Anyone else up? Cosleeping - Crib

WifeofaMarine

We're trying to transition DS to his crib. I never thought we'd cosleep, never had anything against it or anyone who did it, but just said DC would be in his crib from day 1 and not get into a habit of sleeping with DH and I. When he was first born, he had some problems BFing, mainly he wouldn't wake to eat and was always sleeping, and when we did wake him to nurse, I struggled to keep him awake for even 5 minutes to eat, so the LC suggested he sleep with us for skin-skin time with me to help with his BFing issues. That was 3 months ago! He's been BFing like a champ for over 2 months now. Part of it was that I knew it'd be hard on him so we kept putting the transition off, and truthfully, part of it is just that I work 40 hours a week and he's in daycare (a good in home, but still) and I miss him, so I really got used to the cuddle time with DS. He sleeps on my chest every night.

Partially because I felt pressure from others (not DH), mainly family members, and partially because I know the longer we wait, the harder it'll be on him and on me, we decided to really try the transition, but to try putting his pack n play in his nursery since he does so well napping in his pack n play at the sitters, I think the crib still seems so big and overwhelming to him. I intended to put him in it last night (DH had a hockey game), but we both fell asleep in our bed while I was nursing him at 9:30 PM. When he woke up at 3 AM to nurse, I decided to try putting him down in the pack n play. He's been sleeping there for a little over an hour (I went in once to pat his back and put his pacifier in when he was whimpering), so why am I sitting here wide awake holding the monitor in my hand? I really think this is harder on me than it is on him. I told DH I'm going out and buying a video monitor today. I think it'll help if I can roll over and see him rather than hopping up because I feel the need to check on him every couple of minutes.

The pedi. said to put him down drowsy and let him put himself to sleep, but for now, baby steps, I put him down when he was sleeping. He hasn't really figured out how to put himself to sleep if he's not being held or nursed/bottle, so one transition at a time. Since I have to get up at 6 AM anyway (20 minutes), I guess I'm up now.

Sorry this post got so long. Anyone else go through this??

Amberli

I haven't gone through it ... yet.  DS sleeps in his bassinet next to our bed but he is starting to get too long for it.  I am debating whether or not I should have DH move the crib into our room because I just don't know if I could handle him sleeping away from me. 

I have no advice, just sympathy.  I am sure it will get easier though. 

We do have the angelcare monitor and I love it!  Don't know if I would ever sleep without it. 

CameraPerson

I agree with your pedi on putting him down drowsy- he has a less chance of waking up and being upset if he is that way vs. being asleep. If he is put down asleep and wakes up, it might freak him out to be somewhere he was not when he was put to sleep. Imagine if you fell asleep on the couch but woke up in another room- it would freak you out and falling back asleep would be much harder.

roxyharte

I am in the same situation. I never thought we'd be co-sleeping since I am afraid of taking any risks with my little one, but he refuses to sleep in his crib or cradle next to the bed. The minute I lay him down, his eyes pop wide open. I have tried putting him down drowsy and also waiting 20 minutes after he has fallen asleep in my arms, but have the same result each time. Since I have been back at work, he has been sleeping first on my chest all night and now that he is bigger in the crook of my arm. He doesn't move at all when he is in my arms and I love the extra snuggling time we get, but I know that he will need to move to the crib so that my husband and I can have some quality time together and I don't know how to make the transition since I don't want to try the CIO method and he refuses to lay in his crib without freaking out.