Teatopia

You will most definitely not be waking her up. Both my eldest boys slept in our bed, in our room until they were at least 3. Zander will be in a cot in our room and will probably end up in our bed when he is a bit older (when the boys won't be able to lie on him any more!)

About the changing table - I have always changed the boys on the bed. Without a changing mat or anything, just on the bed.

I STILL have to wash Zander's bedding LOL Although that will only be done once I"m in hospital, so that I know it is all nice and clean for when he comes home

I may not be a parent quite yet, but I'll throw my two cents in.

-About the changing table. When I was younger I worked with babies at a daycare. We had to change them on a changing table, and it wasn't awkward at all. However, from watching friends with babies, it seems that you end up changing them where ever you happen to be when you notice she needs changing.

-I made a friend make a list of things I should register for, and she said to definitely register for a pack and play. They use it mostly for a changing table downstairs, and she says it's great as a porbable crib while traveling. You can always pack it away at home if you're not using it.

- I personally am getting a bassinet with a co-sleeper so I can have baby in my room for at least a few months. You can get these for next to nothing. I really don't want the baby in my bed, but I want to be able to see her at all times. I totally wouldn't worry about waking her; babies are usually pretty sound sleepers.

Good luck!

I've always enjoyed using changing tables while changing babies (my friends or the ones I sat for), simply because there was usually no bed in the nursery and I liked to have a "Changing space." I'd rather not associate my bed with poopy diapers (instead of the other lovely things like sleep and *ahem* my bed is associated with :))

Pack n Plays are a MUST! My SIL uses hers constantly with her 2 baby boys. And they are invaluable if you go to someones home who's not babyproofed. We just folded ours up in it's little container and it's no bigger than a fat folding chair.

I sent you a registry list, did you get it? Not sure if it was your normal email address or not!

I put the bubby in his own bed from the start and he has been sleeping through the night since he was 3 months old - every night. It is encouraging to me to know that he doesn't need our big warm bodies to fall asleep, and I think that if I did have in my bed, then my sex life would go to hell. We have a baby monitor on so that if he makes more than a peep I can hear him and sneak into his room to see if he is alright. My SIL breastfed and said that it was easier to have her little guy next to her until about 6 months. I have tried sleeping in the bubby's room when say my hubby is snoring, but I find that the bubby actually makes so many sucking, sighing, oohing and aaahing noises in the night - which are all signs of perfectly restful sleep - but I would keep waking up and checking on him anyway. I have a changing table and swear by it - you have all your lotions and potions on hand along with fresh nappies and also clean clothes in the drawers below. He will eventually outgrow the changing table and then I probably will use the bed (in his room) with a mat in case of any fire hose action. I'm not sure what a pack n play is, but if it's anything like my "play-gym" which is a padded square mat with overhanging toys for the bubby to lie on and look up at and bat with his hands (he's grabbing and pulling things now) it is a LIFE SAVER. If he wakes up in the morning - now at approx 5h30 daily, I give him a bottle, burp him and pop him into his gym. Then I have at least 30 glorious minutes in which to bath, wash & dry my hair and get dressed by which time he wants out and we can play a bit together before i put him down for a nap again. I honestly am horrified by kids who sleep in their parents beds, for one thing you can't get them out again without a lot of hassle, and I mean are you not going to have sex for three years? (!)

I don't know what a pack 'n play is. Oh, now I know. We never used one but others really found it helpful...I always think of Back to the future when I see those. I was really bad, according to my sister. Joaquin slept with us for over two years and probably still would if we all fit in the bed. He's been sleeping in his own bed but still would prefer sleeping with us. I like sleeping with someone next to me, did for most of my life, so why wouldn't a baby? And, I breastfed and was lazy. It was easier for me to have him right next to me. Of course, this is probably answers the question about why we only have one child. By the way, you'll probably read in your books that you want noise because it teaches the baby to sleep through more noise. I must've had lots of noise when I was a baby because I can pretty much sleep through anything, even house fires. I never used a changing table, just the bathroom counter because I had a faucet right there, and a toilet and diaper pail. I felt better keeping all the bathroom "stuff" in the bathroom. I'm glad I had that long counter. I know many do not.

MrMan sleeps in a cosleeper right next to my side of the bed. At least, that's where he sleeps most nights, most of the night. If he's congested or fussy, he joins us in the bed. I find it very convenient to have him right next to me, so that I can easily check on him and feed him. Our noises don't seem to bother him. I think all three of us sleep better than we would if he were in another room.

I read somewhere if babies can sleep in the womb they can sleep fine when they are outside of the womb too. Supposedly the noise in the womb is quite loud. All the blood swooshing about and the heart beating. But each babies are different and you'll be getting tons of advice. Do what best works for you and your hubby and good luck!!

I think (and Im not yet a mom- or does it count cause Im pregnant? Does that make me a mom?) that you should use the changing table.
A) better for your back
B) everything you need will be in one place
C) I agree with the person that said you might not want to associate your bed with poopy diapers!

And about the Pack N Play. I too am one of those people that really doesnt want a lot of big baby clutter around. So, we'll see how I fair without it.