I’ve read the literature on co-sleeping. I know the Consumer Product Safety Commission warns parents not to place their infants in grown-up beds. I’ve heard the American Academy of Pediatrics agrees, warning parents about rolling over on their babies in their sleep.

That said, I admit it: both Powergirl and I spend a few hours alone with L in a grown-up bed every night. And I’m not apologizing.

For Powergirl, the ritual pertains to feeding. When the baby wakes up hungry (and usually screaming bloody murder) in the middle of the night, she prefers to snack while lying down. Naturally, because it’s 4 a.m., Powergirl obliges, feeding L in the guest bed, where neither of them has to listen to my snoring.

For me, the co-sleeping ritual is all about cuddling. When I wake up Powergirl at 5:15 a.m. to get ready for work, I take her place in the guest bed, snuggling down with L until she decides it’s time to get up.

Some mornings, she’s up for the day at 6:30. Other mornings she sleeps in until 8.

Listen, folks, before you call me a terrible father for co-sleeping with such regularity, let me assure you that the “sleep” is fitful at best. Because I’m so neurotic, I’m afraid to ever really fall asleep. Instead, I usually just lay there and stare at my baby girl, marveling at her existence as she breathes on my face and kicks me with her little foot. Sure, sometimes I close my eyes. But then a twitch or noise wakes me up to make sure everything is OK.

Oh, and before you judge Powergirl for co-sleeping sessions of her own, let’s remember that breastfeeding in the middle of the night presents challenges none of us male humans can ever understand. My philosophy is that if co-sleeping with the baby after her meal makes things easier for Powergirl (and therefore the baby), it’s the right call, no matter what the experts say.

Where do you stand on co-sleeping? To what extent do you actually practice what you preach? How do you feel about official stances on the subject? Let me know.