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I would never have supported this idea full time many years ago. When we adopted our first two, the main idea was to 'give them their own space.....if they cried, give them time to cry to acclimate to being alone'. That was then....this is now.
Within the last year, we adopted a newborn. I too, found that it wasn't the best thing to let a child cry when they awoke in the night. This child was in our room, in a bassinet for as long as 'the weight allowed' in the bassinet. This child went to a crib----but continued waking in the night.
I found myself rocking her for extended times---waiting for her to fall asleep in my arms. However-----once I laid down with her in our bed----she'd pass right out and most of the time, sleep very soundly.
We are awaiting the 'call' for the next baby. Our little girl may 'start' in her own crib; but she almost always wakes in the night. I move her to the 'little crib' in our room, or in our bed. There, she sleeps soundly for the rest of the night. We figure that we won't 'take out' the little crib in our room, because once the next baby comes, she will want to stay w/in our room. If not, that's fine too----but we will give her that option.
Oh, it's inconvenient sometimes---I agree. Finding other 'intimate places', or 'moving the baby out' sometimes, is an added consideration. But the bond that this child has with us is incredible. While my other two 'infant adopted babies' are now grown....adjusted, successful adults.....I'm inclined to think that having the closeness of baby in your bed---or room, can make all the difference in the world with bonding, attachment and security.
Sincerely,
Linny
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ditto to Linny's post. Also, I was a MUCH nicer mommy when I got more sleep. With the baby in my bed I suffered very little sleep deprevation. With my older kids, who were not in my bed, I was up most of the night running around or rocking or, the worst one, walking the floors. If only I had known...LOL. Sleep on! Love, Debi