After last night, I came to the consideration that perhaps Poppy (not her actual name-just a nickname I use for her on the internet) would sleep better in her own space and not our room. I think we might by waking her up throughout the night. Not fully trusting my own intuition, I went online to google search "when to put baby in own room". There was a myriad of blog posts: co-sleep is the best, sleeping in nursery is the best, sleeping in same room is the best, --no really sharing the bed works great, --no sleeping in their own room works great, and on and on. Finally I came to my senses and said "It doesn't really matter!". So long as you meet your child's emotional needs in the day time--I'll bet they won't develop any lasting psychological issues in the night based on sleep location.
It reminds me of a few weeks back, and the debate over taking Poppy out for walks in the stroller. My Mummykins is half-German, half deep rooted Southern girl--she advised that in Germany they take their kids out all the time--the cold air is good for the lungs. My mother in law is full Panamanian and has lived mostly on the western part of the USA. She was adamant that the cold air would cause health problems for Poppy and that Poppy would have difficulty breathing while the wind was blowing.
Such polar opinions--which one was right?-- well they raise perfectly healthy children by both methods, so it must not really matter.
All psychology should be taken with a grain of salt--this from a psychology minor. If their is one thing I learned from all my education in psychology is that their are in innumerable variables to the human mind and existence, and that, outside of gospel principles, there are no blanket solutions especially ones as specific as ones related to child-rearing.
Gospel principles such as loving our families, staying morally clean, following the word of wisdom, are broad enough in their explanation so they can be adapted to the needs of each individual situation.
If a loving parent who co-sleeps with their child will probably have a just as healthy and well adjusted child as one who sleeps in their own crib or their own room--it's not that something as mundane as sleeping arrangement has much call on the child's overall sense of well being--it's that the parents genuinely love their children and see to their child's individual needs.
I sense that Poppy may sleep better if mom and dad aren't in the room, because she's napped very well that way. However, my next child might be the exact opposite. Since I love my child I will not just repeat what I did for Poppy, but adapt to that child's needs.
I've hear many arguments for and against pacifiers, or "babywearing" over "babycarrying"--again the same rule of trying to be in tune with what your baby needs applies. My friend Anna, to the best of my knowledge, never gave her children pacifiers, stating that you need to see to the needs of your child and not just plug up their mouths. This seemed logical to me, so I decided we'd forgo the paci. Another friend noted that sometimes babies just want something to suckle on and that it helped them feel comfortable
Shortly after Poppy was born they wheeled her into our hospital room and there she was happily sucking a pacifier. It's easier to wean a child off a pacifier than their own thumb by the way, so I decided to take the pacifier home with us rather than chuck it.
95% of the time I give Poppy the paci when I think that's all she wants or if it will help soothe her, or during time I can't immediately feed her--such is on the road in nowhereville Wyoming 15 min from our next pit stop.
As for wearing Poppy in a sling or keeping her in her carrier. Sometimes she wants to be held close, sometimes she's happily snoozing in her carrier, which will rock like a rocking chair easily--and this baby likes to be rocked!
So we play it by ear, and don;t have such specific absolutes.
My brother was a formula fed baby, husky 8 year old, and football playing teenager. My husband was a formula fed baby, husky 8 year old, and football playing teenager---they are entirely different people.
healthy development has so much more to do with broader issues than pacifiers or slings, or sleeping accomodation
