[jacquesm]

Hm. Some kids sleep really deep and would be fine in that situation, the best way to figure it out is to try it and to give it enough time that you know that if there is a problem it is structural and not just the adaptation period.

My eldest slept so solid that you could have fired a cannon next to him and he would have slept through it (and still does, only he's a bit large to sleep in a crib now...).

The most important factor is something to create a shade around the crib so it isn't bathed in light or receives reflected intensity changes from a tv or so.

[pavel_lishin]

I wouldn't call ours a light sleeper, but she definitely starts to stir if someone walks on the slightly-creaky parts of the floor next to her. She'll often stir a bit even if we're just going to bed, and she's woken up on occasion.

She doesn't wake up from the TV-sounds-through-an-ajar-door, but being in the same room would definitely wake her up, to say nothing of falling asleep with that sort of stimulation.

[jacquesm]

A good part of that is likely something that you can get used to, but the important factor is if your little one will get enough rest. That's something you'll know soon enough. Anyway, much good luck to you with this, you have nothing to lose by trying and if it does not work you can always simply switch back to the present situation.

[poulsbohemian]

For what it's worth, from a father of three... my ex coddled the kids in this regard. She _demanded_ absolute silence when they went to sleep. The problem is, that _trains_ the kids to need absolute silence, rather than getting accustomed to hearing the occasional sound and putting themselves back to sleep. The best things you can do, for your own well-being and theirs, is let them cry it out a bit and go about your normal routine.

[pavel_lishin]

(I wonder if you're getting downvoted for mentioning "cry it out"; the only thing more controversial in parenting is circumcision.)

Yup. We live in New York. There's no such thing as absolute silence here, and she can still hear things from the living room. We're definitely not requiring silence :P

[stevekemp]

I must admit we have a divide like that too. My wife will stir at the slightest noise, whereas I assume that a murmer or two is just a random noise and safe to ignore.

Obviously if the baby is crying heartily either of us will investigate, but I don't feel the need (most of the time) to check on him if there are sporadic gurgles, laughs, or "noise".

That said I think my wife is coming round, she's started sleeping with earplugs now so that she doesn't wake up unless there is a real "emergency".