HELP!! I want my bed back!!

Candi - posted on 07/13/2010

My daughter was hard to break from sharing my bed. We had a thing called "Arm's Reach" that attaches to your bed and it allows your baby to be right there with you, but in his/her own space. When the baby gets older, it can turn into a playpen. It was the best thing we ever bought. My daughter would never sleep in her crib though and slept in that arms reach until she moved to a toddler bed at 8 months old. Her toddler bed would not hold me, so I would sit on the floor beside her while she snuggled under the covers. I would read to her and keep my hand on her and she would fall asleep with no problems. Some nights I would be in there for an hour or more and some nights I would be in there for just a minute. By the time she was 3 she was going to bed on her own without any assistance! All 3 of my children sleep with night lights and stuffed toys, but it sure beats sleeping with me!

Paige - posted on 07/12/2010

do not prop bottles at all! if you read info on this babies can gag and suffocate this way. talk to your doctor!
Bonding issues aside, bottle-propping can be dangerous.
There are small openings in the back of our throats that lead to our ears, and though those of babies are shorter, wider, and more flat. When a baby is fed by a propped bottle the liquid pools in the back of her mouth, and the bacteria can then enter her ear and cause an infection. This can lead to hearing loss which will result in difficulty learning to speak and learn. Add this to the increased likelihood that goes along with feeding your baby formula instead of breastmilk, and you're taking a serious risk.
Choking is another very real possibility. Parents usually do not provide the same amount of supervision when a bottle is propped than they do when they are holding the baby and the bottle. Liquid can keep flowing from the nipple, even if she is not sucking. Even a sleeping babe can accidently breathe in the liquid instead of swallowing. Lying down makes it even more likely.

Lakeisha - posted on 07/11/2010

I agree with everyone, it will be hard at first but stay on top of it, let the little one cry it out (have your ipod handy if you don't want to be heartbroken) and one day poof it happens.

We did that with my son...then broke that one ourselves..both our kids slept in the bed with us for a while. Son til 2yrs and daughter til 4yrs. Crazy I know, it worked for us at the time, but now that I think back, I would have done it differently...and you DEFINITELY don't want that down the road. Break the habit now while it's still early lol.

Andi - posted on 07/06/2010

I feel your pain, but like the others have said you have to be tough and consistent on this one. It will take some time to break the bad habit, but it is time to have him learn a new way of falling asleep. It may also mean you lose some sleep in the process, but all will be worth it in the end. Keep putting him in his crib and each time he fusses and wakes, take some time and check on him. By all means do not lift him out of the crib but soothe and reassure your son that mommy is here and he is ok. Rubbing the back, talking soft and slowly, and sometimes a gentle rubbing at the forehead above the nose area in a circular pattern has also done the trick for me. You may also want to consider a CD player with relaxing music playing softly to add to his new routine. Good luck to you !

Kayla - posted on 07/06/2010

Also PLEASE be careful with bottles at bedtime!! My friends baby is 20 months and just got her top front 4 teeth pulled. It was due to bottle rot from going to sleep with a bottle. I would hate anyone else to go through that. It was an awful experience. You also don't want to make your son dependent on a bottle or pacifier to sleep because then later down the road it will be harder to break him of those. I hope this helps!

Kayla - posted on 07/06/2010

I went through the same thing with my daughter. I was living with my parents and there wasn't enough room for a crib so she slept with me. It wasn't a big deal becuase my husband was gone for the first 10 months of her life. Then he came back and we got staitoned in California and got our own place. We set her crib up in her room and she would not sleep in it. We were having the same problems. I ended up getting a bed time routine bath, book, bed. I would put her in the crib and just let her cry it out. For the first few nights I sat outside the door and cried It was hard I'm not going to lie to you. It worked though. After about a week of just letting her cry it out she realized it would just be easier for her to go to sleep. You just have to stay strong!!! It will be worth it in the end! Good luck!

Jessica - posted on 07/06/2010

This is going to be difficult to break but it can be done! I don't know what to say except stay consistent. I know it's hard to hear your child cry but I would feed him like normal and put him in the crib everytime he goes to sleep, every nap and night time. Turn up the t.v. or ipod and try to not go in and get him. The longer you wait to get him in his own bed the harder it's going to be. I'm probably not helping much but that is what I would do. I hope you get to sleep on your stomach soon :)