How have you managed co-sleeping with a crawler?

Heather - posted on 01/14/2010

I like the idea of "wiggle wiggle." My guy has just gotten super mobile. He naps in his crib during the day or anytime I don't feel like I'll be able to respond immediately when I hear him waking. I feel safer that way. But, I do put him down before I'm ready for bed at night and he goes in the bed. He rarely wakes before I join him, but we have Snug Tuck Pillows (which is like a guardrail but soft) to protect him from rolling off. If he does wake before I join him he's too sleepy to go much of anywhere and I'm sure to be quick to get to him. We've never had a close call at night, but during the day he was crawling toward the end of the bed (hence the crib). We're considering moving the bed to the floor just to be safer.

Geralyn - posted on 01/13/2010

Amanda, there is no need to move her to a crib. We did exactly what Lisa recommended. As soon as my son started moving, we were teaching him to "wiggle, wiggle" (is what we called it - lol), wiggling off the bed feet first. My son caught on pretty quickly, Next we dropped our mattress to the floor so its literally about 12" falling distance. My son has rolled off the bed twice after the mattress was placed on the floor, but it only startled him, and did not hurt him. They really can safely learn to get down off the bed.

Minnie - posted on 01/13/2010

My daughter began crawling at 5 1/2 months old, which was about two months before she learned how to get down off of our bed safely. When I didn't expect to be in bed sleeping with her I nursed her down to sleep on a folded comforter on the floor. There she stayed until she woke up from her nap and came out of the bedroom herself or until I was ready to go to bed and just brought her into bed with me.

I usually am aware instantaneously when she wakes, so it was never an issue of her crawling off the bed while we were sleeping together.

Once she began crawling I just reminded her that she needed to go down from the bed feet first- when I noticed her going towards the edge of the bed I turned her around and helped her down the right way.

You could also just put your mattress on the floor.

Traci - posted on 01/13/2010

While mine is not entirely mobile, she has figured out that she can get half way across the house by rolling herself. I put the bed on the floor, which is a pain, but safer in the end.



For nap time, I put a nice quilt down on the floor and lay her there. We had her in a pack n play thing for a while, but that just got annoying and too small. I have read in plenty of places that you're not supposed to let them sleep on the floor, but then I got information overload, my brain imploded and I decided that I simply didn't care and she was fine sleeping there. It's especially nice because I can keep an eye on her as I go about my day, but I just have to make sure I don't hit the floor board with the creaks.

Brenda - posted on 01/13/2010

I'd put her on a mat on the floor. I don't own a crib anymore, but my eight month old is really vocal when he wakes right now. We have a small apartment, so I can hear him pretty easily when he starts moving around. I know Lisa used to nurse her baby down like that until she taught her to get off the bed right.

Melissa - posted on 01/13/2010

My little guy is 15mos., so he's been mobile for a while. He crawled at 8 months and we only just installed toddler rails on both sides of our Queen bed. It does bring peace of mind to have rails on both sides of the bed and to have piles of pillows on the head and foot of the bed. Try to be within hearing distance of her when you're up and about. I've always been able to respond in time to my little guy when he wakes up and gets moving. Basically, try to trust your instinct. If you have a feeling she's going to wake up soon, take a look. You will most likely be aware when she's mobile. My little guy was trying to crawl and even trying to stand up and walk in his sleep for a while in the night. I'd just wake up and spot him as he stood, and nurse him back into a horizontal position. Sometimes he stays in bed longer than I do and this allows me to do stuff within earshot of him.



Moving her to a crib for a short while in the morning wouldn't be a horrible thing either. It might give you even more peace of mind and allow you to get more done. As long as you continue your cosleeping relationship for the whole night, she is receiving all the benefits and safety that come with it. Spending another hour in a crib alone isn't as dangerous as having her in a crib in another room all night long. Plus since you are awake, you can respond to her quickly.

Katherine - posted on 01/13/2010

That is what I'm having a problem with right now. I would put the mattress on the floor if you are going to continue. My 10mo already had some close calls and I would feel terrible if she fell out of bed. I tried to put her in a crib and her leg got caught so that was enough for me.