Before my first son was born, I read about the Arm’s Reach co-sleeper crib. I was prepared to breastfeed him, and I felt it would be best to have him stay in our bedroom for the first few months. Well, because of post-partum depression and wonderful “unsolicited” advice, we put him into his own crib within the first week and the co-sleeper became pretty useless.

Well, it definitely was worth its money and more for my third baby, Gabrielle. Even though I still was unable to bring her to breast, I exclusively breast pumped for her for over a year. She stayed in our bedroom, in the co-sleeper crib, for 6 months. It was wonderful. Every time she squirmed to wake for her feeding, I could hear and wake before her to have her bottle ready. I don’t think she cried at night for the first 6 months. We would just cuddle in the bed for each of her night feedings.

I remembered using a baby monitor for my son and listening to him breathe just waiting for him to wake for his next feeding. I hated that monitor more than anything. I was determined that I was not going to use that thing for this baby.

The 6 months seems to fly with Gabrielle. She and I grew so close, and it was pretty difficult when it was time to put her in her room after the 6 months. I know if I did not have that co-sleeper to use when Gabrielle came home from the hospital, then we would not be as close as we are today.

Copyright 2006, Wendy Williamson