When I was pregnant with my son I knew that he would absolutely be sleeping in our room, next to me, when he was born. So we were looking for a bassinet that would fit next to the bed. We didn't end up finding one that would work for us, and then when he was born I felt silly for even looking. Of course he was going to sleep in the bed with us! It was so natural and perfect. I kept thinking, "who said that this wasn't the way it was supposed to be?" My son was as safe as could be; we responded to his every need right away and were able to get more sleep ourselves, both because we could reach him without getting up, and because we knew he was safe. I could open my eyes and see his chest rising and falling, hear his sweet breathing, and know that he was okay. I couldn't imagine him being anywhere else!
We are now co-sleeping with our daughter and it has been beautiful. She isn't even two months old but she has already fallen into a day/night sleeping pattern because of us having her with us. She breathes perfectly, often in-sync with me, because she is right next to me. I am able to respond to her hunger as soon as she starts to stir, before she has time to cry and wake up, and I don't have to get out of bed myself, allowing us both to sleep well.
This post by Dr. Sears explains, "Our son, Dr. Jim, an avid sailor, offers a father’s viewpoint on co-sleeping sensitivity:
“People often ask me how a sailor gets any sleep when ocean racing solo. While sleeping, the lone sailor puts the boat on autopilot. Because the sailor is so in tune with his boat, if the wind shifts so that something is not quite right with the boat, the sailor will wake up.”
I know a lot of people disagree with co-sleeping, and that there're always going to be things that we do that people will disagree with. But I've learned that you have to do what you feel is right as a parent, regardless of what other people think.
Our babies know they are loved. They are safe and warm with us and they are thriving. We are obviously doing something right! :)