A Solution for Parents Who Disagree About Co-Sleeping

I do not believe in co-sleeping but my partner does. How do we compromise? originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights.

Answer by Martyn V. Halm, abused as a child; father of two, on Quora:

"I do not believe in co-sleeping but my partner does. How do we compromise?"

The Hanging Crib.

Although we got ourselves a hanging crib for our firstborn because of the size of our cramped apartment, having a crib suspended above the foot of the bed turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Whenever my wife needed to breastfeed our son in the middle of the night, I could press the crib--suspended from the ceiling by rope and a long spring--against the bed and my wife could lift him from the crib and put him to her breast. When he was returned, the gentle rocking and swaying of the ropes put him back to sleep.

Whenever he woke up during the night, we could simply nudge the crib with our feet to set it swinging to rock him back to sleep. My in-laws had a bigger apartment when their first son was born, but they liked the hanging crib so much that they borrowed ours to hang it suspended over their bed. When our daughter was born years later, in another apartment, we didn't even have to think about whether to get another crib or use our hanging crib.

Plus, since we also had hooks in the living room ceiling for our hammock chairs, we could easily put the hanging crib in the living room.

I think this is the best compromise--your baby will sleep right over your bed, able to hear you and allowing you to respond instantly, but without danger of getting squashed, soiling your bed, or keeping you from your sleep.

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