We Are Famous!!

Ok, so it is by means of a free magazine, but it is still cool. We were interviewed and photographed for an article on co-sleeping in WNY Family Magazine. You can get a copy for free at Wegmans or Tops. The article starts on page 18 and continues on page 66 (that is where our photo is). The author is a man who was a client of mine at the gym. We had discussed our kids many times and he emailed me a few weeks ago requesting an interview. I was more than excited to do it, as it makes me feel like an advocate for babies who want to be close to their mama and daddy.

So yes, we have a family bed. Willow safely sleeps next to me as she has since birth. There are many, many reasons why we co-sleep. First and foremost, my instinct tells me it is right. It is natural and comfortable. It has allowed us to respect Willow's natural sleep paterns and still meet our own sleep needs. Our family bed ensured Willow's biological rhythms were in check as an itty bitty baby. Research has shown that young infants who sleep near mom have less sleep apnea episodes and are more easily able to regulate heart patterns. Sleeping close to Willow also has made nursing at night a non-issue. When she needs to nurse, she does. Now that she is older I often do not even wake. Co-sleeping has helped us forge our bond and has been a big part of why we can so easily communicate. And seriously, who doesn't want to wake up next to a smiling, giggling baby every morning?

A bed is an intimate place, a place for love and trust, a place for family. Am I going to roll over on her? Well, I have never rolled over on the cat, David, or out of bed and with mama-radar I can say with 100% certainty that I will not. When will she move out? If I am lucky, never. But realistically, when she is ready. Each child is different, but when the tides of independence strike her she will find her way. What will happen when we have another baby? A California King- sized bed!