Does your baby sleep with you or separately?

Rhiannon - posted on 12/02/2009

Most of my suggestions have already been made. But another helpful thing is to sleep on her cot sheet for a night before you make it up with that sheet. It will have your scent then and might help calm her when she goes in the cot. The cry it out method is the most common suggestion. It works for some (my eldest son) and not so well on others (my youngest daughter). Don't feel bad if you do let her cry it out, and similiarly don't feel bad if you decide this method is not for you. I believe that contrary to popular belief, babies are not all alike and one method does not necessarily suit every child. As I said, crying it out worked for my son and didn't for my daughter, she just became hysterical every time making it even more difficult to settle her. He got over it in 5 days and started sleeping through.
Goodluck! I hope you find what works for you!

Karissa - posted on 12/01/2009

i found it helpful to let my son sleep in a basonet right next to the bed for a while and then move it across the room when they finally get used to it. although we still share a room it is nice to have him out of my bed :) hope it helps

Sandra - posted on 11/26/2009

I took the advice of a good friend who allowed her daughter to sleep with her and it did not end until she was about 6 years old- hard for her because she had no time for herself, and her daughter was so dependent of having her there it would cause her great anxiety if she slept over at a friends house, or her mom wasn't around when she was to go to bed. I think working your way slowly, and perhaps initially calm your child and stay by the crib until sleeping. And as another person mentioned, let your baby know you are there and not leaving them it will get easier. It is a big change for them, but in time it will become familiar and won't provoke anxiety. The CD player is a good idea too. I have played music or white noise such as humidifier, and/or a sound soother with rain, ocean, heartbeat sounds that really make for a relaxing environment conducive to sleep.

C. - posted on 11/25/2009

My husband used to always bring my son to bed when he woke up in the middle of the night just b/c my husband didn't want to wake me but he was too tired to try and get him back to sleep. So we had a similar problem. The best way we dealt with trying to get my son to sleep in his room is 1) I started putting him in his crib for daytime naps so he could get used to it, 2) We would cuddle with him so he could fall asleep more easily (we gradually cut down the cuddling time so when he got a little older he could fall asleep on his own) and 3) We simply put a CD player in his room and played a lullaby CD. We usually had it on repeat all for about an hour or more, just in case he woke up it would soothe him back to sleep. Within a week or two he was sleeping in his room and only woke up if he either had a bad dream or had a wet diaper, or both :)

Hope this helped :) Good luck!!!

Janine - posted on 11/25/2009

What a hard one? Our eldest slept with us for a long time and as a result of this (I think) is a very bad sleeper. He is 11 now and still has nights when he wants to sleep in our room. We also have an 18th Month old baby girl who is a fab little sleeper, loves her cot. From about 12 weeks I put her in her own room, didn't want to part with her but wanted to do the best for her. I put her in her cot awake, say goodnight, plenty of kisses and walk out of the room. I also try to stick to the same routine every night although that is not always possible. We all hate to see our children upset but I think a few nights of tears and everything will sort themselves out. Good luck and let me know how you get on..

Jordan - posted on 11/24/2009

My son slept with us from birth but then we decided it was time for him to sleep alone. What i did and still do is, i put him on the bed and then i also lie down with him, the only thing is i dont play with him or whatever, i just get a book and read and he self soothes himself so he's asleep in no time. I then leave him on the bed for about an hour or so, til im sure he's asleep, then i pick him up and put him in the cot. In the beginning be prepared for baby crying when she gets up but after some time she'll know that "i go to sleep with mommy but i wake up in my bed". Good luck, hope it works.

Jodi - posted on 11/22/2009

My daughter has never slept with my husband and I. I dont know what it was, I would have just rather stayed up thean have her in my bed with me. I have heard so many moms talk about the cry it out method.

Liz - posted on 11/18/2009

try this link, it addresses this exactly.
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070800...

Liz - posted on 11/18/2009

I also found Dr. Sears to be a good resource for us co-sleeping mommies:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070100...

Liz - posted on 11/18/2009

I don't think the cry it out method works for every child. We are going through this right now. One woman on Circle of Moms gave me some great advice. She said that only you know your child's cry and you don't want them getting hysterical. So go in and soothe her, let her know you're there and then go out again. Sometimes it's just a mad you're not there cry or just complaining. It's not an easy process and just try to do it with a lot of love and patience. It won't be easy on either of you but be consistent. Walking out and letting them get hysterical doesn't do either of you any good.

Sharolett - posted on 11/17/2009

I went through that with my oldest and learned with my second! I agree with Rebecca! Its hard but it pays in the end! I know I would just break down but dont give in I know you that you can do it! Good luck...

Rebecca - posted on 11/13/2009

You are just going to have to put your child in her crib and do it the hard way. She will be difficult for a couple of days, but babies adjust pretty well. I think that it will be harder on you (physically tiring) than her. Put her down in her crib and walk away. Implement the cry it out method. It will be hard but you can do it!

Kelly - posted on 11/11/2009

i could never get Darcy to sleep a full night in his cot, so i mostly let him sleep with me. we are sharing a bed at the moment but when i want him to sleep by himself i lay with him untill he falls asleep, he usually sleeps till around 3 am, then i give him a bottle, if he's really upset lay with him for a minute.

Marie - posted on 11/09/2009

You could try putting a crib or toddler bed, whichever, in your room. Then when shes comfortable with that try moving it either further away or in another room. It could take a month or two or longer depending on her :)

Kristi - posted on 11/08/2009

My son sleeps better if he sleeps alone.

Sheena - posted on 11/06/2009

Well my son sleeps with me and been sleeping with me since he was born. We was going threw a tough time and we were living here and there and he had to sleep with us. For some reason he did not like sleeping in his bassinet. He didn't sllep long and he would wake up every 30min. He still sleeps with me and the only way i could try to put him on his bassinet is by letting him fall asleep with me and then get up to take him to his own bed. And the only way with putting him to sleep is me being there with him waiting until he falls asleep....

Angela - posted on 10/21/2009

Hi Lucy,

my daughter was always sleeping in her cot from the beginning but recently i had this same question asked amongst friends who do co-sleep. Many recommended to do it slow...start by having her nap in her cot during the day (maybe start by having her fall asleep on your bed and then carry her and put her into her cot so she wakes up in it) and then eventually intrioduce it to her during the night. Nights will be extremely hard so maybe sit by her cot for a while and help her fall asleep (pat her, sing to her, read to her). My little gitl has a special sleep blanket that she cuddles when i put her into her crib...maybe you can give her a blanket or special night teddy as a comfort as well. Its not going to happen overnight but it will eventually happen, with time and patience. Good luck!

Jodelle - posted on 10/16/2009

There are many ways to accomplish this, have you tried putting her in her room after she falls asleep? Does she nap in her own room (crib)? Every child is different, and I've known parents who've had co-sleepers up to age 5. You could start with the crib in your room, put her in there after she falls asleep, and if she wakes you'll be right there so it wont be too scary.