Is it safe? How does it affect your relationship with your partner and other children? How do you break the habit when the time comes? All these points and more have been raised by iVillagers on both sides of the co-sleeping divide

It just happened that way
'We were up nearly every hour to feed, so we started co-sleeping as it was about the only way I could cope. We still co-sleep and I have no idea how to stop. It wasn't something I planned to do from birth but it was comfortable for us (hubby included). We're happy to carry on for a while but wonder how we will eventually break the habit.'
sarahchurchill

It's a good transition period
'I'm co-sleeping with my daughter on a mattress on my bedroom floor. It's big enough for a co-sleep cuddle, but once she's off to sleep I hop into my bed leaving her where she is. Then I'm not worried about her rolling around and falling out of my bed. For me it's a good transition until I tackle transferring her into a cot.'
net1970

How I stopped co-sleeping
'If you're co-sleeping and want to stop, maybe you could try the 'pick up put down' method? Feed your baby to sleep and then put her in her cot. When she wakes crying, pick her up and comfort her until she stops crying, then put her down. As soon as she cries pick her up and comfort her then put her down when she is calm. And repeat until she falls asleep. This is how I got my daughter to settle herself to sleep (she's eight months old). She occasionally wakes in the night, but she's cutting her second tooth at the moment. It may take a few fraught nights to make the breakthrough but it is worth sticking with.'
helan_fisher

Different babies have different needs
'As long as you're happy with co-sleeping and you feel safe for your baby, it's fine. Personally I found with my first daughter, especially when she was tiny, that I slept really lightly and woke every time she snuffled or moved. I also slept with her tucked into my tummy, breastfeeding, and my underside arm was curled over the top of her. I had the pillow sideways on, so only my head was on it, and I had the quilt pulled down, and just a nappy on her. It worked out really well especially after many tears and endless sleepless nights in those tough first few weeks. She slept with us till she was about three. She's very close to me now and I think it's a wonderful bond early on.

I haven't co-slept with my second daughter because she slept fine on her own from the beginning. Different babies have different needs - some like my first daughter need to feel close to you all the time - even at eight she hates to be in a room on her own, she loves company!

If co-sleeping solves a problem, then so long as it's done safely, it can be wonderful.'
ruthfrow

If it ain't broke...
'I think that as long as you and your partner are comfy with it and baby sleeps better - therefore you all get more sleep - then how can it be bad?'
clare1016

My husband and I need privacy
'I'm a bad sleeper at the best of times, and the thought of having a snuffly, mumbly, fidgety beastie in bed makes me stressed just thinking about it (and that's just my husband!). I can see the attraction of being all snuggly with my son, but we save that for the occasional nap time. I think it's far more important that he's happy in his own room and able to get a good night's sleep independently.

I think that my relationship with my husband is important too - we need our space and time together, which is pretty impossible if there's always a baby in your bed.'
sarahs999

I'd be too worried to sleep
'I've heard that co-sleeping can be dangerous if a parent smokes or drinks. Two adults sleeping in a bed with a baby in the middle can be dangerous because they may overheat the baby, who then can't control their own body temperature.

Also parents get very tired from all the sleepless nights with baby. So when you do finally fall into a deep sleep, you or your partner could accidentally roll on to your baby. Then there's the danger of the baby falling out of bed or suffocating under your pillows or duvet.

I would be too worried about any of the above happening to be able to sleep comfortably.'
gem3030

Co-sleeping in safety
'To make sure I co-sleep safely with my son, I put a pillow to the other side of him. I have a king-sized bed, so I go on my side pretty far over and have him in the middle of the bed and a pillow on my husband' side. My son is never under the quilt, instead he sleeps on top and has either a sleeping bag or a blanket over him to avoid overheating.

He makes a much better sleeping companion than my husband - he doesn't snore or fart in his sleep!'
cl-parasol15