I moved in with my 4 month old! -UPDATE!

shaunessa

So my son has started moving around in his pack n play like crazy, so we decided it was time for him to move to his crib in his own room.  Well, I couldn't just let him sleep by himself, so I placed a mattress next to him and that's where I've spent the last 2 nights.  My husband thinks I'm crazy and thinks that I'm going to create this habit of my son being comforted by me sleeping right next to him.  I say he's too young to realize Mom is there.  We don't have a video monitor just a regular one, but I'm just sleeping there for a couple of weeks...making sure the transition goes well.  Am I crazy or has anyone else ever done this?

Ha!  I said a couple of weeks...I think I meant a few days!!! After getting a serious backache, I decided to move back in with my hubby last night.  I wouldn't say it was a bad experience though, because I actually learned a lot!  We keep the a/c and a huge fan going all night in this Texas heat, so my LO was used to sleeping with a onsie, socks, and footed p.j.'s

1st night- I put him in just footed p.j.'s since he was no longer going to have a fan full blast in his direction.  Well, I learned that he needed socks too, because his hands and body were pretty cool. Poor little guy, so i had to throw a blanket on him and basically keep watch the whole night.  I had NO SLEEP!

2nd night-I put the socks and the footed p.j.s and his body temperature was normal.  Not hot, nor cold.  I also realized he needed a mesh bumper b/c when he rotated, his feet were dangling through the crib and he kept kicking trying to wedge them out so I had to help him and zig-zag a light blanket to keep his legs from poking out again.

3rd night-Bought a mesh bumper and LO cried a little that night, but after about 2 minutes he quieted back down and fell asleep again.  It was hard not to jump up and pat his chest or pick him up.  But by laying there and observing his cry, I was able to tell the difference between his "i had a bad dream" cry and "i'm hungry" cry.

4th night-I slept in my bed and heard him over the sound monitor, but they were little cries as if he were trying to get comfortable.  And even though I slept with one ear open, lol, it actually went okay

Tess024

Why can't he sleep by himself?

He may not know you're there, but you're more likely to wake up and help him get back to sleep if you're there, than letting him figure it out on his own.

If you're room is near his, don't even use the monitor at night. If he really needs you, he will let you know.

flcl

You're not crazy... lots of moms do this.  LO's been sleeping in his crib for naps but we're transitioning him to his crib this weekend for night-time sleep so I'm contemplating doing the same thing.  His room's upstairs while ours is downstairs on the other end so even if I don't move into his room, I'll most likely move into the upstairs guest room for a week or two.  And as lots of moms (and dads) keep telling me, our LOs are too young still to build bad habits.  GL with the transition!

rcultrona

We never did this but the nursery is right across the hall from our room so we are close if there is a problem. If it makes you feel better do it, but if he wakes up MOTN maybe give him a chance to put himself back to sleep before you intervene. You feel better being close but he isn't picking up any bad habits.

TeacherVicky

You're not crazy but you're husband is right in that you could be creating a habit. I agree with PP that you are more likely to respond too quickly and potentially create sleep issues. So you have to ask yourself if this is a habit you want to keep up or if it's a habit you are ready to break later?

Why couldn't you let him sleep by himself? It was likely more of a transition for you than it was for him.

DTNZ4Ever

DS2 has slept in his room by himself since we came home from the hospital. He has been fine. Yeah it sucks if you have to get out of bed to pop in a paci but most nights DS2 is totally fine.

roo1oo

Get a video monitor. It really really helped my peace of mind that if he started fussing I could watch the monitor to make sure he wasn't stuck in the crib slats or anything. And then if he really needed me I'd go get him.

dglvrk2

DS2 has slept in his room by himself since we came home from the hospital. He has been fine. Yeah it sucks if you have to get out of bed to pop in a paci but most nights DS2 is totally fine.

This. Both of my daughters - D1 is three yrs old and D2 is five months old - have always slept in a separate room. They're decent sleepers; both put themselves to sleep well. I credit them having to soothe themselves a bit from the beginning. 

 I have a good friend who has coslept with her daughter since she was a newborn. They've slept side by side - she in a bed, daughter in her crib - since daughter was a baby. It's been three years. They practically can't sleep separately. He husband slept in a separate room for at least the first year.  I'm not sure if they're all in one bedroom now.  However, it created tension between the her and her husband. I DO think she's an extreme case. However, it's a slippery slope for both parents and the child. Something to think about....

 That being said, you're the patent. You know what's best right now for you and your little one. I agree with PP that a video monitor, or even a sound monitor, may give you great peace of mind.