and open them up. When the sun comes up, the light should help rouse them.

Once you've got everyone back on track, try not to slip off schedule on the weekends. This just makes Monday morning even harder for everyone. Lastly - and this is the hardest part for me - try getting yourself to bed earlier, too. Cranky parents make for cranky kids and nobody wants to start the day off that way.

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Back-to-school without bringing home the germs

Roger Sinasohn — 2008-08-13T16:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Health & safety, Eating & nutrition, Medical conditions, Education, Sleep

As I sit here, my head pounding, my nose stuffed up, my throat dry and sore, my legs aching and a cough that's keeping everyone awake at night, I think fondly of the days when I was single and without kids and never, ever got sick. Tales of Koalas and Rhinos and Giraffes are not the only things my Jared and Sara are bringing home from zoo camp -- and it's only going to get worse when they're back in school.

There are, however, things you -- and your little ones -- can do to limit your exposure. First off, wash your hands. More importantly, teach your kids to wash their hands. Having them recite the alphabet or sing a song while they wash can help make sure they do it long enough. They also need to wash often -- before they eat, when they get to school, after touching just about anything. The more they wash, the fewer germs they bring home, share with siblings, or put in their mouths.

Proper nutrition, too, is very important -- your immune system can't function without the supplies it needs and candy and potato chips can't compete with fruits and vegetables. Breakfast, especially, is critical, and should include fruit, protein, and carbohydrates. Dr. Lolita McDavid, medical director of child advocacy and protection at Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, says that "there is nothing wrong with having a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich and a glass of milk for breakfast; nobody said it has to be cereal."

Lastly, kids need to sleep. Parents do too, of course, but we all know that's not happening. The littler ones, though, need between ten and twelve hours of sleep each night in order to keep immune systems functioning at their best. This means, generally, an eight o'clock bedtime. If you've been letting them stay up late during the summer, start resetting their internal clocks a month before school starts by moving bedtime and wake-up back half an hour each week.

While there's no way to avoid getting sick completely, you can limit the number of times your kids do bring home something unpleasant.

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Product Recall: Baby Appleseed cribs

Sandy Maple — 2008-08-09T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Newborns, Babies, Health & safety, In the news, Kid decor & style, Sleep, Shopping & recalls

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced yet another crib recall. This time, about 500 Baby Appleseed Davenport Cribs are being recalled because they fail to meet federal safety standards for cribs. These cribs have a two-mattress support system and the secondary one, used for the lowest position, doesn't meet the full 26 inch minimum height requirement in its lowest position. This could allow a child to crawl over the railing and fall out of the crib.

These were made in Vietnam for by Baby Appleseed and sold at specialty juvenile product stores nationwide from December 2006 through September 2007 for between $600 and $800 each.

The recalled cribs are the Davenport models that begin with model numbers 273 and have manufacture dates on or before August 2007. You can find the manufacture date printed on a label on the right side of the lower inner panel of the crib. Newer Davenport cribs with model numbers beginning with 244 and having just one mattress support are not included in the recall.

If you have one of these cribs, you should stop using it in the third lowest position, which uses the wooden mattress support. If you are currently using the crib with the metal mattress support in the top or middle positions, you can continue to do so while awaiting a repair kit. Repair Kits will be available from the firm in mid-August 2008.

To receive your repair kit, contact Baby Appleseed by calling (877) 348-2199 anytime or by visiting their Web site.

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Mother Hubbard's Cupboard Cribs - Product Recall

Sandy Maple — 2008-08-06T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Newborns, Babies, Health & safety, Kid decor & style, Sleep, Shopping & recalls

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 1,300 Mother Hubbard's Cupboard cribs. The cribs fail to meet federal safety standards in that the distance between the mattress support bracket in the lowest position and the top of the side rail in the highest position is less than the required 26 inches. This poses a fall hazard to children.

The recall involves wooden full-sized cribs in the following models: Enchantment (model #210), Hush A Bye (model #215), Once Upon A Time (model #320) and Rock A Bye (model #1900-359). Only cribs with date codes from 0306 through 0308 are included in this recall. You can find the words "Mother Hubbard's Cupboards", the model number and date code printed on a label on the bottom inside of the right side of the crib.

The cribs were sold at juvenile product stores from March 2006 through March 2008 between $500 and $650 each. More pictures of the recalled cribs can be found here.

If you have one of these cribs, you should stop using it immediately and contact Mother Hubbard's Cupboards to receive instructions on how to reinstall the support brackets and eliminate the hazard. You can reach them by calling (888) 661-8201 between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday and between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET Friday and Saturday, or by visiting their Web site.

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The long, sordid tale of E.B. White's "Stuart Little"

Bethany Sanders — 2008-07-18T16:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Sleep

After a bedtime routine of bath, brushing teeth, and book reading, my daughters still often resist settling in under getting under the covers and settling in for the night. So we started a new routine where, once they are tucked in and quiet, we turn off all the lights and I read them a few pages from a chapter book (with my booklight). Not only does this give them incentive to get settled into bed, I figure, they're imaginations get a workout as they try to picture the story in their heads. Last week, my three-year-old pulled out Stuart Little. I wasn't sure if they were ready for it yet, but they seem mesmerized by the story so far, and it's so much fun to sink back into an old children's classic.

Stuart Little has delighted children for decades, but did you know that the book got off to a rocky start? The New Yorker has an excellent piece about the relationship between E.B. White, his wife Katherine, and book reviewer Anne Carroll Moore. Moore is credited with creating the idea of a children's library and story time, and became a powerful influence in children's literature. Though she pushed White for years to finish his book, once the manuscript was finished she fought its publication. Saying "I was never so disappointed in a book in my life," and that it had been written by "a sick mind," she refused to order it for the New York Public Library, and therefore influences libraries across the nation as well.

It's a story that's nearly as interesting as the book itself. Parents with an interest in children's literature, classics, or even the history of the New York City Library will find this piece of the past engrossing.

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DailyDish: Avoiding the lie down

Roger Sinasohn — 2008-07-17T06:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Toddlers, Preschoolers, Sleep

Tired of having to lie down with your kid every night to get them to fall asleep? Try this trick instead.

I've had to lie down with my kids at night and have woken up on the floor in their room more times than I care to remember. I didn't mind too much because I could always work on my laptop or my PDA. Still, it wasn't very conducive to a good night's sleep or, for that matter, any good for my back.

Lately, however, we've been using a new technique to avoid having to lie down with the kids. When they ask to have someone lie down with them, we tell them that we'll come check on them in five minutes. After five minutes, more or less, we check on them (if they're still awake) and tell them we'll check back in another five minutes.

By the second or third check, they're usually fast asleep and we're not too far behind. If your little ones want you to keep them company while they fall asleep, try offering to check on them instead -- your back will thank you.

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DailyDish: Get out of bed free cards

Bethany Sanders — 2008-07-15T06:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Sleep

Got a little one who keeps popping up after you put her to bed? Take a hint from Monopoly.If your kids are like mine, the day doesn't end at bedtime. To encourage kids to limit the number of times they get back out of bed after bedtime, give them three "get out of bed free" cards. They can use them all, or none at all. If they need a little extra incentive, unused cards can be turned in at the end of the week for a special treat.

Three is just a suggestion; you might need to adjust the number of cards to suit your child's needs. Make the cards out of materials you already have around the house, letting kids decorate them as they please. They might even enjoy a coffee can depository, where you put their cards once they've used them up.

Now you just have to figure out what to do with all that extra evening free time!

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DailyDish: Sleep when baby sleeps

Jennifer Jordan — 2008-07-14T06:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Newborns, Health & safety, Childcare, Mommy musts, Sleep

Sleep when your new baby sleeps, even if it's only for a few minutes at a time.

New parents probably sleep less than pretty much anyone. They're anxious about their new bundle of joy, scared, wired from the excitement, and trying to do everything right, all the time. All of that can be tiring without even considering what it's like for a new mom to have recently given birth. Couple that with breastfeeding and meals at irregular hours, if at all, and it can make for a very tired family.

Even though you might be too scared to sleep, worried about what will happen to your newborn while you slumber, it's best to try to get as much sleep as possible. When your baby naps, you should nap too. Some sleep is better than no sleep. And remember, the well-rested parent is a happier, nicer, more patient parent too.

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Finding a safe sleep surface for baby

Bethany Sanders — 2008-07-02T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Newborns, Health & safety, Sleep

Sleep is an issue for any new parent. Not only are they not getting any, but where in the world is the baby supposed to sleep? Co-sleeping is either ideal or dangerous, depending on who you talk to. Putting the baby in a crib in their own room just adds distance between you and a crying baby in the middle of the night, meaning you have a much greater chance of crashing into doorways in your sleepless stupor.

The AAP has changed their recommendations over the last few years. Though they still don't support co-sleeping, citing the fact that half of all infant deaths catergorized as sudden and unexpected happen when babies share a sleeping surface with adults, they do recommend room sharing, where parents and baby share a room, but not a bed.

When parents and babies share a room, baby often sleeps in a bassinet. A recent study done by the Children's National Medical Center, however reminds us that -- like cribs -- there are safety guidelines to using bassinets. They should conform to CPSC guidelines, for one, with a firm, snug fitting mattress, locking legs, and a wide base with no protruding hardware. But they also should be kept free of blankets, pillows, and stuffed toys, just like a crib.

Now that we're all clear on safe sleep surfaces for baby, I wish someone would research techniques to actually get babies to use those surfaces. Because if I remember right, every time I laid my kids into a crib or bassinet, the nap was suddenly over.

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Product Recall: Stanley Cribs

Sandy Maple — 2008-06-27T18:01:00+00:00

Filed under: Health & safety, Baby essentials, Sleep, Shopping & recalls

It seems like being a baby is a bit dangerous these days. On the heels of the Jardine crib recalls, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced yet another one. This time, the recall is for about 1,200 2nd Nature Built to Grow Cribs. The cribs fail to meet federal standards for crib dimensions and when the mattress support is in the middle position, the space between the mattress and the crib could be too wide. No injuries have been reported, but this does pose an entrapment hazard to infants.

Made in Slovenia for Stanley Furniture Company Inc., of Stanleytown, Va., the cribs were sold in department and furniture stores nationwide from March 2006 through December 2007 for about $1,100 each.

The recall involves the full size 2nd Nature Built to Grow cribs, model number 353-14-220. Only those cribs with that model number and the following serial numbers are included in the recall:

353-14-220-L-01, 353-14-220-L-02, 353-14-220-L-03, 353-14-220-L-04, 353-14-220-L-05, 353-14-220-L-06, 353-14-220-L-07, 353-14-220-L-08, 353-14-220-L-101, and 353-14-220-L-103.

Both model and serial numbers can be found on the crib's headboard.

If you have one of the recalled cribs, you should immediately stop using it in the middle mattress setting. Adjust it to the low or high setting and contact Stanley Furniture to determine if your crib is subject to this recall. If it is, Stanley will provide a free placement crib headboard. You can reach Stanley Furniture by calling (888) 839-6822 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or by visiting their Web site.

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Sleeping through the night: An elusive goal

Linda Lee — 2008-06-27T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Babies, Sleep

In the last week or so, my almost-5-month-old has abandoned his admirable new habit of sleeping 6+ hours at a time in favor of waking up every three hours to demand yet another feeding. It's not horribly disruptive since he essentially wakes up, rings his version of the dinner bell, powers down a bottle and falls immediately back to sleep, but my body has been experiencing something like a cringing depression at having to get back into the routine of staggering out of bed at 1 AM, 4 AM, etc.

It doesn't help matters that my husband snores peacefully throughout each awakening, then innocently asks in the morning whether or not Dylan woke up in the night. (Jeez, at least pretend like it screwed up your sleep too, you know? Otherwise I might be forced to help you SHARE in this wee-hour inconvenience, by, say, dumping a glass of cold water into your open slumbering snout.)

My gut feeling is that the baby's going through a little growth spurt and that we don't have a bigger sleep issue going on, mostly because of how he's waking up: he's not frantic or wanting comfort, he just seems hungry. I can sympathize, really -- if being a small growing baby is anything like being pregnant, I don't know how he makes it through the night without getting up and eating yet another toasted, buttered, and salted Thomas' "Everything" bagel.

(What? You didn't pork out on salt-and-butter bagels at 3 AM during YOUR pregnancies and wake up with poppy seeds stuck in your teeth? Freak.)

I'm hoping we get back to a more reasonable sleep schedule soon, because even though I suppose it's not all that tragic to have to deal with a couple quick feedings with a mostly cheery baby in the middle of the night, I'd rather up my chances of making it all the way through that dream involving George Clooney and the bathtub scene in Out of Sight, you know? (ALL THE WAY TO THE HAPPY ENDING IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN AND I THINK YOU DO.)

I don't plan to try Dylan on solid food for a few more weeks still, and I know there is supposedly no correlation between solid food and sleeping through the night. However, I'm curious as to whether or not your experience matches what the experts say. Did your baby sleep better once he/she was eating solids?

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Product Recall: Jardine cribs

Sandy Maple — 2008-06-25T14:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Newborns, Babies, Health & safety, Baby essentials, Sleep, Shopping & recalls

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 320,000 Jardine Cribs due to a strangulation hazard. The crib slats and spindles can break, creating a gap in which a baby's head could become entrapped. There have been 42 such incidents with four children suffering minor injuries.

The cribs were manufactured in China and Vietnam for Jardine Enterprises and sold at KidsWorld, Geoffrey Stores, Toys "R" Us, and Babies "R" Us stores nationwide, as well at babiesrus.com, from January 2002 through May 2008 for between $150 and $300. One model, the Mahogany Positano Lifetime Crib, sold for $450.

The recall involves 28 different model numbers in various styles and finishes. The entire list of recalled cribs and their model numbers can be found here. You can find the model number located on the inside bottom rail of the headboard or footboard of the crib.

If you have one of these cribs, you are advised to immediately stop using it and contact Jardine to receive a full credit toward the purchase of a new crib. For more information, you can reach Jardine by calling (800) 646-4106 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET Saturday. You can also visit their website.

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Could your java habit help you live longer?

Susan Wagner — 2008-06-19T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Eating & nutrition, Weird but true, Sleep

Good news if you're a coffee junkie: that venti drip could possibly prolong your life, and it certainly won't kill you. A new study has found that coffee drinkers -- even those guzzling decaf -- had slightly lower death rates than their coffee-free peers.

The best news for sleep-deprived parents, though, is that drinking a LOT of coffee isn't any worse for you than drinking a little. The study found that women who consume two to three cups of coffee a day showed an 18 percent reduction in death from all causes, while drinking four to five cups was associated with a 26 percent reduction.

Apparently I am going to live forever (let's just say five cups is a bare minimum for me every day).

The health benefits of coffee include a reduction in inflammation, which may in turn reduce the risk of heart disease, and a lowering of blood sugar levels, which may stave off diabetes. And of course when you're all jacked up on the coffee, it's hard to sit still, so you may get some incidental exercise in there, too.

Okay, that last one wasn't from the study. But you know it's true.

According to researcher Esther Lopez-Garcia, Ph.D. of the University of Madrid, "We can't say from this one study that coffee extends your life, but it does appear that it doesn't increase the risk for death for people who are healthy." So the moral really seems to be this: if you're downing three (or more) cups of coffee every day in an attempt to compensate for sleepless nights and jam-packed days, you may not be compromising your health as badly as you might think.

In other words, the coffee may not make you live longer, but it probably won't kill you, which is good news for moms and dads everywhere.

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Product Recall: Camouflage Pajama Sets

Sandy Maple — 2008-06-10T16:01:00+00:00

Filed under: Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Health & safety, Kid decor & style, Sleep, Shopping & recalls

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 28,000 children's camouflage pajama sets due to excessive levels of lead in the screen print on the shirt.

The pajama sets were sold with long and short sleeved blue shirts with a red screen print that reads "Athletics 90" and a coordinating pant. They were available in boys' sizes XXS (2/3) to XL (14).

The pajama sets were made in Vietnam and sold exclusively at The Children's Place stores nationwide and through The Children's Place online store from December 2006 to January 2008 for between $15 and $17.

If your child has these pajamas, you are advised to immediately take them away and return them to any The Children's Place store for a full refund. For more information, contact The Children's Place at (877) 752-2387 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit their Web site. You may also email the company at customerservice@childrensplace.com.

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Product Recall: Simmons Kids Mattresses

Sandy Maple — 2008-06-06T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Babies, Health & safety, Sleep, Shopping & recalls

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 20,000 Simmons Kids Crib Mattresses. Some of the mattresses measure smaller than the 27 ¼ inch minimum width required to prevent gaps between to mattress and crib side rails. This poses an entrapment hazard to infants.

Simmons Kids and the CPSC have received a report of a 6-month old baby becoming wedged between the mattress and crib frame. Fortunately, the baby wasn't injured.

The recall involves open coil crib mattresses manufactured between July 1, 2006 and March 23, 2008 with a color label attached to the top or side of the mattress that has the following model names:

Pottery Barn Kids by Simmons Kids Lullaby
Simmons Kids Slumber Time Evening Star Luxury Firm
Simmons Kids Baby Mattress Series 400
Simmons Kids Baby Mattress 234 Coil Count

The mattresses also have a tag sewn into the edge which has the date of manufacture and in most cases will contain one of the following model numbers: H59044.15.0014, M59082.15.0002, M59027.15.0002 or M59065.15.0006.

The Pocketed Coils(R) and Simmons Kids or Simmons Juvenile Products crib mattresses manufactured before July 1, 2006 or after March 23, 2008 are not included in the recall.

These mattresses were sold at Pottery Barn Kids and nursery furniture retailers from July 2006 through May 2008 for between $100 and $150 each.

To determine if your mattress meets the 27 ¼ inch minimum width requirement, remove all bedding and place the mattress on the floor. Using a yard stick or tape measure, measure the width near the middle from the outside edge of the tape binding to the opposite side of the mattress. If yours measures less than 27 ¼ inch, you are advised to immediately stop using it and contact Simmons Kids to receive a free replacement mattress.

You can reach Simmons Kids by calling (800) 810-8611 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Thursday, and between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. ET, on Friday or by visiting the firm's Web site.

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Product Recall: Bassettbaby Cribs

Sandy Maple — 2008-06-05T18:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Newborns, Babies, Health & safety, Sleep, Shopping & recalls

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 550 Bassettbaby Wendy Bellissimo Hidden Hills Collection Cribs. The space between the spindles on some cribs fail to meet federal standards and can pose an entrapment hazard to babies.

The recalled cribs are full-sized with a Navajo Pine finish and model number 5446-0521 printed on the bottom rail of the headboard. They were made in China and sold exclusively at Babies "R" Us stores nationwide from November 2007 through February 2008 for about $500 each.

If you have one of the recalled cribs, you should stop using it immediately and contact Bassettbaby to schedule an in-home inspection of the crib. Recalled cribs will be replaced. The firm has contacted consumers directly.

You can contact Bassettbaby at (866) 618-5446 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Sunday.

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Pregnancy fact or fiction: On your back

Jennifer Jordan — 2008-05-26T13:01:00+00:00

Filed under: Pregnancy & birth, Health & safety, Sleep

I heard the umbilical cord would get wrapped around the baby's neck. I heard it would suffocate the baby. I heard it would suffocate me. I heard not to ever, ever, ever sleep on my back. Coincidentally, I forgot to ever ask my OBGYN about whether or not it was ok to lie on my back while I was pregnant, and, honestly, I felt a little silly bringing up such a thing when there were other, seemingly more serious questions to spend our time discussing.

So, can you, or can't you? As we all know, the information we uncover on the Intranet can be flighty. According to the American Pregnancy Association, sleeping on your back during pregnancy is a no no. And not just for the reasons you might suspect. Their article on the subject actually focuses on getting a good night's sleep, recommending certain types of sleeping positions to ease back pain, curtail the dreaded heartburn (you never had heartburn while pregnant? Curses!).

Sleeping on your back can cause problems with breathing, digestion, back ache and hemorrhoids (yikes!) as well as causing potential harm to your baby by decreasing circulation to both of you. Your abdomen rather smushes your intestines. aorta and vena cava. If you wake up on your stomach, as I am prone to doing, just turn back to your left side, the sleeping position recommended for pregnant women.

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Kicking Daddy out of bed

Christina Sbarro — 2008-05-18T11:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Just for moms, Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Just for dads, Sleep

When you have a baby you are automatically inducted into the cult of people-who-will-sleep-anywhere-at-all. Welcome. It's a lovely place, really. Especially if you're Daddy, and you're on night duty. Or maybe you're not on night duty, and you're in the way and snoring.

Before having a baby, I had no idea how frequently spouses spent their nights on the guest bedroom pull-out, on the couch downstairs, or in their child's princess bed.

It's the Murphy's law of parenting the young child. Where you end up, and how you end up there, might be different, but the fact remains the same: you will end up sleeping somewhere else not once, but many times, in the span of your child's young life.

In our household, co-sleeping was something we were into when our son was small, so when we realized our three-year old was still waking up in the middle of the night (night terrors) seeking consolation, we bought a king-sized bed and told him to come crawl into our bed in the middle of the night, instead of trekking to his room, where one of us would invariably end up sleeping.

But co-sleeping, like anything else in the realm of parenting, is something that some parents are totally for, and others are totally against. And many of my friends who say they are totally against co-sleeping because of what it might do to their marital relationship, end up booting their husbands out of bed. So that hubby can get better sleep. So that there is more room in bed. So that no one will have to listen to hubs snoring. So that maybe, just maybe he'll forget all about sex. Or whatever.

And apparently this is not as unusual as one might guess. According to some sources, by 2015 60% of custom homes will be built with dual master bedrooms. Does your spouse end up sleeping somewhere else?

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Co-sleeping: Bad habit or fact of life?

Bethany Sanders — 2008-05-15T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Development, Sleep

Tomorrow night, my mother-in-law is visiting. Lucky her, she gets the bottom (full-sized) bunk, being that it's the only guest bed we currently have in the house. I plan on sticking my three-year-old in with us, but gave my five-year-old the option of sleeping on the top bunk or camping out in our room.

"Oh, I'll sleep in my own bed. It's where all my babies are."

Do you know how long I've waited to hear those words? FIVE YEARS. Still, shortly after I got done jumping for joy, I felt sad. My chronic co-sleeper didn't want to sleep with me anymore. Isn't motherhood weird?

For me, co-sleeping was just a habit I fell into out of pure exhaustion. Though I kept them in a co-sleeper when they were babies, they learned as toddlers that if they boomeranged back from their crib to my bed enough times in a night, I'd eventually lift up my covers and let them in.

According to CNN, I was creating what is known as a bad habit. I'm just a parent, not a parenting expert, but something tells me tonight -- with two kids snoozing upstairs who now stay in their beds until eight o'clock every morning (I know, you're jealous, aren't you?), kids who now choose their baby dolls to cuddle with instead of me -- that I won't ever regret those nights spent sleeping next to a perpendicular toddler who kicks me in the ribs.

Still, if you want to evict your kiddo from your bed or fix one of three other less-than-attractive habits (whining, anyone?), the parenting experts over at CNN can help you out.

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