Sleeping alone

Carol - posted on 09/05/2010

my daughter is 4 months nd still sleeps with me my sils try cosleepers.

Casey - posted on 09/05/2010

my son was the same, they still think they are apart of you for a few months so they like being close, i got a little insert thingo and put it in the bed with me (so he was on a differnet surface but still in my bed) and i did that for about a month and then moved the insert thingo into his cot and put him in there, he was in a smaller area so felt more comfortable.. he is 4months now and sleeps through the night in his own bed! dont know if this could help you too.. but good luck =]

Sarah - posted on 08/23/2010

my daughter slept in her swing or her carseat when she was not sleeping on me. this worked for us b/c she had acid reflux and the angle helped her feel better and personally I think she liked the feeling of closeness.

Jenni - posted on 08/23/2010

It is a long difficult process with some babies to get them to sleep in their cot. My son was really difficult, my daughter was fairly easy. With my son I was clueless on what to do. Fumbled around with different sleep techniques. Co-slept just to get a few winks at night. Got overly frustrated thinking If i didn't get him sleeping on his own i'd end up co-sleeping a 2 year old one day. Anyways, my advice is to wean her slowly into sleeping on her own and just try try again. Eventually she'll take to it. Here are some ideas you can try...
First make sure she doesn't have her days and nights mixed up. Does she sleep better during the day? wake more often at night for feedings than during the day? when my daughter was a NB she would sleep in the cot during the day but any attempts to put her in it at night would result in her waking up and crying. You can try feeding her more often during the day and tank her up at night (one feed at 6, one at 8, and one at 10).
Swaddle!
Put her to sleep awake but drowsy. More than likely she'll cry at first but just keep on trying it whenever she looks sleepy. (it is important to put them to sleep awake b/c otherwise they wake up shortly after wondering where they are. Also, when they fall asleep in your arms and you put them down the weight of their body wakes them up.
Try a paci. My daughter wouldn't take one for long unless i was holding it to her mouth so i would sit beside her crib and hold it (not force it) until she drifted off. One she discovered her thumb however the paci was completely rejected. (now all i have to do is put her in her crib and she drifts off peacefully sucking her thumb).
Get her one of those stuffed animal blankies. It will help down the road. My 2 year old still cannot sleep w/o his! (Buy more than one). Once he took to it there was no problem getting him to sleep and still isn't.
Routine. This doesn't mean 'scheduling' on the clock. Just a predictable occurance of events. Wake up in the morning, feed, play quietly, sing, take nap.... at night before bed, bathe, feed, read a book/sing a lullaby, bedtime.
Give her signals to know it's time to sleep or a wind down routine. Close blinds, swaddle, sing, lay down.
Don't let you expectations be too high. I know that 24 hour period of sleep they have right after birth gives you a false idea of how things are going to be. I don't believe many babies instantly start sleeping on their own. They were use to a warm, snug, safe environment in your tummy and adjusting to the outside world is difficult. Nothing wrong with letting her sleep on you or with you in the beginning while slowly introducing her to the cot. I'm sure you've already heard the saying "you can't spoil a newborn".
Good luck! You'll get there!

Kayla - posted on 08/23/2010

I used to put my daughter down and then I would put the cradle near me so she knew I was close and she is alost two and she has only slept with us maybe twice. But each child is different so she may decide on her own she wants her own space or you may have a problem when she gets older but you do what is right at your house.

Sarah - posted on 08/23/2010

My baby was the same, loved to sleep on me or with me, is the best feeling !!! she or he will get bigger and on his own will let you know that he needs his space. Meanwhile enjoy the process is just the best!!! My 5 month is now on his crib ... so relax she or he will get there...

Sarh - posted on 08/19/2010

Try swaddling her nice and tight and keep her nice and warm! Babies are very warm inside our wombs and then once they are born the outside world is so cold to them! She might be using you as extra warmth. Also, you can start slow.. put her in her bouncy seat, swing, portable crib, bassinet, etc. right next to your bed and see if she is comfortable there. If so, move her further away each night until she is in her crib. Or you can try and see if using a wedge will hold her tight enough.