I had to reply along the same lines as Roberta about the naturalness of a
baby needing contact.  After all, where has the baby slept during
gestation? Inside mother's body, being touched by her all the time. Doesn't
it make sense that babies, once outside the mother's body would still
derive great comfort from being close to her?

We upheld and "open bed" policy in our house. Doug slept with me for
several months; when he began sleeping totally through the night, he was
comfortable in his own space, but was never there except when he slept.

After he was old enough to climb out of cradle/crib, I put his mattress on
the floor so he wouldn't fall on the floor and he would often snuggle in
with me after waking in the AM.  That was ok. (We had a rule that if his
diaper was really soggy, he would take it off and I would warm his damp
little bottom with my body.

As he got older, I could always tell when a thunderstorm woke him (and the
animals) up.  EVERYONE ended up in my bed within a few minutes of the first
zap of thunder.

When he needed special comforting, he was in my bed. Examples: at age 10,
he fell on the ice and banged up his face.  Guess whose pillow collected
the blood spatters?

WHen he was 17 and totalled the car, he spent three nights in my bed.  At
that point, he came up with convenient "excuses" for being there, as I
think he felt too old to ask in a more stragihtforeward manner.  day 1: his
neck hurt and the warmth of the waterbed relaxed his muscles.  Day 2: his
back hurt more than the day before, but his neck was better.  Day 3: he was
just going to "rest his eyes" and he simply ended up staying there.

Whenver he was in my bed, some portion of his body was always in contact
with mine, whether a legt or arm or whatever.  (Just like when he was an
infant)

I like to think his experiences will make him a very understanding father
should I ever be blessed with grandchildren.  PS Anyone have a daughter of
marriageable age? I am in the market (er, he is)  Hm.  Oh for the days of
arranged marriages!

:-)




Def. of LC service: "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities
brilliantly disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC - [log in to unmask]