Co-sleeping

Dear little soul

There are many ways that a baby can enjoy its night's sleep, especially in the first days and weeks of its life. For you, we want you to feel secure and guided through the weird transition from being in my belly, to being in the big wide world.

So, the idea of putting you in a large dark room all by yourself from the word go is rather strange to us.

We have some options for you:

Moses Basket
Thanks to a dear friend, we have the loan of a sweet little crib. I made the veil that hangs over it. I chose the colour of the silks to be peach, as that is meant to mimic the colours you see from within the womb! It took me a long time to make, and I hope you enjoy it. We will put you in this crib when you are first born, as we won't be able to attach our co-sleeper to the bed immediately after the birth as our bed is on blocks. After the bed has been lowered, you might enjoy daytime naps in the Moses Basket. Sweet.

The "box"
Thanks to another dear friend, we have inherited this sweet "box". Some mothers say you shouldn't let a baby nap in a box. I don't know whether this is something to worry about. Some mothers say that a box is for playing in, and cribs and cots are for sleeping. Maybe they're right. I'll have to figure it out for myself.

The bouncinet
The same friend who gave us the "box" gave us this bouncinet. I bought a special sheepskin for you to bounce around in it. I don't know from which age it's good to put you in it, but I daresay sometimes you'll bounce and sometimes you'll snooze in it.

The co-sleeper
Another gift from a friend. It served her two boys well and will serve our little boy/s or girl/s very well for the first couple of years. This is what we'll be attaching to the side of our Soul Mama and Papa bed. The idea is I'll give birth at home, and within 24 hours, Soul Papa will take the bed off the blocks and then attach the co-sleeper. Whenever you need a cuddle or feed or change in the night, we'll be right there! Some mothers say that the sound of the baby worries them too much; others say that it's reassuring to hear their babies through the night. I want to find out what works best for us.

According to national safety recommendations, babies are not recommended to sleep directly in the bed with parents. I don't think I have a big problem with that idea, but given that we will be receiving official Dutch nursing care within the home for 8 days after the birth, I don't want to enter into any heated discussions about sleeping philosophies. This solution of co-sleeping throughout the night fulfills our ambitions; to give you the security and company you are so used to, to tend to your needs as you adjust to life in the world, and to reinforce our bond from the very start. And I do hope to breastfeed - I learnt that babies make a clicking noise before they want to start feeding, and that it's best to give them a drink before they start crying (too much) to the point that they cannot concentrate or feed.

Sweet dreams, dear little soul!

love your Soul Mama