Co sleeping is where you choose to sleep with your baby in your bed. This is a contentious issue for many experts as well as parents. Be sure if you raise the subject everyone has an opinion, nothing new when it comes to babies as most new parents find out!

In many Countries this is simply normal practice and many people in the West are finding this is a preferable and more convenient option for them.

The most important consideration for you when making this very personal decision is SAFETY. Safety is paramount for any parent but it is vital when considering co sleeping with your baby, in fact safety issues are the major objection people raise against co sleeping.

If co sleeping is for you then adhere to common sense safety rules and ignore the opinions of others if they are not constructive. One reason many Mothers choose to co sleep is the sheer convenience of it, especially when feeding in the night as baby is easily accessible and as a result Mother and baby can gain more sleep. They also feel comforted knowing baby is nearby in touching distance.

Some people do believe that co sleeping will result in a baby unable to sleep alone or settle itself when it disturbs as it grows older. In fact some babies do sleep better in a crib, remember if you are breast feeding the smell of your milk nearby can cause baby to wake.

There are always very real concerns which may mean co sleeping is simply not an option for you and your partner. If either of you are particularly fitful sleepers then it is best not to have baby in bed with you as there is a risk of unintentional rolling onto your child causing suffocation.

Opposition arguments to co sleeping are mainly based on the risk of smothering your baby by accident. You should also consider factors such as lifestyle. NEVER co sleep if you or your partner are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There is also the prospect of a little person in bed compromising any intimacy between you and your partner. New babies can put a strain on the strongest of relationships and an extra strain may be one too many.

For some parents co sleeping is the best option, for others simply out of the question. Remember it may be a battle to wean baby off the breast if they are used to feeding on demand in the night.

The list of do's and don'ts when it comes to co sleeping with your baby is as long as the arguments for and against it. Ultimately this is your baby and your choice. As long as you consider the safety of co sleeping and follow your common sense there is no reason that you shouldn't co sleep happily.

It may be worth trying for the first few weeks and reassess to see if it works for you and your baby.