In 1985 or so, I watched a TV interview with the author of the book, THE FAMILY BED. He was in favor of allowing children to sleep with parents. He said that throughout the ages, children have always slept with parents. Things changed around the late 1940's in the USA, when ideas about family and wealth changed after WWII. Americans showed their new found middle-class wealth by having a house with a separate "nursery" just like the rich people. Only thing they forgot is - - rich people always had nannies and wet nurses sleeping in the nurseries at night. Middle-class folk just stuck their babies all alone in an empty, scary room with NO nannies. Dr. Spock in the 60's came along and said let them cry it out. The author of THE FAMILY BED said it is not a natural thing for a human being to sleep ALONE. Our skin is our biggest organ and the sense of touch sends electrical nerve impulses to all internal organs. Newborns who are touched gain weight faster, and thrive. Romanian orphans left alone to cry in cribs with ZERO-touch suffered learning retardation and ATTACHMENT DISORDER. We ALL crave skin-to-skin contact. The thing about this TV show 25 years ago that sticks with me is this: A woman from the audience stood up and said, "Well, I do NOT believe children should be allowed in their parent's bed. When our son used to wake up in the night and cry, we would take him a glass of water and tell him that the water would wash away all the bad dreams!" The author just listened, then asked the women this question, "If you went to your husband and said, 'Honey, I just need a hug right now' and your husband said, 'Here's a glass of water,' how would you feel?" After watching that TV show, I went on to have 4 kids and followed the author's rule of thumb when it comes to babies and toddlers wanting to sleep with you: "NEVER OFFER, NEVER REFUSE." WARNING: Do not attempt co-sleeping if one or both parents consume alcohol or use drugs.