Bed sharing, co-sleeping, and keeping your baby safe in your bed

Welcome to Herding little Cows to the glory of God
We're not your typical family, and this isn't the typical KZbin channel. Sara and Mark live on the coast of Maine and have been married for over 20 years and as of this writing (May ‘24) recently welcomed our 10th child , Elisha Courage, home. We believe that children are a blessing from the Lord and that marriage is a gift to be celebrated as well as a relationship to be invested in.
Content on our channel ranges from pregnancy and birth stories to therapy strategies for children with brain injuries. We talk about home education, sing hymns, and share the simple joy of childhood.
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Herding little Cows
P.O. Box 15
Thomaston, Maine
04861
#largefamily #tothegloryofgod #baby #newborn #breastfeeding #bedsharing #cosleeping

[@RV-there-Yet]

My babies were all in bed w/me during nursing years, at least on the regular. Past that, sleeping w/mom & dad was as needed~ not feeling well, bad dreams, etc. I can remember placing couch cushions & such on the floor next to the bed, as baby got older & was rolling/crawling because I was worried about them rolling off~ it never happened. Likely because a nursing momma doesn't ever really go into a deep sleep, as I recall it anyhow. Considering they seem to be nursing more often than not in any 24 hr period, any rest is critical for mommy~ deep sleep or not. Great little clip to share guys~ thanks. Especially glad that it's not so "taboo" anymore, since midwives & even doctors are well aware that moms & babies are surely going to be sleeping together. Offering safety suggestions is far more practical than the harsh warnings I endured about it back in the 80's & 90's, from books & medical community.

[@HerdingLittleCows]

There were still nurses at the hospital that don’t want you to do it. This past time, I had the same nurse every night I was there. She watches my channel. She knows why I do it. We regularly have the almost three year old and baby in here. But last week we had two extra one night

[@agentlequietspirit9412]

Love this video! Thank you for sharing your research and experiencial expertise ❤

[@kristadavis2825]

We have bed shared with all three of our boys. My husband and I have separate twin blankets to avoid him pulling it up on baby. I use a rolled towel or toddler pillow and sleep in a side position with my arm directly above baby and bottom leg directly below baby. Our pediatrician said that bed sharing and nursing all night actually saved our failure to thrive baby’s life. All three have had severe tongue ties and couldn’t properly take boob or bottle and sleeping while nursing allowed them to relax enough to get milk before they had surgery and therapy work. We are both very thin, have never smoked, have never drank, and are light sleepers.

[@HerdingLittleCows]

That is awesome that the doctor saw that it worked well for your family. Yay for feeding your baby through those hard times.

[@GodISSovereign17]

My midwives actually recommended bed sharing this past time I gave birth, and I was pleasantly surprised. I’ve always slept with my babies, and believe it’s best for mom and baby. They told me that mother’s actually are so connected that if babies breathing pattern changes it will wake you up. I’ve also read in an article that their heart is strained being in another room before age 3 because they’re so connected to mom that it can cause them anxiety. I actually feel bad when I see people putting their babies in their own bedrooms by themselves. It just feels wrong to me. Thanks for sharing, I think this is a wonderful video for showing proper bed sharing! Blessings

[@HerdingLittleCows]

That is great they recommended it

[@Tania_78]

You are wrong. & so is your midwife. The only safe place for baby to sleep is in a crib, w/ only a fitted sheet. Nothing else in crib until age 1. SIDS risk is higher for babies who sleep in same bed as adults. Also, parents do NOT always hear changes in breathing.

[@GodISSovereign17]

@@Tania_78 Bed sharing does not increase your risk of SIDS. America has the highest rate of SIDS, and bed sharing is least common here. I will say this, 9 out of 10 babies that die from SIDS are formula fed, that’s eye opening. I’ve slept with all 7 of my children, and by The Grace of God they were just fine. Read Deuteronomy 32:39, have a blessed day

[@Tania_78]

@@GodISSovereign17 Right, by the grace of God, they have survived, not because bedsharing is safe. Believing something is safe, because you, personally, have not been affected by any deaths from it is caused, "Survivorship bias." You incorrectly attribute survival to the safety of an activity that is indeed not safe.

[@Tania_78]

@@GodISSovereign17 The fact that bedsharing increases risk of SIDS is all over Google. On legitimate websites, by experts. I posted a link, but the comment got deleted, so I don't think I can post a link.

[@Girlhdhrjjrhr]

I love that you were brave enough to post thos, despite it being controversial. Bedsharing is so demonized, as are a lot of things that are the healthiest options.

[@HerdingLittleCows]

I want to share what I have learned over the years. I try to think “ if I were handed this baby 100 years ago with no instructions what would I naturally do to care for baby?” I think a lot has been demonized

[@Girlhdhrjjrhr]

@@HerdingLittleCows yes, that's so true!

[@Tania_78]

@@Girlhdhrjjrhr Bedsharing is not the healthiest option.

[@HerdingLittleCows]

Tanya we are going to have to agree to disagree. Babies do die, and sadly some die when all the “right” things are done. Parents will have to make their own choices. I wanted to share the the safe sleep seven so that moms can put their children to sleep with them in a safe way

[@saraschneider6781]

Okay, as someone who does not have children, I have the obvious question... If you bed share with child one, how do you have child two?😉

[@HerdingLittleCows]

By now, we are experts. Sometimes you get creative.

[@sorchadonavan5266]

He doesn't understand why the nursies are happening 😂

[@HerdingLittleCows]

🤓

[@lifeisTheVeronicas]

I work with kids and families, and a number of them have had babies die via suffocation due to bed sharing. It is never recommended. Even if you are a mom or dad who is generally aware of where your baby is, all bets are off during sleep. The towels you have rolled up along the wall to close the gap are suffocation hazards. I know you mentioned that the bed you are on is the toddlers, but if you have a similar set up on your bed, that is insanely dangerous. Too many babies have died from co-sleeping. Ultimately, it’s just not worth the risk. Nurse baby and then return baby to their crib/bassinet. It also looked like the sheets on your bed were not tightly fitting enough. When babies start to turn and roll, loose fitting sheets are a suffocation hazard. This is really alarming. I can appreciate making a decision based on wanting to bond with your baby, but safety always comes first.

[@HerdingLittleCows]

I didn’t use my bed as the toddler fell asleep and my bed was in an unmade state so whichever sheets you are talking about that were ill fitting is not where the baby was sleeping. Academy of breastfeeding medicine encourages breastfeeding and bed sharing. Many other countries also encourage breastfeeding. SIDS is actually decreased with bed sharing.

[@HerdingLittleCows]

Babies have slept for centuries with their mothers. Babies are safe with their mothers in bed if parents think through the decision to bed share. Has a baby died while sleeping in bed with a parent? Yes. Have babies died while sleeping in a bed by themselves with all the standard protocol? Yes. But bed sharing is not inherently dangerous.

[@Tania_78]

Amen! Thanks for reiterating how unsafe cosleeping is.

[@Tania_78]

​@@HerdingLittleCowsNo. SIDS is INCREASED w/ bed sharing.

[@Tania_78]

​@@HerdingLittleCowsAlso, filling in gaps w/ a blanket or towel is NOT safe & you should not be advising this.